Peter Bellinghausen, 1894 Obituary

BELLINGHASUEN, KOENIG

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 7/3/2005 at 17:08:53

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, 6 April 1894. Any information in brackets or notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

[Halbur]
[Peter Bellinghausen]

Unfortunately, we must report the death of one of the citizens of Halbur, our dear friend Peter Bellinghausen. He had been sick since late last fall, but due to his exceptional strength and virility, even his fellow-citizens and friends did not suspect that this illness would cause his untimely death. According to the statements of several doctors, the illness was gallstones. It steadily became more severe from week to week, and despite the best care from family and doctors, no change for the better could be brought about. With the worsening of his condition, his confidence finally declined, and his proverbial cheerfulness turned into a still resignation. Several doctors advised the patient that his last and only hope was to have an operation, and, after he had received Last Rights from his spiritual advisor, Rev. Father Frey of Roselle, he decided to follow this advice. Therefore, he went to Carroll on 26 March in order to undergo the operation by the skilled surgeon, Dr. Wright. Although the difficult operation was a success, due to the progression of the illness, it did not have the desired result, and eight days ago today at 9:00 in the morning, he gave over his soul into the hands of his Creator. The loss is certainly great to his wife and two young children, as well as his parents-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. P. J. König, his brother Fritz living in Arkansas, and parents and siblings in Germany. All the residents of Halbur and the vicinity also mourn with the survivors over the loss of their honest friend. The funeral, one of the largest ever to occur in Halbur, took place on Sunday, the 1st of April, and the body was transported to Hillsdale [Roselle], where the deceased was interred in the local cemetery under the officiating of the Rev. Father Frey. A solemn requiem for the rest of the deceased’s soul was celebrated by Rev. Father Frey on Monday morning at 8:30 at the Catholic Church in Hillsdale.

NOTES: The Roselle cemetery records list Peter Bellinghausen, born 3 Nov 1852, and died 30 Mar 1894.