Eckstein, Fredricke Kathrine (Gross) 1836 – 1911

ECKSTEIN, GROSS

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/22/2024 at 16:07:27

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer July 18, 1911, 2, C4

Mrs. Herman Eckstein passed away last Friday afternoon at her home near Chester. Messrs. John McCook, John Coyle and C. D. Nichols attended the funeral which took place Sunday afternoon.

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer July 28, 1911, 2, C5

Mrs. Herman Eckstein Sr. (Fredericke Kathrine Gross) was born in Geisingen, Ludwigsburg, Wurttenburg, Germany, March 12, 1836, and died at her home near Chester, Iowa, July 14, 1911, at the age of 75 years 4 months and 2 days. She was the old¬est daughter of a family of 6 children, 4 brothers who were older and one sister younger; her four brothers and sister died several years ago. Her mother died when she was 7 years old and her father died when she was 13 years old, leaving her an orphan to make her way alone in the world.
She came to the United States in February, 1854; she crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a sail boat which took 7 weeks to make the trip from Havre, France, to New York, from there she went to Buffalo, N. Y., and from Buffalo, N. Y. to Cleveland, O. by boat. She was married March 26, 1854, to Herman Eckstein Sr.; they lived in Cleveland, O., till Oct. 1, 1856, when she came with her husband to Howard County, Iowa, and settled on the farm near Chester, Iowa, where she lived till she died. They endured all the hardships of early settlers. The trip from Cleveland, O.. took over a week; they took a boat from Cleveland to Detroit, from there to the Mississippi River by railroad by way of Chicago, then by boat up the river to Brownsville, and from there by team to the farm where they settled, and lived until they died. There were no roads or railroads here at that time, only emigrant and Indian trails. Lime Springs was the nearest post office, and the town only consisted of a log house at that time. The first winter, here was one of the hardest winters ever known in Iowa, it was the winter of the hard crust. During the first few years she used to be left alone for weeks at a time with her oldest son Herman who was then a baby, while her husband was away at work trying to earn something for his family to live on. The Indians were frequent visitors in those early days; the white settlers were few and scattering and far apart. She was always a very busy, energetic, industrious, hardworking, upright, honest, Christian woman, working at her usual work up to within two days of her death, as she was sick only two days before she died. She had never stayed away from the farm over night during the 55 years she lived on the farm. She was respected and loved by all who knew her. Her last words were: "The Lord’s will be done.” She was confirmed in the German Lutheran church at the age of 14.
She is survived by her three sons, J. H. and E. J. of Le Roy, Minn., and F. A., who lives on old homestead near Chester, Iowa.
The funeral was held at the old home near Chester and was largely attended. Those attending from away were I. L. Eaton, Wm. A. Stockman, John McCook, C. D. Nichols and John Coyle of Cresco, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Joe. Richards of Cherry Grove, Minn., Mrs. Price and Dave Thomas of Lime Springs, Iowa.
The floral tributes were many and beautiful. Rev. Smith of Le Roy, Minn., and Rev. Maxwell of Lime Springs officiated. The interment was at Chester cemetery by the side of her husband who preceded her eleven months ago.

Chester Hill Cemetery
 

Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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