Gaul, Peter 1856-1927

GAUL, DELPERDANG

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke--Volunteer
Date: 1/6/2017 at 16:51:08

Source: Alton Democrat (11-25-1927)

Born: July 19, 1856
Died: November 18, 1927

WELL KNOWN PIONEER WAS NATIVE IOWAN WHO CAME HERE IN 1880

Mr. Peter Gaul, a pioneer farmer at this vicinity, passed beyond last Friday after many months of illness. He suffered a stroke ten months ago and since that time had been filing.

He was a native of Iowa, born at Luxenberg, Iowa, July 10, 1856, aged 71 years and four months at the time of his death. He came to Alton in in 1880 and farmed in this vicinity continuously thereafter except for a year spent near Orient, South Dakota, until 1921 when he and Mrs. Gaul retired from active farm life and retired to a home they purchased in Alton.

His was a sterling, upright character, solidly built on the foundation of honest. Everyone liked Mr. Gaul and liked business dealings with him. He helped build up this community and was an asset to the town. Mr. Gaul will be greatly missed by a host of people who respected and valued him as a friend.

He married in 1882 to Miss Catherine Delperdang and they were the first couple to be married in the “Prairie” Catholic Church southeast of Alton, Reverend Meis performing the ceremony and celebrating Mass. Fifteen children blessed their home, two dying in infancy and Mrs. Ernest Kern preceding her father to the Beyond in September, 1915. The eight sons and four daughters who, with the sorrowing widow, surviving are: John and Martin of Alton; Peter, Anton, Lambert, Ferdinand and Fred P., all of Granville; Nic of Bancroft; Mrs. Mike Holles and Mrs. John Vortherms of Granville; Mrs. Fred Crout of Wilmont, Minnesota, and Mrs. Emil Hansen of Granville.

Besides the twelve surviving children there are thirty grandchildren. Mr. Gaul is also survived by three brothers and four sisters, as follows: Joseph of Dyersville, Henry and Nick of Luxemburg, Iowa; another brother John of Bancroft dying some years ago: Mrs. John Mores of Bloemington, Wisconsin, Mrs. Nic Klemes of Dyersville, Mrs. George Traufier of Dyersville and Mrs. John Goetzinger of Hennessey, Oklahoma.

All the children were present at the funeral services and also the brothers and sisters except Mr. Joseph Gaul and Mrs. Goetzinger who could not come. The six oldest sons acted as pallbearers at their father’s funeral which was held at St. Mary’s Church at Alton Sunday morning at 10:30 o’clock, every seat in the large church being occupied. The St. Joseph society of which Mr. Gaul was a member attended the services in body. Very Reverend Father J. Brune celebrated Requiem Mass and preached a fine sermon at the close of the Mass. Besides the brothers and sisters and their wives and husbands, some of the out of town visitors who attended the funeral were Henry Gaul and daughter Mary of Luxemburg; Nick Gaul of Luxemburg; Mrs. Henry Ginsbech of Sioux Falls; Nick Delperdang, Tony Delperdang and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Schiltz and children, Mr. and Mrs. Nic Ernest and daughter, and Mrs. Lambert Delperdang, all of Remsen.

The Alton Democrat joins in sympathy to the bereaved family in the hour in the loss of a beloved husband and folks and community in losing a splendid citizen.