Emil Weingartner d. 1900

WEINGARTNER, PETERS, EAGAL SANDERS

Posted By: The Obituary Fairy (email)
Date: 8/23/2006 at 18:56:21

The Davenport Daily Leader; Friday, August 24, 1900:

Weingartner

Weingartner Dead

Dies at Osmond, Neb., This Morning

Resident of Davenport for Fifty Years and Secretary of School Board for Thirty Years - Member of Grand Army of the Republic and of Fraternal Lodge No. 221, A.F. and A.M.

Emil Weingartner is dead. The telegram received this morning by John J. Peters, secretary of Fraternal Lodge No. 221, A.F. and A.M. from Ed. C. Weingartner, his son, contained the following statement only: “Father died this morning. Remains will arrive in Davenport Sunday.”

There are no other particulars. It is not known even what time Sunday the remains will arrive. M. J. Eagal, commander of Aug. Wentz post, No. 1, G.A.R., received a like telegram.

Mr. Weingartner has not been feeling well for a long time past. When he was here in June last he said that he was not in good health. He had been feeling worse, however, and believed that he was mending. He was jolly and happy, as he always was when he was among his old comrades at arms, but there were lines about his eyes which indicated that he was not feeling well. After a week here, he went back to his Nebraska farm, and now comes the sad news of his death, scarce two months later.

Fifty Years His Home

For fifty years Emil Weingartner had made Davenport his home. Here was centered all of the scenes of his life. Born in Germany over seventy years ago, he came to this city when yet a very young man. He was energetic and full of hope and ambition. When the civil war broke out he was among the first to enlist and went to the front as a member of the Sixteenth Iowa Infantry and served under general Add. H. Sanders, and was on of the bravest and best soldiers of that brave and dauntless commander.

When he returned from the front, he settled here. He made it his home until over a year ago when he decided he needed a change and bought a farm near Osmon, Neb., whither he went with his son, Ed. C. and his daughter Miss Bertha. He did not experience the change in his health he had hoped for but believed still that it was the best for him to be out in the country.

Secretary for Thirty Years

Mr. Weingartner was elected secretary of the school board in 1869 and from that time on until June 1899 he served the Independent School District of the City of Davenport in that capacity. He was constant and untiring in his work. Faithful and true to every trust he performed his every task to the best of his knowledge and ability.

In addition to the duties as secretary of the board, he was compelled to take the census of the city every summer, for the purpose of getting the district’s appointment of the state among the district of the state.

As the city increased in size this grew to be an arduous task. He was getting old and the board asked him if he could not take some help. He reluctantly accepted. The assistant went to work and before the census was completed, Mr. Weingartner satisfied himself that a good many names were being omitted. He went over and corrected this work as far a he was able to do so, but never afterwards could the board induce him to accept assistance. This is told merely to show how conscientious and careful he was.

Last year he felt that the work was getting too heavy for him. He told a reporter of The Leader that he couldn’t stand it any longer. He would have to quit, and shortly afterwards he handed in his resignation. And it was with the deepest of regrets that the older members of the board voted to accept it.

His friends tried to persuade him to stay in Davenport, but he would not. He had made up his mind to go into the country. He broke all of those old associations and ties Masonic and his soldiers friends and went away. But he came back to see them at the time of their reunion in this city June 12 last, and he shook hands with his old comrades for the last time, on this side of the eternal river. He heard their campfire songs and listened to “Taps” and this morning the “reveille” sounded on the other shore.

He arose to the rank of captain of Company K., 16th Iowa during the war for his bravery. His whole life was just as brave as his army record. That is why he was so well and universally liked. There are many sorrowing hearts in this city today.

In addition to Mrs. Weintgartner and Ed. C. and Miss Bertha who were with deceased at the time of his death, he is survived by another son, Otto, who has continually made his home in this city. Another son, Emil J. Weingartner, entered the regular army at the breaking out of the Spanish war. He took sick while in the regular service and was brought to his home to die.

The announcement of the funeral services will be made later.