Heinrich Baade, 1867 Obituary

BAADE

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 7/10/2008 at 00:20:49

I translated the following obituary from the Dubuque National Demokrat, a German-language newspaper published in Dubuque, Iowa between about 1856 and 1932. The obituary was originally published on 12 December 1867.

Death of Heinrich Baade

With a heavy heart the editor of this paper informs his friends of the death of his father-in-law, Mr. Heinrich Baade. It occurred on Friday, December 6, at 4:00 p.m. and brought an end to his suffering, which was caused by an accident that occurred on October 27, 1867. At that time he was traveling with us and our son, as was then reported, when a wagon with a team of spooked horses came up from behind us and collided with ours, knocking it over and throwing everyone out. But only he was injured seriously, and he was brought unconscious to our home. Under the most careful treatment of two of our doctors, Messrs. Minges and Rychatsch [sp?], his health improved during the first three weeks so that we looked forward with happy hopes to his quick recovery. But then a lung infection set in, and his life’s energy was drained. During his entire illness, he never fully regained consciousness. But his last moments were free of pain, and he passed away softly and quietly to a better awakening. He was entrusted to the cool bosom of the earth at Linwood cemetery on December 9.

Mr. Baade was born on November 14, 1808 in Hagenow, Grand Duchy of Mecklenberg-Schwerin, and during his youth he fought a tough struggle against the hardships of life. Through hard work, however, he soon succeeded in gaining a respectable position in his hometown. And he probably never would have left there had not his outspoken sympathies for the freedom struggles of 1848 drawn the hatred of the feudal party and many narrow-minded persecutions that made it dangerous for him to remain in his old homeland. With the intention of going to Clayton County, to the “Liberty Colony” founded by Mr. C. Wullweber, Dr. Brockmann, and others, he left Hagenow in 1851 and came to Dubuque, where he settled after abandoning the “Colony Project.” With the exception of a one-year trip to Germany, he remained here until his death. In the last two years, he had retired from business in order to enjoy the fruits of his labors in peace and quiet with his life’s companion. But things turned out differently, and a sad blow from fate laid him low [possibly referring to the death of his wife], and he had just recovered from it a little when he himself suffered another misfortune.

In his later years Mr. Baade led a solitary life and only felt happy in the circle of his family. For them, his death is also an irreplaceable loss. And to us ourselves, he was a true friend and counselor, a second father, and it is difficult for us to find the words to express our deep pain. His death is the most painful moment of our lives up to now, and we will always cherish his memory. May he rest in peace. On behalf of the bereaved, we give our deepest thanks to the friends of the family for their kindness and their attendance at the funeral and to Rev. Father Bredow for his uplifting and comforting words in our home and at the grave.