Ortman, John C. J. H. 1844 - 1913

ORTMAN, EHLERS, WENKSTERN, PLAGMAN, TIEDEN, MUSFELDT, GIFFORD, SEELEY, BEHRENS

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:24

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 27 Mar. 1913. Elkport and Vicinity columns.

John Christoph Joschim Heinrich Ortman was born August 27th, 1844, in Bruetz, Germany. He was given into the arms of his dear savior through the baptismal sacrament, when but five days old. He was confirmed and became a member of the Lutheran church on Palm Sunday, April 17th, 1859. In 1865 he, with his parents, John Ortman and wife, and his sisters and brothers, sailed across the sea and arrived in Clayton County on Christmas Eve. They soon started building a home of their own and the children grew to young manhood and womanhood and he joined hands and heart with the woman of his choice and they built up a home in Elk township. About six years ago they retired from farm life and purchased a comfortable home in Elkport. For a time all went well, but rheumatism, with la grip, took hold of the father and caused much trouble and pain. Then, toward the close of the year 1912, he suffered a paralytic stroke and it was plainly visible that he was to be freed no more, for about two weeks ago a second stroke affected the patient in such a manner that his entire right side was useless, and on the night of the 12th of March, the third stroke was taken, causing the left side also to become lifeless and the pressure became greater on the brain. Only occasional words could be brought forth by the suffering one.

Peacefully he glided to the end of the valley where the Other Shore was reached without a motion or struggle.

In the year 18__, on the 22nd day of July, he was married to Miss Maria Ehlers and to this union the three sons and six daughters were born, who were all permitted to assist in doing all that could be done toward easing his pains and bringing to him the many comforts which aid to lift the last heavy load of sorrow and pain. The children are: Mrs. Ida Wenkstern and Mrs. Emma Plagman, of Guttenberg; Mrs. Anna Tieden, of Cox Creek township; August Ortman, of Elk Township; Henry Ortman, of Volga township; Mrs. Alvina Musfeldt, of Elkader; Mrs. Elizabeth Gifford, of Elkport; Mrs. Melinda Seeley, of Shell Rock, Ia.; and Otto Ortman, of C___ington, N.D., all of whom had been permitted to visit him prior to his death, which occurred at 9:50 a.m., on Monday, March 17th, 1913. The sister, Mrs. C. Behrens, of Littleport, and the brothers, Henry Ortman, Sr., of Littleport; Fred Ortman, of Garber; and Wm. Ortman, of Guttenberg, and 15 grandchildren mourn his loss as brother and grandfather.

The Rev. Foelsch conducted the last sad rites at the funeral, first at the house, thence to the Lutheran church, where a sympathetic crowd awaited the cortege, and thence to the last resting place in the Musfeldt Cemetery, about five miles from Elkport, where others who had been hindered from going to Elkport, on account of the condition of the roads, met and sadly listened to the commitment of the body to the "dust", from which it was taken.

A duet was sung by Mesdames H. Foelsch and C. Dietrich Beck, and the M.B.A. lodge showed their respect to the dead member by placing upon his coffin a fine flower-pillow.

The pall-bearers were the six sons-in-law, Messers. Henry Wenkstern and Wm. Plagman, of Guttenberg; Frank Tieden and Wm. Musfeldt, of Elkader; Mr. Seeley, of Shell Rock, Ia., and Geo. Gifford, of Elkport, Ia.

(Note: Much of this obit was blurred and very hard to read. It is as good a transcription as submitter felt able to do under the circumstances.)