50th Anniversary Notice for SPRENGER, Mr. Christ and Mrs. Bertha (GAREIS)
(1932), New Ulm, Brown Co., MN  
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New Ulm Journal - November 1932
MR. AND MRS. CHRIST. SPRENGER MARRIED HERE FIFTY YEARS AGO
  Election day marked a memorial even in the lived of Mr. and Mrs. Christ. 
Sprenger, wellknown local residents, for half a century.  It was their 
golden wedding anniversary, and they fittingly observed it by entertaining 
those of their children, who were able to be present, and a few other near 
relatives and intimate friends, at their home on North Broadway, Sunday.
  Dinner and supper were served, and a pleasant social time enjoyed.  The 
venerable couple received a number of beautiful and appropriate gifts, 
including a large basket of yellow chrysanthemums, from the city officials, 
a golden bowl from the Junior Pioneers, and individual presents from 
relatives.
  Among the guests at the golden wedding celebration, Sunday, were Alphonse 
W. Sprenger, Chicago, Ill.; Edward M. Sprenger, St. Paul; Mr. and Mrs. 
Paul Wiedenmann, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Schwieger, and Mrs. Howard Krueger, 
Sleepy Eye; Mr. and Mrs. John Gareis and son, Harry, Essig; Mr. and Mrs. 
Leo A. Sprenger and family, Mrs. Peter Sprenger, Frank Schneider, Mrs. Paul 
Bear and son Raymond, New Ulm.
  When Mr. Sprenger came into being, he was literally "a babe without a 
country", for his birth occurred on a sailing vessel in mid-Atlantic, 
while his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Peter Sprenger, were enroute 
to the United Sates from their native village of Gibian, Kreis Pilsen, 
Bohemia, Austria. The date was August 11, 1855.
  After landing on our shores, the family journeyed westward into Iowa, 
where the following winter was spent.  In the spring of 1856, they 
continued their journey northward, to New Ulm, or, rather, to what is now 
New Ulm, for, at that time, there were no houses here, although the 
townsite had been platted.
  Mr. and Mrs. Sprenger, Sr., decided to devote their endeavors to 
agricultural pursuits, and therefore, located on a homestead in Cottonwood 
township, 2 1/2 miles south of this city.  Because they had always been 
friendly with the Sioux Indians, who were quite numerous in this community, 
at that time, they did not deem it necessary to abandon their farm home, 
during the uprising of 1862, and experienced no fear of the redmen. This 
peace of mind was warranted, in view of subsequent events, for they were 
not molested by savages, and no harm came to them or their possessions, 
at the hands of the Indians. While yet a little boy, the jubilarian 
played daily with the Indian children, and the youngsters, as well as 
their elders, were often given food by the Sprenger family.  This 
kindness accounted for the friendly feeling of the redmen toward them, 
during the uprising.
  Farming was not to Christ Sprenger's liking, as he believed the 
mercantile field offered better opportunities.  So, in 1878, he succeeded 
in securing a position in Behnke Bros.' general merchandise store here, 
which was one of New Ulm's pioneer business establishments.  In 1880, 
he transferred his activities to Crone Bros.' department store, and was 
in the employ of the latter firm, for 43 years, until it was dissolved 
and went out of business. Mr. Sprenger remained with its successor, the 
late Adolph G. Schulke, for three years thereafter, and then served as 
assistant assessor here, during four seasons.  In April, 1930, he was 
elected as city treasurer, and re-elected to that office last April.
  Bertha Gareis was born, January 20, 1861, in Bavaria, Germany, and 
emigrated to America, with her parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. John Gareis, 
in April, 1872, at the age of 11 years. That was about four months before 
the Indian uprising.  The family located on a homestead in Milford township.
  Christ Sprenger and Miss Bertha Gareis were married at Holy Trinity 
Catholic Church here, by the late Rev. Alexander Berghold, November 8, 
1882, and have since resided in New Ulm.  Of the seven children born to 
their union, two died in infancy, and one son, Emil, passed away, in 
September, 1922, at the age of 38 years.  The living sons and daughters 
are: Leo A. Sprenger, New Ulm; Edward M. Sprenger, St. Paul; Alphonse W. 
Sprenger, Chicago, Ill., Miss Crescentia Sprenger, at home.  There also 
are six grandchildren.
  Despite their ripe ages, the venerable couple are still enjoying robust 
health.  In the sunset of their lives, they can look back over the past 
and count the many years, that they were not all sunshine, nor were they 
entirely dark and dreary.