Christopher Stahlecker -1947

Friends in the Burlington community were saddened last Thursday to learn of the passing of Chris Stahlecker, 74, who died at the county hospital following an illness of five days. Mr. Stahlecker had been in failing health for some time. He had been a resident here for many years, first coing [SIC] to the Burlington community 53 years ago. Around the turn of the century, he carried mail to residents along the Lauchman north of Burlington, making the long drive with a horse and wagon, and it was interesting to listen to his memories of those early days on the eastern Colorado plains.
Christopher Stahlecker was born in Friedenthal, South Russia, Aug. 1, 1871, and departed this life April 25, 1946, at five o'clock in the afternoon, at the age of 74 years, eight months and 24 days.
At the age of two years, in 1873, he came with his parents to America, settling near Columbus, Neb. Six years later the family moved to Tripp, S. Dak., where they resided for 14 years. There he was married to Margaret Schmidke on Oct. 1, 1893. To this union were born four children, three preceding him in death. In 1896 they came to Colorado and later returned to South Dakota. The family again returned to Colorado, settling near Burlington, from where Chris carried mail for the Landsman district from 1899 until 1902.
On Nov. 17, 1901, his wife died. On July 19, 1903, he married his mourning widow, Christina Schachterle. To this union eight children were born, six of them preceding him in death.
In the fall of 1903 the family went to Longmont, and from there to Loveland. In 1907 he filed a homestead northwest of Sterling. In 1919 he settled at Brush, and one yeear [SIC] later he settled in a farm north of Bethune. In 1926 he moved to a farm 17 miles southeast of Burlington, where he remained until 1942. Being in ill health for a number of years, he moved to Burlington where he remained until his death.
He is survived by his widow; his son, Arthur, both of Burlington; two daughters, Lydia Gilbert and Ruth Sly, both of Denver; four brothers, Edward and Isaiah, Bethune, Colo., Fred and Gottlieb, Loveland, Colo.; three sisters, Lydia Weisshaar, Newberg Ore., Christina Knodel, of Loveland, and Barbara Adolf of Bethune; 14 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
Funeral services were conducted Saturday, April 27, at two o'clock at the Hendricks mortuary, the Rev. H. L. Woelber officiating. Burial was in Fairview cemetery.