Best, Wilhelm Johann Heinrich Christoff 1854 - 1918

BEST, SCHULZE, SCHMIDT, DIERS, HUEBNER, LEMBKE, ENGELHARDT, POESCH, WERGES

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 7/7/2019 at 11:29:44

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 9 Jan. 1919.

Wilhelm Johann Heinrich Christoff Best, son of Mr. and Mrs. Johann H. Best, was born Dec. 15, 1854, in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, and there he was baptized in the Ev. Lutheran faith according to the ritual of his home church.

At an early age, with his parents he came to the United States of America, and arriving in the land of the free, the family sought Read township as their point of destination, and settled in Clayton Center where the father died soon afterwards.

In the course of a few years his mother again entered the bonds of holy wedlock with Karl Schulze, an honorable man, highly esteemed by all, who lovingly cared for the child in his tender age, in the years of his plasticity, that stage in human existence when the body and soul and mind gradually evolve into harmonious unity of their being. With grateful appreciation the deceased, to his last breath remembered the care and kindness of his step-father, and at all times cherished his memory.

He spent the days of his childhood in Clayton Center where he also received his schooling and was confirmed in the Zion's church by Rev. F. W. Seifert, who was his pastor for more than thirty years.

In 1877 the subject of our sketch was married to Wilhelmina Schmidt and to this union six children were born, all of whom survive him and mourn the passing of a true kind father. After their marriage he and his faithful wife settled on a farm in the district of Hanover in the vicinity of Read. Here he worked untiringly for thirty-five years with energy and with purpose in life.

His greatest pleasure was to do kind acts for others and to his neighbors he was a true friend and a willing helper. William Best was a consistant adherent of the Golden Rule as is to be found and his loyalty and veracity has never been questioned. Tiring of the hard labors connected with farm life he turned the toils of that profession over to the younger generation and since 1912 the youngest son Emil has had charge of the farm and a year or so later he purchased the parental homestead. Being relieved from active labor he removed to Clayton Center to spend the declining years of his life, but the immediate future was not all pleasantness and sunshine.

In time to come his memory will be obliterated, but his pleasant disposition and kindliness of manner under any circumstances and all occasions will long be remembered.

His illness dates back to early summer and as the powers of resistance became less and less he was taken to the hospital where after remaining for six weeks no change for the better took place. After much coercion he confided himself to the care of his children, and in the home of his son Charles Best he received the best possible care and medical aid and all was done that loving hands could do for the patient sufferer, until he closed his eyes in eternal slumber Saturday forenoon Dec. 31, 1918.

"They claim to rest on Jesus' breast, all weariness shall be, and pain thy portals to his heart of boundless sympathy. No conflicts, but the King's own hands shall end the glorious strife, no, death, best levels thee to the land of everlasting life."

His death is mourned by his six children: Mrs. H. H. Diers, Chas. Best, Mrs. Henry Huebner, Mrs. Wm. Lembke, Emil Best Mrs. A. Engelhardt, and a large number of other relatives and a wide circle of friends by whom he will be sadly missed. The wife and mother preceded him in death April 25, 1913, also his two sisters, Mrs. Lorenz Poesch and Mrs. Wm. Werges.

The funeral was held from the home of his son Charles Best and in the church last Friday, Jan. 3. Rev. Athenstadt conducted the services and interment was made in the new cemetery. He reached the age of sixty-four years and sixteen days. "His memory be blessed and the Lights Eternal shine unto him."