Kaiser, Henry H. 1837-1917

KAISER, BEST, PRIDE, BRESLAU, FULLER, DE VILLBISS

Posted By: Jill McCarville (email)
Date: 5/31/2013 at 15:50:05

Long Beach, Cal., January 25, 1917, Henry H. Kaiser, aged 79 years, 1 month, 25 days. Henry Kaiser was born in Jenner's Cross Roads, Somerset county, Pa., December 1, 1837. When six years of age his parents removed to a farm near Madison, Wis. In 1858 his father, Mr. John Kaiser, brought his family to Foreston, Howard county, Iowa. For over 54 years, Henry Kaiser was a resident of this county and helped in its development from a primitive, pioneer community to a rich, populous section of the great state.

Mr. Kaiser was married in October 1866, to Miss Diadma Best, daughter of James Best of Foreston, and granddaughter of Israel Best, a famous pioneer minister of the Presbyterian church, one of the first in this state, and beloved far and near as a saintly minister of God.

The union was a very happy one and lasted for forty-six years until Mrs. Kaiser's death in Lime Springs in September, 1912. Henry Kaiser and his wife were for many years united with the Presbyterian church in Lime Springs and Mr. Kaiser served his community in various positions of trust and honor. He was a man of stern principles, upright integrity and always a kind and helpful neighbor.

As their union was not blessed with any children, they expressed their parental feeling by adopting two daughters. The first was the daughter of James Cushman Breslau, an artist and war artist, who died when his little daughter was three months old. The second daughter, a little orphan girl, brought from New York by a religious society for the aid of children. Both these daughters grew to womanhood; were educated in the schools of this county and are now married, one living i San Fransisco, Cal., the other in Pittsburgh, Pa. The eldest daughter, Gertrude Breslau Fuller, Of Pittsburgh, has devoted most of her life to service in the cause of labor and is widely known as a lecturer on sociological subjects. The second daughter, Mrs. Hazel De Villbiss, had a business college training and is now the wife of Mr. Frederick De Villbiss of San Francisco.

Two years after the death of his first wife, Mr. Kaiser married Mrs. Anna Pride, a widow from Brookville, Pa., and removed to Long Beach, Cal., where his last days were spent. His second marriage proved to be a happy one and he was tenderly nursed during his last illness by his wife who survives him.

Henry Kaiser was one of the pioneer settlers of this community, a fine type of the honest, rugged, courageous men who grubbed out the forests and conquered the virgin soil and made of the forest and prairie rich fertile fields, built homes, churches and school houses and laid the foundations for our present prosperity and civilization. Thus ends a long, useful, honorable life. He is mourned by his wife, his daughters and his many friends and neighbors.

The Howard County Times February 13, 1917 Page 2
Transcribed by Jill McCarville from the files of Janice Sowers