Wathier, Susan A. (Mrs. Sebastian) 1862-1929

WATHIER, REISER, PUETZ

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

Source: Alton Democrat (2-8-1929)

Born: December 10, 1862
Died: February 2, 1929

CAME HERE NEARLY FIFTY YEARS AGO-- MRS. SEBASTIAN WATHIER DIED SATURDAY AT THE AGE OF 66 YEARS.

Mrs. Sebastian Wathier passed at her home two miles east of Alton Saturday afternoon after an illness of only four weeks. Mrs. Wathier had not been well for more than a year but continued to do the housework of her home as usual up until a few weeks before her death. She was taken ill with cardiac asthma this winter but kidney trouble caused her to sink rapidly the last two weeks. Her death was not only a shock to the family but to relatives and friends, many of whom knew of her serious illness only a short time before she passed beyond.

Susan Anne, was the oldest daughter of Nicholas and Susan (Puetz) Reiser, pioneers who came from the dueby of Luxemburg and settled in Jackson County, Iowa, sometime in the “50”s. She was born at Otter Creek, Jackson County, December 10, 1862 and grew to young womanhood there, being married to Sebastian Wathier in St. Lawrence Catholic Church at Otter Creek on June 7, 1881, Reverend Father Mc Horn reading the Nuptial Mass and solemnizing the ceremony which made them man ad wife. They lived at Otter Creek the rest of that year but in the spring of 1882 Mr. Wathier came to Sioux County and bought the quarter section farm which is the southwest corner of Floyd Township.

On that farm she lived the rest of her life, happy in the care of her husband and children. She was greatly attached to her home and seldom left her family for more than a few days, and in the arts of the home was excelled, perhaps, by none. The early years were filled with hardships as so many of our early settlers can testify. Children came and the necessities of life were not always easy to obtain in the first few years. Later prosperity came but prosperity to her meant plenty. Luxuries were not looked upon kindly by early settlers and are not so regarded now by most of them. But no needy soul ever called at that farm and left empty handed.

Her parents moved to Butt, Nebraska several years after her marriage and her brothers and sisters, of whom she was the oldest of a family of eleven, including seven brothers, survive her, the parents having passed on.

She was a devoted member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and her family carefully reared in the teachings of that church. Fourteen children were born, the two oldest boys, John and Nick preceding her in death. The surviving children are as follows: Miss Elizabeth Wathier, Kimberly, Idaho; Joseph, Centerville, South Dakota; Math, at home; Mrs. V.F. Erickson, Mary, Cannon Falls, Minnesota; Mrs. Lena Kohles, Twin Falls, Idaho; Henry, Alton; Mrs. A.L. Streff, Anna, Alton; Charles, Kimberly, Idaho; Mrs. George E. Bowers, Clara, Alton; Miss Ida, Leo and George at home.

The brothers and sisters, who survive are: Peter, Frank, Joseph, Adolph, Charles, Benedict, and James Reiser, all of Butte, Nebraska; Mrs. W.J. Henrich, Centerville, South Dakota; Mrs. H.J. Cupp, Defiance, Ohio; and Mrs. George Luken, Butte, Nebraska.

Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at 9:30 o’clock at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at Alton, Reverend John Housmann reading the High Mass. The six sons acted as pallbearers. Burial was at St. Mary’s Cemetery here. Many friends came to pay respects to her memory.

A brother, Mr. Frank Reiser and daughter, Irene, and a niece, Miss Dolly Reiser, all of Butte, Nebraska, and the son Charles of Kimberly, Idaho, arrived Monday night. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wathier and son Sebastian arrived last Friday. Mrs. Anna Bellaire of Le Mars, a cousin, attended the funeral and also other relatives from nearby towns. Many from a distance were unable to come on account of the severe weather and sickness.

The family have the sympathy of the community in the death of the beloved wife and mother.