Bliedung, Alexander 1843 - 1879

BLIEDUNG, HOFFBAUER, BILEDUNG

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson
Date: 2/16/2013 at 12:21:06

Elkader Register, 30 Jan. 1879.

DIED.

Hon. Alex. Biledung [sic], died at his home in Guttenberg, last Saturday evening, of an acute attack of pneumonia. His disease originated from a severe cold contracted while serving as a member of the grand jury at Elkader week before last. The funeral on Tuesday was largely attended by delegations of friends from Dubuque, McGregor, Elkader, Garnavillo and other towns, and surrounding country.

Mr. Biledung was a native of Germany and came to this country in 1859, and has resided all the time at Guttenberg, where he was engaged in the mercantile business, and has been an active and prosperous business man. He entered the military service during the rebellion, and was the First Lieutenant of company D in the 27th Iowa Infantry, where he served three years.

In 1877 he was elected a member of the House of Representatives in the Iowa legislature, where he was at once recognized as a leading member. He was an excellent speaker, quick, nervous, forcible and frequently impassioned in his manner, and possessed of a large fund of information, so that he never rose to speak upon any question without enlightening and instructing the house. He excersised a large influence, and in those questions in which he felt special interest none exersised more influence than he in molding legislation upon them. He was a member of the committee on ways and means, the most important committee in the house.

Mr. Biledung was a man of cultivated mind and superior ability, active and stirring, strong in his convictions and zealous in whatever he undertook. He had formed many acquaintances over the state and the intelligence of his unexpected death, stricken down in the prime of manhood, will shock all who knew him. He was a son-in-law of Dr. Hoffbauer of Dubuque. To all these, the news of his death is sad and sudden.

Note: Gravestone = Bliedung
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Postville Review, Sat., 1 Feb. 1879. (condensed by the submitter from a longer obit). From the Elkader Journal.

" Our community was shocked this morning to hear of the death of Hon. A. Bliedung, of Guttenberg, on last Saturday night at 7 o'clock. Mr. Bliedung was a member of the Grand Jury and in the performance of his duty caught a severe cold, causing inflammation of the lungs, resulting in death.

Mr. Bliedung was born near Nordhauson, Prussia, in 1843, being at his death only 36 years old. Nineteen years ago he came to this country, and during all that time he has been identified with the leading interests of the county. During the war he was First Lieut. of Co. D, 27th Iowa Vol's, Infantry, and won an honorable record. Two years ago he was elected Representative from this county to the State Legislature, and served with distinction on several of the most important committees of that house. Last fall he was prominently mentioned for member of Congress from this District.

The funeral will take place from his late residence in Guttenberg tomorrow - Tuesday - at two o'clock p.m."

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Postville Review Feb. 8, from the Elkader Register

It is said that not less than three thousand people attended the funeral of Hon. Alex. Bliedung at Guttenberg, on Tuesday. The procession was over a mile in length.