Raetz, John 1849-1917

RAETZ

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 12/12/2007 at 20:37:33

Also –
MET ACCIDENTAL DEATH. Fall From Wagon Brings Instant Death to John Raetz, Retired Farmer, Age 68 Years.

John Raetz, a well known retired farmer of Remsen, and for many years a resident of this vicinity, met instant death early Monday morning, when he fell from a wagon at the home of his son Fred, nine miles northeast of town.

Mr. Raetz suffered a fractured skull, and was dead before his son, who was standing at the horses’ head at the time of the accident, could reach him. The deceased was sixty-eight years old and leaves a wife and eight children. The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon in Remsen.

Mr. Raetz who with his wife and two youngest sons, lives in town, spent several days last week at the home of his son Fred, who lives on the old farm northeast of town. The old gentleman prepared a quantity of wood for his own use, and was about to start for town with a heavy load. He being quite feeble, the son held the horses while the father mounted the wagon. He seated himself on an improvised seat consisting of a sack of oats, which was about level with the top of the double wagon box. When the horses started they walked slowly and had only gone about fifteen feet when Mr. Raetz fell over the edge of the wagon to the ground. He fell off the right side of the wagon, while Fred was holding the horses on the left side, consequently the latter was unable to tell the exact nature of the fall. He immediately ran to the side of his father, who was to all appearances dead, with a deep gash over his left temple. Dr. Heller was immediately summoned and upon his arrival the body was taken to Remsen.
John Raetz was born in Baden, Germany, May 2, 1849, a son of John and Sophia Raetz. The parents were farmers, and John grew to manhood at his home. He served in the German army for three years, fighting in the Franco-Prussian war, and took part in a number of important engagements. He remained in Baden until 1878, when with his brother Rudolph he came to the United States, locating near Newhall, Benton county, Iowa. There he worked for a farm for one year, after which he entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad. In 1883 he bot a farm in Benton county. In the same year he was married to Kate Krahling, also of Benton county, and the couple came to Plymouth county, locating in Meadow township. To this union eight children were born, all of whom are living. They are John and Louis, Graceville, Minn.; William, Ashton, Iowa; Fred, of Meadow township; Emma, Marcus, Iowa; Minnie, Hawarden, Iowa; Edward and Carl at home.

The funeral was held this afternoon and was conducted by Rev. M. J. Domman of St. John’s Ev. Luth. Church, Le Mars. Services were held at the home at 1:30 and at St. Paul’s Ev. Luth. Church at 2:00. The funeral was very largely attended.
– Remsen Bell-Enterprise, May 31, 1917, page 1, column 3.
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[Another Obituary]

LeMars Sentinel
June 1, 1917

FELL FROM WAGON
AGED REMSEN RESIDENT IS INSTANTLY KILLED
THROWN FROM A LOAD OF WOOD
Deceased Was A Native of Germany and Fought in the Franco-Prussian War and
Came to America in the Seventies, Locating in Iowa

John Raetz, a retired farmer living in Remsen, met instant death last
Monday, when he fell from a wagon at the home of his son, nine miles
northeast of that place.

Mr. Raetz, who with his wife and two youngest sons, lives in town, spent
several days last week at the home of his son, Fred, who lives on the old
farm northeast of town. The old gentleman prepared a quantity of wood for
his own use, and was about to start for town with a heavy load. He being
quite feeble, the son held the horses while the father mounted the wagon. He
seated himself on an improvised seat consisting of a sack of oats, which was
about level with the top of the double wagon box. When the horses started
they walked slowly and had only gone about fifteen feet when Mr. Raetz fell
over the edge of the wagon to the ground. He fell off the right side of the
wagon, while Fred was holding the horses at the left side, consequently the
latter was unable to tell the exact nature of the fall. He immediately ran
to the side of his father, who was to all appearances dead, with a deep gash
over his left temple.

Mr. Raetz was born in Baden, Germany, and served in the Franco-Prussian war.
He came to the United States in 1878, settling in Benton county and to
Plymouth county in 1883.

The funeral was held yesterday at St. Paul’s church in Remsen, Rev. M. J.
Dommann, of LeMars, officiating.