Ostrich, Albertina (Roehl) 1835 - 1897

OSTRICH, ROEHL

Posted By: Janice Sowers (email)
Date: 12/4/2006 at 16:37:33

From the Scrapbook of Newspaper Articles by Mrs. Lillian Wheeler

Miss Albertina Roehl was born in Bandikow, in the Province of Pomerama, Germany, Sept. 22, 1835. There she attended the public school and at the age of 14 was confirmed according to the practices of the Luthern Church, of which church she was a consistant member to the time of her death.

At the age of 14 her mother died. Albertina being the eldest of the then living girls of a family of seven, the cares of the home largely devolved on her.

In her 19th year, May 18, 1854, she was united in marriage to Henry Ostrich, of Barkow, a village near Griefenberg, by the Rev. Mr. Busch. On the day of marriage the happy couple started for America in quest of a home. After a tedious and stormy voyage, they finally reached Watertown, Wis., where, in the wild dense forest they settled and suffered the privations and hardships incident to life in new countries. In the spring of 1874, they moved with their family to Howard Co., Iowa, where they have continued to live up to the time of Mrs. Ostrich's death. This occurred at midnight, April 12, 1897.

The funeral services were held in the Congregational church at Riceville, April 15. Rev. Mr. Hermann of Elma conducting the services. Text: Denn Christus ist mein Leben, und Sterben ist mein Gercinn. Phil 1:21. Her remains are at rest in the Riceville cemetery.

She was the mother of eight children, six sons and two daughters, Otto, Robert, Ida, Frank, Amil, Emma, Rienhardt and John, all of whom are alive. These, with her aged husband, remain to mourn her death.

Having lived in the community for 23 years, her life needs no comment. We will only say that she was a faithful wife, a loving mother, and a devoted Christian.