Born : 01 Dec 1854
Date : 01 Dec 1922
Location : St. Mary's Cemetery, Rock Valley, IA
John Richter, an account of whose death was given briefly in last week's Bee, was born Dec. 1, 1854, at Burlington, Wisconsin, and died at his home in Rock Valley Nov. 28, 1922, aged sixty-seven years, eleven months and twenty-seven days. His early life was spent in his boyhood home, where he grew to manhood and received his training for life's work. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Schweir at Burlington, Wisconsin, in July, 1877. To this union seven children were born, all of whom survive their father. His wife preceded him in death seventeen years ago.
Five years after his marriage, in 1882, Mr. and Mrs. Richter moved to Sioux County onto a farm northwest of Rock Valley, which Mr. Richter farmed for thirty-two years. During all these years, he leased this farm and never had a written lease with the owner, the only lease being a verbal one, which shows the confidence that the landlord, as well as all others who knew Mr. Richter, placed in him. He was a man in whom everybody had the utmost confidence and trust. His word was always as good as honesty and integrity could make it. Everyone who knew him was his friend, because he had a way of making friends of all with whom he came in contact.
Mr. Richter was a faithful member of the Catholic Church, and of the Catholic Order of Moresters.
Mr. Richter retired from the farm four years ago and moved to Rock Valley where he resided until his death. His life was ever an active one. Even after he had retired from the farm, he was always busy.
He was truly one of the pioneers of the vicinity, having spent forty years of his life here, and passed through all the hardships, privations and inconveniences incident to pioneer life.
He leaves to mourn, seven children, Mrs. H.C. Koltze, of Minneota, Minn.; Mrs. Henry Rossmiller, Burlington, Wis.; Mrs. Clarence Ogden, Lennox, S.Dak.; and Julia, Alfred, John, and Lawrence, of Rock Valley, all of whom were present at their father's funeral. He also leaves three brothers and one sister, Henry Richter and Alfred Richter, and Mrs. Wm. Luke, of Burlington, Wis., and Wm. Richter of Rock Valley.
As mentioned in last week's Bee, Mr. Richter's death was due to a leakage of the heart. Although he had not been well for several months he was not confined to his home until about two weeks before his death, and even then he walked down town a few days before.
Funeral services were held Friday, December 1, the anniversary of his birthday, from St. Mary's Church in Rock Valley, conducted by Rev. Father Lynett. The services were largely attended. Among those from a distance who attended the funeral were, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Richter, Mrs. Wm. Luke, Mr. Theodore Richter, Mrs. John Ke??er?uger of Burlington, Wis.; Miss Mildred Ellerbrook, of Auburn, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. E.H. Richter, of Madison, S.Dak.; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Haas of Sioux City, Iowa, and Mr. and Mrs. D.A. Crowley, of Canby, Minn.
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to thank our kind friends and neighbors for their help and the many kind acts during the sickness and death of our father.
THE CHILDREN
The Rock Valley Bee - Dec. 8, 1922
