Traeder, Albert B. 1849-1884

TRAEDER, WOOTKE

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 4/27/2015 at 08:59:42

From: Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, August 19, 1884

A. B. Traeder

Monday, A. B. Traeder, one of Le Mars’ best citizens, was taken to his last resting place. He was one of those men who are always on their post of duty, unassuming, and, without expecting any recognition, or waiting for thanks, fulfill their part, are ready to help others when in need, and deny themselves serving others. While he was a quiet and peaceful man, never seen in political broils, yet in any contest, in any duty as a man, citizen, he was unflinching. As a member of the German M. E. church he was not only for years one of the trustees, a Sunday school teacher, a superintendent, a class leader, and lastly a local minister but he proved by his Christian life, by his acts and deeds, by his demeanor at home, in church and in business, a true and faithful Christian.

His death is a severe loss, crushing to his bereaved widow, with her two children, and severely felt by his many friends and the members of the German M. E. church of Le Mars; his loss will be felt in Le Mars, for in every good and noble enterprise we could count on A. B. Traeder’s support.

He was a native of North Germany, emigrated to the United States with his parent, Oct. 8, 1865. In Chicago, where he lived with his parents for eighteen months, he worked as carpenter, and when in the year 1876 he found in Le Mars some of his old friends, he settled here, and soon after went for his young bride, Miss Bertha Wootke, of Chicago, by whom he has had four children. Two of which died a year ago with scarlet fever. He was past 34 years of age, and in the prime of life and usefulness. His wife and children are left in comfortable circumstances having $1000 life insurance in addition to the accumulations of an industrious and frugal man, who, with his partner, had established a very prosperous business.

We omitted to state in the proper place that he died of brain fever, after an illness of less than three weeks duration. Just before being stricken down he officiated at the German M. E. church, preaching from the text: “Jesus saith unto him, go thy way, thy son liveth.” His remarks on this occasion were very impressive then, and now those who heard him feel that it was but his own funeral most fitly spoken. Very general sorrow is felt and all join in the closest sympathy to the bereaved family.