Sohl, August (Johann August), 1868-1941

SOHL, REYELTS, TIEDMANN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/14/2022 at 11:29:19

From the Sioux Center News, July 31, 1941:

August Sohl, who was born November 28, 1868 in Germany, came to the U.S. at the age of two years. In 1899 he was married to Maggie Reyelts at Boyden, who died three years ago. To this union 10 children were born, 3 dying in infancy. The following survive; John, Bill, Eddie, and Arthur, 3 daughters; Adale, Frieda and Matilda. He passed away Thursday evening, July 24 at the age of 72 years, 7 months and 26 days. Funeral services were held Sunday in the Lutheran Church conducted by Rev. Zenk. Pallbearers were H .B. Reyelts, H. Schuett, Jake Tiedeman, Chas. Dickman, Wm. Reyelts and H. J. Schuett. Their son Eddie, who is stationed at Camp Claibourne, La. came home before his father died.

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From the Sioux County Index (Hull), August 1, 1941:

August Sohl, 72 Years Old, Laid to Rest Last Sunday

Sorrow-filled hearts laid to rest a devoted husband and father, a devout Christian, a kind and sympathetic friend and neighbor in placing the mortal remains of Mr. Johann August Sohl in St. Paul’s Cemetery northeast of Hull, last Sunday. Mr. Sohl died Thursday, July 24th, at 6 o’clock, following a short illness. His age was 72 years, 7 months, and 26 days.

He leaves to mourn his passing his children: John of George, H. William of Doon, Arthur at home, Edward at Camp Claiborne, La., Mrs. William Hinsch of Doon, Mrs. Louis Fick of Luverne, Minnesota and Miss Mathilda at home; six grandchildren; three brothers: Fred of Sheldon, Gustav of Boyden and Henry of Rock Rapids; and one sister, Mrs. Christ. Hollander of Boyden. Mrs. Sohl died June 7th, 1938.

Services were conducted by Rev. A. F. Zenk, his pastor, with Weir and Claebout in charge. Pall bearers were H. B. Reyelts, Jacob Tiedemann, Wm. B. Reyelts, J. H. Schuett, C. H. Schuett, and Chas. Dickmann.

Obituary

Johann August Sohl was born the second oldest child into the happy union of Mr. and Mrs. August Sohl at Auerstade, Tp. Neuhaus, Hanover, Germany on November 28, 1868.

On the sixth of December of the same year he was brought into living fellowship with the triune God by baptism into Jesus Christ, the Rev. Meyer speaking the blessing. His childhood years were spent in the pious atmosphere of the parental home. These early impressions were of lifelong duration. This thorough training of the home and the Church prepared him to a happy Christian faith and trust, and with a glad heart he entered into active membership in the Lutheran Church by the rite of Confirmation on Easter Sunday, 1883, at Buelkam. This active membership he continued until death.

After his confirmation, up to the 25th year of his life, he found employment in town and country in his homeland. On November 9, 1893, he, with his parents, set out for the United States. The party arrived at Boyden, Iowa, on November 23 that year. They moved in with his brother William, who had resided there, for eight years. From this time he found employment on several farms in Sioux and Lyon counties, up to the year 1899. During these years the wish to own a fine farm and establish a family moved him to energetic, diligent and faithful service to his employers, so that his services as a helping hand were gladly sought and thoroughly appreciated by all.

This wish for a home of his own received new meaning and life when he made a more intimate acquaintance with Miss Anna M. Reyelts, whom he married on March 1, 1899. Their labors were blessed by God and the wish for a family and home materialized. Ten children would have graced the family had God not called three of them home in early infancy. They lived as tenants on a farm two miles east of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, northeast of Hull. During this time Mr. Sohl entered into membership with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. This membership terminated in entering the triumphal gates.

In 1904[?], the Solhs purchased a farm four miles southeast of Doon. This location proved unsatisfactory and they sold and moved to a farm four miles north of Boyden in 1904. During the summer they purchased their present farm residence and on March 1, 1910, moved there. There they labored and prayed, and God blessed their efforts. This fine home stands a memorial to their diligence, thrift, management and Christian spirit. In this home they also blessed God for his great love to them when the children, neighbors and the many friends helped them celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in 1924.

But Mr. Sohl’s pathway was not one of roses alone: thorns also were present. Sorrow was his when God called three little ones from him. A deeper sorrow came when, on June 7, 1938, he laid his devoted wife to rest. Since that time a certain loneliness was his lot, and although his children outdid themselves in heeding his every wish—and at least in a measure replaced his loss—he yet entertained the wish to go home. Those little crosses, losses and ailments of a human life were also shared by him. For years he suffered from an injury to his arm. With the years other ailments made their presence known. The last one, in a mild form for years, became serious on July 13. Little hope was left. So it was that slowly amid patient suffering, life ebbed away and came to a close on July 24 1941, at about 6 o’clock.

In his passing a father, church member, friend and neighbor passes—one who was held in high esteem by all and loved.

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RESEARCH NOTES

A nearly identical obituary was published in the Boyden Reporter, July 31, and shorter obituaries were published in other area newspapers. That in the Sioux County Capital (Aug. 7) says that he died of an injury to his arm and other ailments.

His death certificate (informant John A. Sohl) has John August Sohl, widower of Margaret Sohl; resident of rural Boyden, 7-1/2 miles n.w. of Boyden; a farmer; resident of the U.S. and this community 48 years, 6 months; born November 28, 1868 in Germany; parents John Sohl and Minnie Sohl; died at 6 p.m. July 24, 1941; cause, myocardial insufficiency and bilateral pneumonia; due to old age and debility; buried in St. Paul Cemetery, 4 miles n.e. of Hull. It makes no reference to his arm injury. A handwritten note says "(over)", but no reverse side is found online.

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has him as August Sohl. His FindaGrave.com page has him as Johann August Sohl. His headstone as pictured in the Iowa Gravestone Photo Project has him as “Father – August.”

The 1925 Iowa state census for Sheridan Township, Sioux County shows him as Aug Sohl, age 56, born in Germany, and gives his parents as John Sohl and Minnie Tiedmann.