ERDMANN, Johan "Carl" Frederich Wilhelm 1842-1914

ERDMAN, GENZ, JENTZ, SCHMIDT, HOLLATZ, SEEFELDT, MARCKS

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 1/29/2010 at 01:16:49

Johan Carl Frederich Wilhelm Erdmann was born at Galien, Pommern, Germany, January 13, 1842, and died at St. Ansgar, Iowa, July 13, 1914. He was baptized, confirmed and grew to manhood in his native home.

The 22nd of May 1868 he was united in marriage to Amelia Genz, who survives him.

The year 1870 he spent in the German army in the war against France known as the Franco-Prussian War, and with the army traveled through France and spent some time in Paris.

They possessed a comfortable amount of property and were in a prosperous condition in their native home. They were attracted by the lure of the new world, and came to America in 1877, coming directly to Iowa, and settling on a farm in Rock Township, Mitchell County, Iowa. They bore the usual hardships of the pioneer life incident to building up a new country. They resided on this farm until five years ago when they moved to St. Ansgar, which has since been their home.

He was a man who enjoyed remarkably good health until about six years ago at which time he has been afflicted to a certain extent with rheumatism. The disease which brought about his death was Bright’s Disease and its complications, the last being pneumonia.

Six children survive Mr. Erdmann. These are Martha who resides at home; Helen, now Mrs. Albert C. Hollatz, resided west of St. Ansgar; Amelia, now Mrs. E. Schmidt, residing near Plymouth; Otto and Emil who reside on the home farm in Rock Township; and Agnes, now Mrs. August Marcks, living south of town. These together with their widowed mother mourn the loss of a kind and affectionate husband and father. Two brothers and one sister in Germany, and one sister, Mrs. Seefeldt, in this country, survive him.

The funeral was conducted by Reverend Brammer at the German Lutheran Church on Wednesday, July 15th and his remains were laid at rest in the German Cemetery south of town.

[ St. Ansgar Enterprise, 1914, St. Ansgar Museum Collection ]