William J. Pentz (1845-1939)

PENTZ, STERNEMAN, WEAVER, LUING, PAYNE, GARRETT, TURNER, CARMICHAEL, BEAL, LINDLEY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 7/31/2020 at 13:11:16

From Nevada Evening Journal September 23, 1939 (page 3)

Life Sketch of William J. Pentz, Civil War Veteran

Special to the Journal.
Collins, Sept. 23--Funeral service for William J. Pentz, aged Civil war veteran, who passed away Wednesday afternoon Sept. 20, at the home of his daughter Mrs. Sarah Weaver of Maxwell, were held from the Collins Methodist church at 2:00 p. m. Friday with the Rev. Thomas Humphrey of Des Moines delivering the funeral address, assisted by the Rev. Judson Perkins of Maxwell and the Rev. Ida I. Roberts of Collins.

A mixed quartet composed of Mrs. K. W. Tomlinson, Miss Calla Wood, Supt. G. E. Holmes and J. R. Witmer with Mrs. Hugh Fertig as accompanist, sang three songs "Bringing In the Sheaves," "Where We Never Grow Old," and "The Old Rugged Cross." The floral offerings were very beautiful and were cared for at the church and grave by Mrs. O. H. Gearhart and Mrs. O. N. Serbein. The deceased was buried, with full military honors, in Evergreen cemetery at Collins, the service being conducted by the Freeland Carver Post of the American Legion.

Pall bearers were chosen from the American Legion at Collins and Maxwell and were Arlow Heinrich, William Joor and Geo. Cook of Maxwell, L. D. Holland, J. R. Armstrong and C. E. Fish of Collins.

The following brief life history of Mr. Pentz was read by Rev. Perkins.

William J. Pentz, son of William and Mary Pentz, was born in Thomastown, Pennsylvania on March 30, 1845, and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Sarah Weaver of Maxwell, on September 20, 1939; aged 94 years, 5 months and 20 days.

Mr. Pentz spent his early years in and near Thomastown, Pa. In 1862 he volunteered for service in the Union army and enlisted at Harrisburg, Pa., serving in Company K of 107th Regiment of Pennsylvania. He was honorably discharged on May 9, 1865. He took part in the battle of Gettysburg, where he was captured and imprisoned first at Andersonville and later at Libby prison. He was on guard in Ford's theater and witnessed the shooting of President Lincoln. He also took part in the search for and capture of Booth, the assassin.

After his discharge from the army, Mr. Pentz came to Iowa and settled in Cedar Rapids where he entered into business. After about seven years he moved to Collins where he purchased a farm. That was 62 years ago He lived on the farm for about 27 years and then returned to Cedar Rapids. Since then he has divided his time between Cedar Rapids and his farm at Collins. Last April he came to make his home with his daughter, Mrs. Sarah Weaver, in Maxwell. In 1938 he paid a visit to the battlefield of Gettysburg.

As a child he was baptized in the Brethren Church at Thomastown, Pa. Later he united with the Methodist church in Cedar Rapids where his membership remained until his death. He had been a member of the G. A. R., having been a past commander of the T. Z. Cook Post, Cedar Rapids.

He was a good husband and father and respected by all who knew him.

On July 19, 1870, he was united in marriage to Ellen R. Sternaman at Center Point, Iowa. She died in 1936 after 66 years of wedded life. To this union twelve children were born, eleven daughters and one son. Three daughters preceded him in death.

Surviving are the eight daughters: Mrs. Sarah Weaver, Maxwell, Iowa; Mrs. Mary Lueing, Collins, Iowa; Mrs. George Payne, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Mrs. C. L. Garrett, Collins, Iowa; Mrs. Harve Turner, Moline, Illinois; Mrs. Jessie Carmichael, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Mrs. Charles Beal, Des Moines, Iowa, and Mrs. Lottie Lindley, Los Angeles, California, and one son, Gerald W. Pentz, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Many grandchildren and other relatives together with a wide circle of friends mourn his death.