Baars, Henry Gustav Emil 1848 - 1919

BAARS, ADAM, SAMP, RIEK, TIM

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:25

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 14 Aug. 1919.

Henry Gustav Emil Baars was born at Dambeck, Mecklenburg Schwerin, on Aug. 21st, 1848. There he spent his boyhood and school days and grew up to manhood. When 21 years of age he came with his parents and five sisters to this country and settled in Clayton county Iowa, which has been his home ever since.

In the year 1885 he was united in marriage to Augusta Adam, who proved to be to him a helpmate in the real sense of the word. To this union seven children were born, two of which preceded their farther in death, one a boy dying in infancy and a daughter, Hilda, was called by the grim messenger "Death" on April 26th, 1908, when 12 years of age. Being closely attached to this child, her unexpected death naturally proved to be to the tender hearted parent a severe shock, from which he never quite recovered. From that point on he seemed to fail.

Having worked hard all his life and feeling the infirmities of the years coming upon him, he decided to let the boys work the farm and moved to Elkader with his wife and two youngest children, Alfred and Carrie. This was six years ago.

Because of his ever kind and cheerful disposition he was bound to make friends with every one he came in contact with. He was a friend of the children as well as the adults.

With trembling voice and tearful eyes he would often speak of his parents; and the way he cared for them in their old age, gave evidence of the fact, that he had not only learned but practiced God's Commandment:

"Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."

He was a faithful member of the Evangelical Church, the Church Council and Ev. Brotherhood, and would be present at every service unless prevented by sickness.

For the last several weeks his health began to fail rapidly. The best of care was given him by his faithful wife and life's companion, who was constantly at his bedside, the children, and his two sisters. But in spite of it all life was ebbing away slowly but surely, until on Saturday, August 9, 1919, at 10:15 o'clock in the morning he entered into the rest for which he had of late so often been longing and praying. The time of his earthly pilgrimage being 70 years, 11 months and 18 days.

His departure is mourned by his faithful wife Augusta, four sons and one daughter, viz.; Herman, Henry, Fritz and Alfred, of Volga City, and Carrie at home.

He also leaves one grandchild, Ruth Baars; two sisters, Mrs. Louise Samp and Mrs. Frederike Riek, of Spencer, S. Dak., one brother-in-law, Mr. August Tim of Wykoff, Minn., and a host of relatives, neighbors and friends.

The wife has lost a kind and considerate husband, the children a tender and loving father, the sisters a dearly beloved brother, the relatives, neighbors and friends a kind and faithful standby, who has often proved them to be:

"A friend in need, and a friend indeed.
We shall meet but we shall miss him.
Although gone, he is not forgotten.
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them."

Services were held Tuesday afternoon at the home and at the Evangelical church and the remains were taken to Volga for burial, where the two children, who preceded their father in death are buried.