Harnack, Ludwig H. 1858-1941

HARNACK, MOHNING, SCHULTE, FROMME, WITT, WIEBKE, KRUSE

Posted By: Linda Mohning (email)
Date: 4/23/2007 at 17:11:43

Prominent Remsen Citizen Passes On

Ludwig H. Harnack Called
At Age of 83 Years;
Funeral Sunday

Another of the older residents of Remsen and Plymouth county and a man of high rank among those who knew him, Ludwig H., Harnack, passed away last Thursday at his home in Remsen after a long period of ailment. He was 83 years old, is survived by his widow, two sons, a daughter and a sister. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon.

Mr. Harnack had been a resident of Plymouth county for 62 years, nearly all of which were spent in the Remsen community, and of the town of Remsen the last 19 years.

Mr. Harnack had been in feeble health for about four years, due principally to infirmities which kept him confined close to the home most of that time. Late in December he developed complications which made his condition serious, and on December 30 he found himself forced to the sickroom where he gradually declined in spite of prompt and excellent medical care and loving family ministration. With his son Herman at his bedside and his wife and other family members in an adjoining room, he passed away without warning at 7:35 o’clock Thursday evening.

Born on July 11, 1858, in Garnavillo, Clayton county, Iowa, Ludwig H. Harnack there spent his youth and grew to young manhood. In 1879 at the age of 21 years he came to Plymouth county and near LeMars worked on a farm for a few years. Five miles southeast of Remsen he then picked out a choice quarter section of raw prairie land which he purchased and which became his home for nearly forty years. This farm he developed into one of the best in this part of the country, and subsequently he added to his land holdings in the same neighborhood.

On November 8, 1888, Ludwig Harnack and Anna Mohning, the latter a member of another prominent Plymouth county family, were married. They occupied the original Harnack farm until they retired in the spring of 1923 and moved into Remsen. They bought a comfortable property in the east end of town which the family still calls home.

During his 62 years here Mr. Harnack has been a leading figure in the community’s agricultural, business, political and civic life. While on the farm he devoted much time to the public good both in official capacity and in private, and his work was always well done. For many years he served in public office—as Remsen township assessor, member of the school board and the board of township trustees, repeated elections testifying to his worth and the esteem in which he was held.

Beginning in 1909 he was affiliated with the First Trust & Savings bank of Remsen as a stockholder, director and up to the time of his death as one of the bank’s two vice-presidents. For many years also he was a member of the Farmers’ Co-operative company and served this institution as president and as director.

Mr. Harnack was a man of genuine worth to the community. He was a devoted husband and father, a loyal friend and a splendid citizen. His association with his fellowman was marked with nothing but honesty, righteousness and courtesy and his life was an example that might well be followed. The community was a distinct loser in his complete retirement and especially in his death and the bereaved family has the sincere sympathy of all.

Besides the sorrowing widow the following children survive: Herman J., at home; Mrs. George (Alma) Wiebke and Allison A. Harnack, both on the farm here. A son died in infancy and another son, Ludwig P., died in 1914. Two brothers and a sister also preceded him to the grave, and surviving is his sister, Mrs. Christina Kruse of Sioux City.

Funeral services were at the family home at 1;30 o’clock Sunday afternoon and were largely attended. Services were conducted by S.C. Oathout of Sioux Falls and burial was made in the Remsen cemetery. During the sacred service Mrs. C.A. Honnold, Mrs. A.M. Forsberg and Wilbur Laux, all of Le Mars, sang “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere” and “Go, Bury Thy Sorrow.” Serving as pall bearers were six nephews—Irving H. Schulte, Louis Mohnning, Wm. Fromme, Adolph Witt, Herb. Harnack and John Harnack. Flowers were carried by Mrs. John H. Witt and Miss Bertha Harnack, nieces.

Source: Remsen Bell-Enterprise, Remsen, Iowa