Obit for Peter VONBANK, (b. 1845 d. 1902) Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls 
MT

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Submitted by:  Steve Schack 
      e-mail:  sschack@uswest.net 

PETER VONBANK

Obituary, Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls, Montana, Feb 1902

PETER VONBANK DEAD

Resident of Great Falls for Twelve Years Passes Away While in Iowa  Peter 
Vonbank, for the past 12 years a resident of Great Falls, died yesterday 
morning while on a train near Sioux City, while en route to LeMars, Iowa, 
from an ailment from which he has been a sufferer for many months. The 
news of his death was received here in a telegram to his family early in the 
morning. One was sent in reply, to have the body prepared and shipped here. 
An answer was received last nigh that the body would leave Minneapolis this 
morning and arrive here Wednesday afternoon.  Mr. Vonbank, who was 57 
years of age, left Great Falls January 22 for LeMars, for the purpose of 
consulting a specialist. At the time of his leaving he was not any worse than 
he had been for some time and there were no thoughts of a fatal termination. 
He was in as good spirits as usual and expected to return in a few weeks.

He first went to Minneapolis, where he visited with a sister, and she 
accompanied him to LeMars. It was from this sister the message was 
received announcing his death, regarding which there are no particulars.  
While he was in Minneapolis he wrote a letter home, in which he stated he 
was feeling much better and therefore it was a greater surprise when the 
message arrived announcing his death that it would have been had no word 
been received from him.

Peter Vonbank was born in 1845 in Bash (Besch), canton of Bitborough, 
Prussia. When he was seven years of age he came to the United States and 
since that time this country has been his home. He first settled in 
Minneapolis, where he learned the blacksmithing trade and remained at it 
until 1865, when he entered the hotel business, which has been his vocation 
ever since.  After leaving Minneapolis, he removed to Jordan, Minn., where he 
bought a hotel and remained until April 12, 1890, when he came to Great 
Falls.

For several years he was engaged in conducting the Minnesota House on 
Third avenue south, which he named after the first state of his adoption. Later 
he conducted a grocery and lodging house on Fifth avenue north, between 
Tenth and Eleventh street, and then re-engaged in the hotel business, at the 
Minneapolis House, on Second avenue south.  About a year and a half ago 
he built the St. Paul House, on First avenue south, and was operating it at 
the time of his death. Mrs. Vonbank died about five years ago. He had 10 
children, all of whom are living here with the exception of Mrs. Haberbush, 
who resides in Anaconda.