KERNDT, Gustav 1825-1873

KERNDT

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 8/1/2016 at 21:28:09

Dubuque Herald, Jan. 7, 1873

Death of a Prominent Citizen
Special Dispatch to the Dubuque Herald, Lansing Jan. 6,

Gustav Kerndt, of the firm Kerndt & Brothers, died here Monday morning. His funeral will take place Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Kerndt had been for many years one of the leading business men of this town, being at the head of one of our most active firms and President of the First National Bank of Lansing. Mr. K. was many years ago, with one or two brothers, a resident of Dubuque.

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Added by S. Ferrall 1/2/2022:

DIED - At his residence in this city, on Sunday last, the 5th inst., at 9 1/2 o'clock, Gustav Kerndt, aged 47 years and eight months.

Thus has gone out from among us and passed into the unseen and unknown abyss of eternity, one of the best men we ever knew.

The death of Gustav Kerndt will be mourned by hundreds of people all over Allamakee County. He was the friend and adviser of many of them, and no man, we venture to say, ever knew him but to respect and love. He was indeed the poor man's friend, and no honest, upright and deserving man ever appealed to him for assistance and was turned away without meeting with a response to the appeal. He was kind, generous, sympathetic, and his hand was ever open to aid all private and public charities that made application to him.

Little did we think when we wrote the item last week of his illness that we would so soon be called upon to record his death. He felt satisfied for sometime past that he could not get well, and with that care and precision which characterized all his business transactions, he made his preparations to "pass to the other side." He was perfectly calm and rational to the hour of his death, and passed away peacefully, taking each brother, sister and relative who were present, by the hand, and giving them good parting council. He commenced to grow worse on Saturday and continued to sink slowly until death came upon him.

The honored dead was born in Germany, and came to this country in 1847. Dubuque was for a time the home of himself and brothers. In the year 1856 they removed from Dubuque to Lansing and entered upon the business of manufacturing brooms and cigars, and dealing in general merchandise. The capital of all the brothers, four of them, was meagre. But they were honest and industrious and "success" was their watch word.

As years rolled along, their business rapidly increased under the careful management of the deceased, until the firm decided to give up the cigar ad broom business and devote their entire attention to merchandizing. Success continued to attend them, until their business increased to such a magnitude that they were compelled to enlarge their quarters, and they could afford it, for they now had sufficient means to do so.

Accordingly they erected, several years ago, the finest brick block in the city. All this time the deceased labored [illegible] as general business and financial manager, and also as a sort of private banker for hundreds of people in the country of all nationalities, who knew their funds would be safe in his hands, and this advice relied upon.

In 1865, we believe, Mr. Kerndt was elected President of the First National Bank of this city, which high ad responsible position he filled to the day of his death.

The funeral took place to-day, and was the largest ever seen here, the cortege extending over a mile in length. There were 105 teams in the procession. The ceremonies were conducted by the Masonic Fraternity, he being one of the oldest members of Evergreen Lodge, of this city, and its treasurer for many successive years.

The Masons took charge of the corpse at the residence on the corner of Main and Fourth streets where a few remarks emulative of the character of the deceased were made by Elder Haughton, after which the procession was formed under the direction of Chief Marshall Bro. S.H. Kinne and Bro. W.H. Burtord.

The ceremonies at the grave were the uaual beautiful solemn and impressive services of the Masonic Order, and were conducted by Bro. S.H. Hazleton, Master of Evergreen Lodge. At the close of the Masonic services the "Gesangverein," of which the deceased was also a member, sung two solemn and affecting dirges, after which the procession was reformed and sadly retuned to the city, each feeling that was left behing in the bosom of mother Earth the remains of one of the best men they ever knew.

The First National Bank and public school of this city, and the county offices at Waukon were closed, and the county officers attended in a body. It was right that they should do so, for no man who ever lived in the county, or ever will live in it, has done or can do more for the general welfare of the county than Mr. Kerndt. It was through his great financial abilities that a few years ago, when first elected a member of the Board of supervisors, brought our county out of a vortex of financial ruin. His advice was closely followed and in a short time taxes began to be reduced, funds accumulated in the treasury and the county was placed on the highway of prosperity, and continues so to-day, and to the deceased mainly belongs the credit.

The deceased was unmarried and his nearest relatives are three brothers, two sisters, and their families.

~North Iowa Journal, Tuesday, January 7 1873; pg 3