Soeth, Marx 1832-1916

SOETH, SCHROEDER, LARSON, POWELL, BELLOWS

Posted By: Geo Clinton (email)
Date: 8/4/2016 at 10:56:53

Storm Lake Buena Vista Vidette - Fri, Sep 15, 1916 page 4 - Marx Soeth was born on Jan 3rd, 1832 in Holstein, Germany and at the time of his death which occurred in Storm Lake, Iowa on Sept 7, 1916, he was 85 years, 8 months, and 4 days of age.

His boyhood was spent in the old country and there too on March 13, 1852 he was married to Anna C Schroeder. Soon after their marriage he started for America then the land of promise. He made the trip in a sailing vessel and the voyage lasted 16 weeks. He landed in New Orleans and from there made his way up the river to Dubuque. It was while on this trip that he witnessed the horror of slavery and formed the resolution to do all in his power to help free the negro. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln and joined what was then practically a new party, the republican party of today.

He settled in Dubuque and engaged in the grocery and provision business. He did a large business with trappers and Indians and in this manner became acquainted with General U.S. Grant, who at the time was purchasing hides and furs for his father’s tannery at Galena, IL and made many trips in that capacity to Dubuque and weekly called on his friend, Marx Soeth.

Mr Soeth was present when the first railroad was established in Iowa and saw the first locomotive brought across the Mississippi on the ice on skids drawn by oxen. In the year 1873 he moved to a farm near Dyersville and in the spring of 1885 came to Buena Vista county and settled on the farm in Grant township where he has since resided.

Mr and Mrs Soeth were the parents of 11 children. Those living are A.W. and Paul A Soeth of this city; M.S. Soeth at Willingford; Mrs Anna Larson at Slayton, MN; Mrs Christina Powell at Sutherland; and Mrs Emma Bellows of Varina. There are also 13 grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The faithful wife and mother preceded the husband to the Beyond on Dec 28, 1899.

The funeral services were held at Storm Lake, Iowa on Saturday and the precession which was one of the largest ever seen showed the esteem and honor in which the departed was held. He was laid to rest in the Storm Lake cemetery beside his life companion, having lived past the allotted four score.