John Mertes (1842-1926)

MERTES, SCHMIDT, LOEW, WALTZ, KURTZHALS, THARNISH, JANSSEN, MATTES, COSTELLO

Posted By: Ken Akers (email)
Date: 3/8/2011 at 21:52:43

Audubon County Journal (IA)
June 17, 1926, pg. 1
PIONEER OF COUNTY
PASSED AWAY SUNDAY

--------

John Mertes, pioneer resident of
Audubon county, passed away at his
home here (Exira) Sunday morning, death
being due to a stroke of apoplexy.
Mr. Mertes had resided in this county
fifty-four years, coming here from
Michigan in 1872 and settling on a
farm souhteast of town in Audubon
township.

He was born on April 15, 1842, at
Luxemburg, Germany, and received
his education in his native land. In
1867 he was united in marriage to
Barbara Schmidt and to this unionn
eight children were born. Mr. Mertes
and wife came to America in 1869
spending three years in the saw mills
and logging camps of Michigan before
coming to Audubon county. Mrs.
Mertes passed awaqy January 15, 1880.
The surviving children by this mar-
riage are Mike Mertes, of Sedalia,
Mo., and Nick Mertes of Stuart. Five
children died in infancy and a daugh-
ter, Mrs. Mary Loew, died July 31,
1906.

On November 6, 1881, Mr. Mertes
was united in marriage to Mrs. Matilda
Waltz of Dubuque, to which union
five children were born all of whom
are living and with the wife mourn
his loss. They are John Mertes, Adair;
Mrs. Henry Kurtzhals, Hartington,
Nebraska; Barney Mertes, Adair; Mrs.
Peter Tharnish and Mrs. Will Janssen
of Stuart. He is also survived by two
stepchildren, Mrs. Steve Mattes of
Carroll, and Amiel Waltz of Stuart;
one brother, Nick Mertes of Carroll;
49 grandchildren and 5 great grand-
children besides a host of friends.

Mr. Mertes, through hard labor and
honest dealings, became one of this
county's well-to-do farmers and land-
owners and in 1906 retired from the
farm and with his wife moved to this
place to spend his declining years in
rest and peace.

Funeral services were held at the
Catholic church Wednesday morning
at nine o'clock conducted by Rev. Fr.
J. F. Costello. Burial was made in
the Catholic cemetery in Atlantic.