Gottschalk, William 1841 - 1929

GOTTSCHALK, KREPLIN, LENTH, SEELAND

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

Clayton County Register, Thur., 10 Jan. 1925.

Thursday, Jan. 3, another old and esteemed settler of Clayton county, William Gottschalk, answered the final summons at the home of his son, Charles, in Boardman township at the good old age of eighty-seven years, six months and eighteen days.

The subject of this sketch was born in Krien, Germany, on the fifteenth day of June, 1841. There he spent his childhood days, receiving his education and training and at the age of twenty-seven years was married to Minnie Kreplin, in 1868. The same year the couple emigrated to America and for some time made Clayton Center, this county, their home. Then they moved on a farm in Boardman township, where they lived and toiled until the spring of 1920, when the aged couple decided to make Elkader their place of residence for their remaining years. But "man plans, and God ordains." Their stay in town was to be only for a few weeks, for on March 19, 1920, shortly after their moving here Mrs. Gottschalk passed away. So the aged husband returned to Boardman township, making his home with his son, Charles, and family, where he received the best of care in his declining years.

About two weeks ago he was taken sick with the "flu." Nothing was left undone to give him comfort and relief, but to no avail. Because of the advanced years with its infirmities the necessary vitality and resistive powers were wanting. The time of departure had come.

Deceased leaves seven children to mourn his passing: William, of Boardman township; John, of Littleport; Mrs. Albert Lenth, of Farmersburg; Mrs. Herman Lenth, of Elkader; Mrs. William Seeland, of Wagner township; Charles, of Boardman township; and Herman, of Mason City. One daughter, Mrs. Fred Seeland, preceded her father in death in 1901.

He also leaves thirty-four grandchildren, twenty-six great-grandchildren and a host of friends and neighbors.

Services were held Saturday afternoon in the Charles Gottschalk home and in the Zion's church at Clayton Center, while interment was made in the cemetery of that place. Rev. C. H. Franke, of this place officiated.