Beitelspacher, Carl 1857-1932

BEITELSPACHER, EDEN, HARMS, WESSELS, NOBLE, BUCHHOLZ, HAMAN, JOHNSON, ELCHELS

Posted By: Ardythe Rees Stoesz (email)
Date: 9/16/2007 at 18:10:15

From the LeMars Sentinel, October 1932:

SHINGLED FOR NOMINAL SUM

Carl Beitelspacher, Starting Life with Few Opportunities, Makes Success

OLD SETTLER IN GRANT

Came from Russia when Youth to Battle Life

Death claimed Carl Beitelspacher, a resident of Plymouth county for the past fifty-three years, at his home, 19 Third Avenue N. W., after a lingering illness of several weeks, Saturday, October 8, (1932) at the age of 75.

Mr. Beitelspacher lived a long vigorous and active life, being engaged in the pursuit of farming in Grant township until a year ago when he came to Le Mars to live.

Carl Beitelspacher was a native of Russia and was born at Odessa, February 20, 1857 where he grew to manhood. When a youth of nineteen in 1870, he made his way from intolerable conditions which enveloped his boyhood and sought adventure and freedom in a fairer land. He joined a colony of Russians which had located in Yankton county, South Dakota, and passed two years working on farms near Yankton and Scotland, S. Dakota. Coming to Iowa in 1878 he worked for a year in Sioux county and in the following year came to Le Mars. One of his first jobs was assisting in the shingling of the old Illinois Central railroad depot. He received twenty five cents a day while working and paid for his own keep. He then worked on farms and then engaged in farming on his own account. He made a success of his avocation by strict attention to his own business, hard work and perserverance and became a prominent and respected citizen in his home community.

He was a member of Christ Lutheran church, Mammom, for fifty-four years and held various offices in the church and its affiliating activities.

Mr. Beitelspacher was united in marriage in 1885 with Marie Eden of Jones County. Thirteen children were born to them. Four of the children died in the diptheria scourge which devastated many homes in Plymouth county in the eighties.

He is survived by his wife, three sons and six daughters, who are Fred C. Beitelspacher, of Rockwell City, Iowa; Henry and Oscar Beitelspacher of this county; Mrs. Louisa Wessels of Ireton; Mrs. Maria Buchholz of Brookings, S. D.; Mrs. Anna Johnson, Mrs. Catherine Harms, Mrs. Clara Noble, Miss Caroline Beitelspacher, all of this county. There are eighteen grandchildren. Two sisters, Mrs. Louise Haman and Mrs. Christine Elchels, live in the old house in Russia.