Johanna (Kniest) Drees, 1895 Obituary

DREES, KNIEST

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 12/3/2008 at 22:15:05

I translated the following obituary from Der Carroll Demokrat, a German-language newspaper published in Carroll, Iowa, between about 1874 and 1920. It was originally published on Friday, 12 April 1895. Any information in brackets or notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

Last Thursday morning, Mr. John Kniest received the unexpected and sad report by telegraph that his sister, Mrs. Jos. M. Drees in Denver, Colorado, had died that same morning. Mrs. Drees has been ill for a few years from pulmonary disease. After the best doctors were called in for advice, medical science was in agreement that a change of climate would be beneficial for the health of the patient. Mr. Jos. M. Drees, who was prepared to make any sacrifice, immediately started to make plans, and he himself traveled to the Southwest to search for a suitable home. Very quickly he decided to move to Denver, Colorado. In his great concern for his ailing wife, he decided first to try the climate there, and after the patient had been there several weeks and quickly recovered in the fresh mountain air, Mr. Drees eagerly pushed forward in the sale of his private residence and business. With satisfaction, he was able to close the business last fall and then the resettlement was completely finished. According to letters from there, it was reported that Mrs. Drees was feeling very good, and her husband and children, who clung to her in tender affection, believed that all danger had passed. Unfortunately, it was only a short dream. Approximately three months ago, Mrs. Drees gave birth to a child, and since then she had steadily complained of severe stomach pain, which was assumed to be caused by some complication from the birth. Just a few weeks ago the lady’s condition became critical and, despite the most loving care and the best doctors, it became steadily worse until yesterday morning, when, surrounded by her deeply grieving husband and her children, she gave her soul over to her Creator. The deceased, whose maiden name was Johanna A. Kniest, was born in 1851 in St. Louis. Afterward, her parents moved to Dubuque, where she remained until 1871 and then moved with her father to Carroll County, where he had founded a Catholic settlement, which township still bears his name today. Miss Johanna A. Kniest was one of the first women in Kniest Township, and in 1874 she married Mr. Jos. M. Drees. This very happy marriage produced nine children, one of which, however, predeceased the mother. It is a terrible blow for Mr. Drees because not only has he lost a true and devoted wife, but the loss for the children, the youngest of which is just three months old, is almost unbearable. But the Lord’s works are good works. The burial will take place in Denver on Sunday. Mr. Drees, who was connected to this newspaper for a long time, first as a stockholder and then as business manager, may find some comfort in these words of condolence and deepest sympathy, while his many friends feel this loss very deeply with him.