Xavier Reinfried died 1869

REINFRIED, MEISS, HEIGEL, STRAUSSER, PFOTZER, AMSOS, KRIES, HOFFMAN, LEIBOLD, SEEDAHL, ZOLLICOFFER, WEIGEL, KAISA, CHRISTMAN

Posted By: cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 8/3/2019 at 22:18:52

Dubuque Daily Times, Wednesday, Jan 06, 1869, Dubuque, IA, Page: 4

XAVIER REINFRIED-Yesterday the last sad rites were performed at St. Mary’s Church over Xavier Reinfried, one of the early settlers of Dubuque. The duties pertaining to sepulture were in charge of the Pius Benevolent Society, composed of several hundred members, met at the Produce Exchange, and preceded to the church where Rev. Fr. Meiss conducted the services in a very appropriate manner. His discourse was in a language (German) which he did not understand, but from the earnest expression if his words and the close attention of the German portion of the audience, we inferred that the remarks were of the most impressive character.

The Catholic funeral service is always beautiful, even in its shortest form, but when the whole ceremonial of the church is given, with the good music, the chants and responses, as it was yesterday at St. Mary’s Church, there is a grand sublime solemnity in it which may not be found, to such a high degree, in any of the Protestant, and scarcely in any of the other Catholic churches of Dubuque.

The fact of the death of Mr. Reinfried suggests a vivid contrast between the date of his arrival here in 1834, and the present condition of the city here in 1869. Then there was but one furnished church here, and that cost only $255. The corner stone of the first St. Raphael’s Church had been laid the year before, and so had the corner stone and foundation walls of the Protestant church, neither of which were ever completed. Now there are nearly twelve churches, and an attendance of worshippers of many thousands. Then only a few Germans were residents of Dubuque, among them Mr. Heigel, Geo. Strausser, Henry Pfotzer, John Kries, Nicholas Hoffman, Casper Leibold, John Amsos, Anthony Seedahl, Geo. Zollicoffer, Mr. Weigel, Mr. Kaisa, and Mr. Christman, half of whom are dead. The most striking part as to the progress of the Germans of Dubuque consists in the fact that hundreds in that nationally, like Mr. Reinfried, have, by economy and industry, attained positions of wealth and social influence to such a degree that in matters of the city policy it is always found expedient to consult the Germans on all matters of municipal interest. Among the classes to which we allude, Mr. Reinfried has exercised a controlling influence, and his decease will create a void in their ranks hard to fill. But he has performed his mission.

So, one by one, the early settlors pass away, and their memory will be perpetuated only by the publications of the Early Settlors’ Association, the imperfect obituary notices in the newspapers, and in the recollection of the sorrowing personal friends and relation.