Vitzthum, Maud C.(Mrs. John Casper) 1869-1904

VITZTHUM, CALDWELL

Posted By: Lydia Lucas-Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/12/2011 at 20:05:25

A SAD DEATH

Mrs. Vitzthum of Rock Valley--wife of the prominent land and loan agent and democratic politician--died Sunday [Feb. 21]. The following account of her life and last illness is taken from the Sioux City Journal:

After having come to Sioux City on a pleasure trip and being taken suddenly sick, Maud Caldwell Vitzthum, wife of J. C. Vitzthum of Rock Valley--exhausted by a ten days' struggle with pneumonia succumbed Sunday morning at the home of her parents, Mayor and Mrs. E. W. Caldwell, 1110 Jackson Street. The funeral was held at the Caldwell residence Tuesday afternoon, Rev. Powers of the First Unitarian church conducting the services. Sioux City was the birthplace of Mrs. Vitzthum, who came into the world on July thirty-first, 1869 shortly after Mayor and Mrs. Caldwell had taken up their residence here for the first time. The interment was in Floyd cemetery.

Mrs. Vitzthum came to Sioux City on the tenth as a member of a party of Rock Valley residents who composed a theater party which saw "The Prince of Pilsen" at the Grand opera house that evening. Mrs. Vitzthum had been suffering with a cold, the after effects of an attack of the grip which had come to her during the holidays. Her condition became serious on the day following the theater party, and the physician who was called to attend her pronounced her ailment pneumonia. At different times during her ten days' seige she hovered between life and death, but during the latter part of the past week the indications were of an encouraging nature, and the members of her family fully expected her to recover. The fatal change for the worse came on Saturday evening, and after a very bad night she breathed her last not long after daylight, with all her nearest relatives at her bedside.

Mrs. Vitzthum leaves a husband and two children Dorothy aged ten and John who will be four years of age in May. The bereaved husband came to Sioux City on the same pleasure trip which brought the deceased woman here and has been at her side constantly since she was taken to her bed. The children also are at the Caldwell home. In Sioux City, Rock Valley and Sioux Falls, where she spent her girlhood and where she was married, Mrs. Vitzthum had more friends than the average person is blessed with in a lifetime, her exceptional qualities of womanhood winning her the regard of all with whom she came in contact. [here ends the quote from the Sioux City Journal]

Mr. Vitzthun is well known and popular over Sioux county and has the sympathy of many friends. In Rock Valley the Vitzthum home was noted for its hospitality and grief at its bereavement is universal. The Journal says further:

The general love and high regard in which Mrs. Vitzthum was held in the town where she spent the latter years of her sunny life were shown by the practical suspension of business at Rock Valley and the attendance at her funeral of Mayor O. G. Reiniger and the members of the city council. Fifty business men of the town united in sending an elaborate floral token. The services were beautifully simple. The little house was filled with all the friends it could hold. The body lay in her father's library, where he and she had enjoyed so many happy hours together. The book shelves were hidden by a wall of flowers, reaching to the ceiling, and the casket was almost hidden in the sweet tributes of love and affection. In addition to the floral set piece sent by the business men of Rock Valley, set pieces were sent by the Sioux Falls lodge of B.P.O. Elks, the Sioux City lodge of the same order, the Rock Valley chapter of the P.E.O. society, city officials of Sioux City, clerks and employees of the city building, city council and police force, the Elks' ladies organization of Sioux City, Granite lodge of the Knights of Pythias of Sioux Falls, the Six-Hand Euchre club and the Ollapodrida club. There were likewise half a score of set pieces and potted plants from individuals and friends, and nearly two-score tokens in the way of cut flowers of most exquisite varieties, coming from friends in four states. These were removed from the residence after the ceremonies and banked about the grave, the cut flowers being finally distributed to the hospitals of the city. [here ends the quote from the Sioux City Journal]

The active pall bearers were Geo. D. Perkins, George Terwilliger, A. A. Smith, G. M. Pardoe and Carl Hamilton of Sioux City and James Thomas of Rock Valley. The honorary pallbearers were Mesdames Huizenga, Thayer, Thomas, Gartland, Jacobs and Rounds all of Rock Valley. Others present from Rock Valley were Dr. Huizenga, Editor Charles Mitchell, M. S. Huie and wife, Miss Rogers, Mesdames Foppe, Kettels and Mitchell, Messrs. C. J. Fink, Ed Thayer, D. Scanlan, Lawrence Murphy, P. A. Cummings and James Walpole.

Source: Alton Democrat, February 27, 1904.

* * * * * * * * * *

DEATH OF MRS. VITZTHUM
Death of Beloved Woman Occurred in Sioux City Sunday Morning

Seldom have Rock Valley people received such a shock as was felt last Sunday morning when a telegram came announcing that Mrs. J. C. Vitzthun had died at eight o'clock that morning at the home of her parents, Mayor and Mrs. E. W. Caldwell in Sioux City from pleural-pneumonia. The sad news quickly became known and the general sorrow was most profound, for a more womanly woman or queenly lady never lived than was Mrs. Vitzthum.

Mrs. Vitzthum was not well when she left here with the car party two weeks ago, but her condition was not such as to cause any apprehensions. The children, Dorothy and Johnnie were not well and it was about them that Mrs. Vitzthum was worried. But on Wednesday morning she became worse and was compelled to take to her bed, from which she never rose. The word of illness was received with much regret and there was a general rejoicing when the news came Saturday that she was improving. This changed to sorrow when the telegram came saying she had died.

Both the heart and mind of Mrs. Vitzthum was endowed with those qualities which make women loved. Kind, gentle and true, yet brilliant and attractive, she made friends of all. She has always been prominent in social affairs and in musical circles. But in her home is where her chief gifts were. She was devoted to her husband and children and put forth every effort to make this world happy for them. The Vitzthum home was one of those places where guests were always entertained in a most pleasant manner, and this was due in a large measure to the gracefulness, tact and genuine geniality of Mrs. Vitzthum. She was one of the most prominent members of the local chapter of the P.E.O. where her music and her bright mind were always enjoyed. It is a sorrowful duty indeed to be compelled to chronicle the taking off of such a character. It is hard to express just the thought that should be expressed. There are but few people in town who at some time have not received some kindness from her. Hers was a character to be more than admired. In her death Rock Valley has lost one of its most valuable possessions. The husband has lost a home maker in the best and truest since and Dorothy and Johnnie have lost that great blessing a mother. The parents have lost a beloved daughter and the brother and sister mourn. To these all the Bee would in behalf of the people of Rock Valley and itself extend sympathy which comes truly from the heart.

Maude Caldwell, eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Caldwell, was born in Sioux City July 31, 1869. For several years she made her home there and later went to Sioux Falls with them. It was there that she was united to J. C. Vitzthum in marriage twelve years ago, and since that time she has made her home in Rock Valley.

The members of the immediate family who are called upon to mourn are husband, J. C. Vitzthum, the children, Dorothy, age 10 and Johnnie, age 4, her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Caldwell of Sioux City, her sister, Miss Claudia Caldwell and one brother.

Funeral services were held from the Caldwell home at 1110 Jackson street, Sioux City, Tuesday afternoon and were conducted by the Rev. J. D. O. Powers, pastor of the First Unitarian church of that city. The services were attended by as many friends as could be accommodated in the hme.

The music was furnished by the Unitarian church choir. The Rev. Powers paid touching tribute to the beloved Mrs. Vitzthum, telling of her many excellent and loveable qualities. The active pall bearers were George D. Perkins, George Terwilliger, A. A. Smith, G. M. Pardoe and Carl Hamilton of Sioux City, and James Thomas of this city. The honorary pall bearers were the
Mesdames F. J. Huizenga, Millie Thayer, James Thomas, J. A. Gartland, C. W. Jacobs, and H. E. Rounds. Interment was made in Floyd cemetery. Mr. Vitzthun was supported by Dr. F. J. Huizenga.

The floral offerings were a fitting tribute to Mrs. Vitzthum. An elaborate floral token was sent by the business men of Rock Valley and besides this set pieces were sent by the Sioux Falls lodge of B.P.O. Elks, the Sioux City lodge of the same order, the Rock Valley chapter of the P.E.O. society, city officials of Sioux City, clerks and employees of the city building, city council and police force.

Those who attended the funeral from here and other out of town people are the mayor and council of this city including Dr. and Mrs. F. J. Huizenga, Mr. and Mrs. M. S. Huie, Mr. and Mrs. James Thomas, Mrs. J. A. Gartland, Mrs. Millie Thayer, Mrs. C. W. Jacobs, Miss Rogers, Mrs. H. E. Rounds, Mrs. J. B. Foppe, Mrs. S. A. Mitchell, Mrs. Paul A. Ketols, C. J. Fink, O. G. Reiniger, F. A. Cummings, E. S. Thayer, D. Scanlan, Chas. H. J. Mitchell, Lawrence Murphy, James Walpole.

Others who were present were the following: D. P. Beard and Mrs. George W. Shields, of Omaha, brother and sister of Mrs. Caldwell; Mrs. Lute Fulkerson, of Fremont, Neb., sister of Mr. Vitzthum; Mrs. J. Tomlinson, of Sioux Falls; Mrs. C. A. Elmendorf of Minneapolis, and Mrs. George J. Schaller of Storm Lake.

To extend sympathy to all who mourn, is to offer sympathy to all who knew Mrs. Vitzthum. She will be missed in countless ways in Rock Valley and it was a sad death to all of us. But we extend sympathy particularly to the bereaved husband and children.

Surce: Rock Valley Bee, February 26, 1904
==========================
Transcriber note: Her husband was John Casper Vitzthum, 1865-1926. See his obituary, posted separately.