Wathier, Sebastian 1858-1935

WATHIER, WERTZ, REISER

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-volunteer
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:38

Source: Alton Democrat (10-25-1935)

Born: April 22, 1858
Died: October 16, 1935

SABASTIAN WATHIER, SIOUX COUNTY SETTLER IN 1882, BORN IN JACKSON COUNTY, IOWA--FUNERAL OF EARLY SETTLER HELD SATURDAY

Funeral services for the late Sebastian Wathier, Alton farmer since 1882 who died at his home northeast of town on October 16, were held on Saturday morning, October 19, at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church at Alton, the Very Reverend M.A. Schemel, pastor of the church, officiating. Burial was held St. Mary’s Cemetery, beside his good wife who died February 2, 1929. The six sons of the deceased pioneer acted as pallbearers.

Mr. Wathier was born in Jackson County, Iowa, on a farm near Otter Creek on April 22, 1858, the son of Johann and Maria (Wertz) Wathier. His father had come from French province of Alsace. The family name of his mother, who had been highly educated in the old country, was Wertz. On June 7, 1881, he married Miss Susan Reiser, also of the Otter Creek neighborhood, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church at Otter Creek, and after living the rest of the year in that neighborhood they came to Sioux County in the spring of 1882 where they purchased a farm which was the virgin prairie land. Mr. Wathier had come up here the preceding fall and engaged carpenters to build a small house on the place which is still part of the present home on the farm.

He was the last of his generation of the Wathier family, the younger of three brothers. The other two Nicholas and Mathias, preceded him in death. Both lived in Jackson County.

Mr. Wathier’s judgment as always highly respected by those who knew him. He was conservative by nature. His livestock bore a high reputation in the neighborhood, his farming methods were thorough and the land well tilled. In later years he acquired two more farms south of Alton which his son John operated before the latters death. The tragic passing of Joe nearly 20 years ago was a severe shock to the parents. Mr. Wathier was one the exceptions who kept his head during boom times and never expressed any desire to purchase any more land after the death of his son John.

The names of the children who survive, not in the order if their ages are as follows: Math, George and Miss Ida, at home; Joe, Centerville, South Dakota; Miss Elizabeth and Charles, Kimberly, Idaho; Mrs. Lena Kohles, Twin Falls, Idaho; Henry and Leo, Anna (Mrs. A.L. Streff), and Clara (Mrs. George Bowers), all of Alton.

Four sons of his late brother, Nic, were here from Jackson County to attend the funeral--Math, Nic, John and Waldo Wathier--and also Herbert Pitz, of the same county. The late Mrs. Wathier’s two brothers, Peter and Frank Reiser, and the latter’s two daughters: Misses Irene and Margaret Reiser, also a nephew, Melvin Lueken, all of Butt, Nebraska, also came Friday. Mr. and Mrs. John Feiler, daughters Alverna, Marie and Gertrude, of Granville, attended the funeral. Mrs. Will Henrich and her son, Arthur Henrich, both of Centerville, South Dakota, also came, as well as old neighbors of Mr. Wathier from Orange City and from the Granvile vicinity, as well as Mrs. Al Jonas, formerly Miss Martha Herrig, of Ashton, and Mrs. Anna Bellaire of Le Mars. Katherine Erickson of Cannon Falls, Minnesota, a granddaughter arrived Saturday morning for the funeral.

All of the children attended the funeral. Mrs. Lena Kohles, Miss Elizabeth and Charles Wathier, of Idaho, are remaining here for a visit and also Miss Erickson of Cannon Falls. Mrs. Peter Reiser and Melvin Lucken of Butte, Nebraska, are also visiting here this week. The Wathier boys returned to Jackson County Saturday afternoon.