Weiser. Emillius I. Capt. 1835 – 1902

WEISER, VAN HOFF

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:46

Source: Decorah Republican Oct. 30, 1902 Page 2 Col 2, 3

WEISER.
“Capt. Weiser is dead!”
That brief exclamation last Tuesday evening carried more of pain and grief to more hearts in Decorah than could the death of any other citizen. In all that relates to honor in manhood,—uprightness in business and citizenship,— or purity in personal life he was a model citizen. Glad—yea, gladder than words can tell—are we that, after an intimate acquaintance of more than forty years, we can thus write without sifting or limiting our words of eulogy.
Emillius I. Weiser was born in York Pa., April 10th, 1835, and died aged 67 years, 6 months and 18 days. He was educated in the schools of his native town and when sixteen years old began his life occupation as a pharmacist. In 1856, or soon after coming of age, he was attracted westward, and chose Decorah as his location because of the presence of his cousin, Horace S. Weiser, who had come here in the previous year. He started the pioneer drug store, and soon after was joined in it by his brother Albert, who subsequently moved to Preston. Minn., where he died. Capt. Weiser’s citizenship in Decorah began April 15th, 1856, and ended Oct. 28th, 1902.
When the War of the Rebellion broke out, he was one of the first to enlist in what became Capt. Willett’s Company (D) in the Third Iowa Infantry and when officers were chosen he was most cordially endorsed to be first lieutenant. After the battle of Blue Mills, Mo., in which Capt. Willett was wounded he became its commander, and soon its captain by promotion. He was wounded in the knee in the battle of Shiloh, but the wound which ever afterwards was an almost constant cause for trouble was received in battle at Hatchie Oct. 5th, 1862. Every surgeon who examined his wound declared that amputation was necessary to save life: This he resisted with most emphatic declarations that he would live or die with that wounded leg. After a mouth in hospital at Bolivar, Tenn., that hospital was abandoned, and Capt. Weiser was removed to a private house, and Corp. Sever Ellingson was detailed to care for him. In his removal or immediately after it was found that the leg had been dislocated. It was again set and then began a long, sturdy fight for life. Capt. Weiser often said that he owed his recovery to the splendid care he had at the hands of Mr. Ellingson. He almost went down to death’s door: an abscess formed and its opening proved the turning point. It was late in the following spring that he recovered sufficiently to start homeward. Coming to McGregor by steamboat, the twain took a carriage for Decorah. His coming was heralded, and the town turned out en masse to meet them. The greeting given was one of the tenderest, but hilarious. The horses were discarded, and the young men—all were young then— drew the carriage into town. From that day onward, until his death, Capt. Weiser has been a beloved citizen.
Then began again the long and honorable career of the deceased as a business man and citizen, which won for him a competence. Though often pressed to accept political honors, be sturdily refused; but he never failed to perform every political duty the good citizen owes to his country.
In 1864 he married Miss Mary Van Hoff, and they began a home in which there was ever comfort, concord and domestic happiness. Three sons have grown up in that atmosphere. K. .F. Weiser, a banker at Ortonville, Minn., Dr. S. V. Weiser, and Harry, a student at Culver, Ind.
Deceased was trained in the Lutheran church faith, but when, in later years, the question of personal duty towards his maker was brought home to him he settled it by an open alliance with the Congregational church, and from that day until earthly release came he maintained a devotion excelled by few. He did not shine in public exercises or on public occasions; but for a quarter of a century he has been a trustee, and the executive member of its board. It grew to be his accepted duty to care for all business details: and not one was ever forgotten by him, or omitted.
A like relation he held to Col Hughes Post, G. A. R. How many years he served it as Commander we cannot now say, but his devotion was unflagging. To it we owe the regularity of Decoration Day observance. Fourths of July could come and go with or without recognition; but not so with the annual memorial service- That was one of the trusts he took upon himself, and executed with an efficiency that knew no such thing as failure.
Such also, in a less prominent way, was his relationship to the order of Odd Fellows.
Time passes over the river one who, though only a private citizen, will be sorely missed in every relation he bore to others—the home, the church, and the society. Death came to him in its speediest form: his hours of suffering were condensed into but a few; but it found him not unprepared, he was ready for the last great change.
Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 3 o’clock from the Congregational church.

Phelps Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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