Florentine Schneider 1831-1911

SCHNEIDER, BIETZEL, KELTING

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 12/27/2016 at 15:49:10

10 November 1911 - The Lowden News

Florentine Schneider, nee Bietzel, was born at Wunderhausen, Westphalia, Germany, on January 19, 1831. She died at her home three miles southwest of Wheatland, Ia., Sunday evening, November 5, at 9:30 o'clock, at the age of 80 years, 9 months and 17 days.

On October 16, 1853, she was married to Ludwig Henry Schneider at Wunderhausen. In the spring of 1857 Mr. and Mrs. Schneider with their two children came to America and settled near Wheatland and started farming. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schneider, six of whom have died. On June 30th, 1879, her husband, Mr. Schneider, also died. Thus she has been a widow these past 32 years.

There survive to mourn her demise her four children, namely Mrs. Wm. Kelting and P.A. and F. A. Schneider and Miss Lizzie Schneider as also 17 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Mr. and Mrs. Schneider were among the very first members of the German Reformed church at Wheatland, which church celebrated their golden jubilee during the past summer; it being 50 years since the congregation started and built their first church at Wheatland. On June 1, 1911, the Ladies' Aid Society and some of the first members of the Reformed church had their pictures taken. Mrs. Schneider was with the ladies yet that afternoon. On that day too the new 50th (anniversary) bell was put in the church. The next day, on July 2nd, Mrs. Schneider was effected with a stroke of paralysis, effecting however, only her left side; than in September came the second stroke to this good old lady when both of her sides were effected; since then she got gradually weaker until the end came. Infirmities of old age caused the strokes, but she was permitted to pass the four score years, the scriptural allotted time.

During the past few years her grandson, Philip Kelting, and family stayed with Mrs. Schneider and he worked the farm for her.

Funeral was held Wednesday afternoon with services in the Reformed church at Wheatland. Rev. Gatermann officiated. The pallbearers were Louis Riedesel, George Riedesel, Henry Riedesel, George Knoche, George Homrighausen and Louis Strackbein and they laid the remains of Mrs. Schneider to rest in the High German cemetery at Wheatland. "Friede Ihrer Asche".