Lundt, Henry Sr. 1842 - 1910

LUNDT, SCHULTZ, COSTIGAN, BENSCHNEIDER, WALKE, WILKE, POST

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 3/30/2020 at 12:43:48

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 14 Jul. 1910.

On June 27th,1910, at about 6:00 p.m., as Henry Lundt Sr., came from the field where he had been plowing corn, he allowed the colts to be brought from the barn and come to where he was watering the horses at the tank. The colts were eager for their nourishment, and as Mr. Lundt was in the act of adjusting a line, one of the colts kicked at him, striking him in the abdomen with great force. He was shocked and was assisted into the house and medical aid was at once summoned. It seems some blood vessels were injured, for it was impossible to start the circulation and caused the blood to settle in the right foot, causing it to poison, when gangrene left its dreadful pangs therein. In spite of skillful physicians and tenderest care, the deadly poison moved on upward. Step by step it advanced, and the hand of death could not be staid, but moved upward toward the heart, which was making a desperate struggle for life. The patient suffered the most excruciating pains and to those who were at his bedside it seemed as though it were impossible for one human to stand such pains. At last the poor, dear heart grew weaker, always rallying again, in another brave attempt, but finally the struggle was over, for on July 4th, as the home clock was striking the hour of 11:00 in the forenoon, dissolution took place, and the soul passed to its reward, bringing Mr. Lundt's age to 68 years, 4 months and 14 days.

Henry Lundt, Sr., was born in Backendorf, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, on the 20th day of February, 1842. He was christened and was confirmed in 1856, thus becoming a member of the Lutheran church, which faith was his until the hour of his death. He was a loyal laborer in his church. He was an apprentice at the carpenter trade. In 1865 he came to America with his parents, who were among the earliest settlers in Clayton County, or at least in Volga twp.

On the 18th of February, 1870, he was united in marriage to Miss Wilhelmina Schultz. Eleven children came to bless this union, one, a son, preceding him to the great beyond.

Mr. Lundt was an honest, upright man, ever ready to help those in need and a man who loved his family dearly. Those who loved him best, knew him best and there is certainly no greater recommend for a human being, than that. His loved ones spared neither time nor money, but the Heavenly Father saw fit to take him home, and so he passed through the dark valley to his mansion above, where sickness, pain and parting will be nevermore.

He was one of the foremost laborers in the Lutheran church, whose staunch pillar he was all through life. Here, too, he will be missed greatly.

He leaves to mourn his tragic death, his wife and ten children as follows: Henry Lundt, Jr., of St. Paul; Mrs. Emma Costigan, of Elkport; August Lundt, on the homestead; Mrs. Ida Benschneider, of Elkader; Mrs. Bertha Walke, of Guttenberg; and Minnie, Martha, Anna, Lena, and Amalie, at home: also twelve grandchildren; one brother, Fred Lundt, Sr., on a farm near Elkport; a sister, Mrs. Amalie Wilke, of Spokane, Wash., and a half-brother, John Post, of Milwaukee, Wis., besides other near relatives and many friends.

On July 7th, at 10:00 a.m., the burial took place. A large concourse of friends came to pay their last tribute of love and respect to the memory of the deceased. The long procession slowly wended its way to the Lutheran church at Elkport where Rev. Linnenbuerger, almost overcome with grief, tried to console the sorrowing ones and also comfort the mourning congregation who had gathered there. Two duets were sung at the house by Miss Agnes Helbig, of Dubuque, and her sister, Mrs. C. Dietrich Beck, of Elkport. At the church a quartet, composed of Messers. Linnenbuerger, Nuehring, Reuschel and Bushkofsky sadly rendered the funeral songs. All being over, the flower laden casket was carried up the hill to the Lutheran cemetery and was lowered into the grave.

The pall bearers were six old friends of the family, namely: Messrs. George Ruegnitz, Sr., Henry Wenkstern, Wm. Meyer, Wm. Koehn, Henry Schroeder and Henry Plagman.

Yes we'll meet thee, dearest husband,
Loving father, brother, friend.
Though you suffered so severely,
We our hearts in pity bend.

But we know that thou art happy,
Free from sorrow, care and pain,
And we hope to meet you, dear one,
Up in heaven, there, again.

We shall miss you, Oh! so sadly,
We shall hear thy voice no more.
But we'll follow thy teachings
And be waiting evermore.

Then when we have reached life's ending
We shall come to thee, above,
Where, with all the true and faithful,
We'll unite through God's love.

Yes, we'll hope to come, dear father,
To the city paved with gold.
Where through all the bright forever,
We'll our God and thee behold.