PRIMUS, Claas 1851-1916

PRIMUS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 6/26/2014 at 08:11:40

C. Primus Dies Suddenly In Hospital

Was Democratic Candidate For Representative

He Came To Grundy County 51 Years Ago

Death Was Very Unexpected

Claas Primus died in the hospital in Dubuque Monday morning. Death was the result of an operation performed ten days before for a chronic trouble. Mr. Primus appeared to stand the operation well and he rallied from it nicely and was thot to be safely on the road to recovery. A change in his condition came on Sunday evening and the relatives in this county were advised to come at once. They left on the first train but before they reached the hospital Mr. Primus had passed away. His remains were sent to the home in Wellsburg and reached there Monday night.

Funeral services are being held at the home and later at the church at Wellsburg this afternoon.

The news of Mr. Primus' sudden death was received by his many friends in this country with surprise and deep regret.

In point of Mr. Primus' sud little past his prime and under normal conditions the future would have had many more years of influence and usefulness for him. Only at the last primary election was he placed in nomination for the office of representative and the chances were in favor of his election.

Mr. Primus was one of the real pioneers of this county even tho he was but little past middle age. He came to this county fifty-one years ago and with the exceptions of a short period that he lived in Butler county he made Grundy county his home continually. His early years he spent on the farm in Shiloh township. Much of the past thirty years he was engaged in the general mercantile and lumber business and later in the banking business. He did well. He gained and held the confidence and the good will of the many people with whom he had dealings during the more than half century that he lived here. He was a good neighbor because he was willing to give more help than he expected to get in return. His liberal common sense and his general knowledge of the law adjusted a good share of the difficulties outside of court in his section of the county for more than a generation. He took a keen interest in public affairs and when any public duties were entrusted to him he gave them as close and as careful attention as he did to his private business.

Mr. Primus was born in Eastfriesland, Germany, Feb. 2, 1851, being a little past sixty-five at the time of his death. He came to this country with his parents in 1856. They located briefly in the state of Wisconsin and later at Freeport where they remained until 1865 when they moved to this county. They acquired a farm in Shiloh township where the elder Primus died only a short time ago.

Mr. Primus was twice married. His first wife died in December 1900. Nine years later he was married a second time. This wife survived him. When Mr. Primus left the farm he engaged in the general mercantile and lumber business in Wellsburg. He conducted this business successfully for several years. Eight years ago largely under his direction the Farmers and Merchants bank was organized and it was due much to the confidence that his friends and neighbors had in his ability and integrity that this bank grew in business so rapidly. He was the bank's cashier at the beginning and still occupied this position at the time of his death.

Mr. Primus is survived by five children. The children are, Mrs. D. J. Riekena of Wellsburg, Mrs. J. J. Peters of Watertown, S. D., Mrs. M. Thomas of Waterloo and Henry and Helen of this county. There is one surviving brother, Ben. The three surviving sisters are Mrs. A. G. Geerdes of Wellsburg, Mrs. J. B. Janssen of Shiloh township and Mrs. Isebrands of George.

--The Grundy Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 6 July 1916, pg 1