Death of Christian Baltzer -- 1914

7 AUG 1914      Napoleon Homestead Newspaper
Napoleon, North Dakota

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      On Wednesday morning, August 5th, occurred the death of Christian Baltzer, sheriff of Logan county, at his home in Napoleon. Deceased was taken sick on the 5th of July, just one month previous to his death, with erysipelas, from which he rallied, but pneumonia set in, which place him in such a weak condition that he was unable to withstand the ravages of the disease and quietly passed away at about 4 o'clock a.m. on the above date.
     Deceased was born in southern Russia in April in the year of 1866. In 1885 he was married to his surviving wife and in 1889 immigrated, with his wife, mother and brother Andreas and two sisters, to America, locating at Scotland, S.D. He remained there until the following spring of that year, when he went to the state of Colorado, where he remained until 1896, when he removed to Logan county settling in the Brost settlement, now the town of Fredonia.
     In the year of 1902 he was elected clerk of the district court of Logan county in which capacity he continued for two terms, when he was elected county treasurer, which he also held for two terms.
     He was then elected sheriff and was just completing his second term in that office.
     He leaves besides his wife, five daughters. Mrs. Theresa Miller of King, Mrs. W. C. Tegtmeier of Herman, Minn., and Misses Mary, Rebecca and Emma, two sons, John of King, and William of this city. Also Andreas Baltzer a brother, residing north of Napoleon, and five sisters, Mrs. Stutz of Russia, Mrs. Margurite Bauer of the King settlement, Mrs. Wilhelmena Schweigert of Kulm, Mrs. Maria Stutz of Pethune [Bethune], Col., and Mrs. Eva Schoal  [Schaal] of Pethune [Bethune], Col. The latter two sisters being unable to be here for the funeral.
      The remains of the departed Christian Baltzer were laid to rest in the Napoleon cemetery yesterday afternoon, August 6th, 1914, the Rev. Wilms, German Lutheran minister of Wishek, officiating, assisted by Rev. C. C. Benson of M. E. church of Napoleon. The services were held from the M. E. church.
       News of the death of Sheriff Baltzer carried a general surprise to his friends far and near. He was until his late illness a man of robust health and strength, but the severity of the attack with which he became afflicted made rapid inroads upon his vitality and his strength was speedily exhausted. His suffering was at times very intense, but he made many rallies which lent hopes for his recovery.
       About nine o'clock of the evening preceding his death he said he could not hold out any longer and that he was going to die. His prediction came true at about 4:30 the following morning.
      Christian Baltzer will be long remembered as one of the prominent political factors of Logan county. He was a kind and generous disposition and was a powerful leader among his friends. He was re-elected several times to important county offices, and he always made good. His untimely death is deplored on every hand.
       The floral offerings were many and beautiful, bespeaking the high esteem in which our departed fellow citizen was held. The funeral cortege was the largest ever had here, as friends came from gar and near to pay a last tribute of respect to the departed.