Obit of Anton F. PELTZ (d.1919), Sibley Co., MN USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Dwight Grabitske and --------------------------------------------------------------------- Arlington Enterprise Thursday 6 March 1919 CIVIL WAR VETERN DIES Anton F. Peltz, a well and favorably know pioneer settler and Civil War veteran of this community, passed away at this home in Arlington township Sunday morning, Mar. 2nd. He passed away peacefully after a short illness due to old age infirmity. he reached the age of 77 years, 2 months and 2 days. Burial will take place today with interment in the Henderson cemetery. The following relatives have arrived to attend the funeral: A. W. Peltz, South Bend, Ind.; John R. Peltz, Washington, D. C.; Geo. J. Peltz, Richmond, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Klepperich and William Klepperich, S. Paul; Mrs. Joseph Winter, Glencoe. Obituary next week. [Ed note: 13 March 1919 issue of Arlington Enterprise is not on the microfilm.] Here is the full Obituary for Anton F. PELTZ Courtesy of: Obituary - Arlington Enterprises Anton F. Peltz was born in Ober Slacinger Regersdorf Germany, December 31, 1841, and came to this country with his parents in 1851. They settled in Ohio where they farmed for 6 years. In 1857 they came to MN and took up a homestead southeast of Arlington. They opened a general merchandise store on this farm to cater to the needs of the pioneer settlers of the surrounding country. They obtained their goods from the nearest trading post, St. Paul, which at that time numbered only a few hundred souls, their merchandise being shipped up the MN River to Henderson. Often times they hauled their goods by oxen from St. Paul to Henderson and at other times when the roads were impassable, they carried the goods on their backs from Henderson to the farm. Mr. Peltz and his family suffered all the hardships of the early pioneers. Very little white flour was obtainable those days and they had to subsist mainly on coarse foods such as corn meal, ground with a hand mill. Meats were so scarce and high priced that only occasionally did they have any at their meals. Added to their daily struggle to make a living was the constant dread of an Indian uprising, as they were living among the savages. In the fall of 1860 Anton Peltz went to Henderson in search of work and secured a job on a steamboat, loading wood for fuel. In this was he paid his transportation and traveled down the Mississippi, finally landing at Memphis, where he assisted in the building of a levee. When it was apparent in 1861 that the Civil War was inevitable, he returned home. In response to President Lincoln's call for 600,00 more men after McClellans army failed before Richmond in July, 1862. Anton entered the Union forces. He enlisted August 12, 1862, at the age of 20 years, in Co. H 7th Regiment, MN Volunteers. The first week of his enlistment he marched with his Co. from Ft. Snelling to St. Peter, where they were joined by others from LeSueur and St. Peter. They went to the relief of New Ulm, which was being attacked by Indians, and they arrived in time to save the inhabitants from a terrible death at the hands of the savages. He took part in numerous battles with the Indians and was present in Mankato when 38 captured Indian warriors were hanged in the market place. They had been found guilty of massacring whites. After crushing the Indian uprising, the regiment was ordered south and his Co. took part in 21 important engagements of the Civil War, including the battles of Tupelo, 2nd battle of Bull Run, Nashville, Chickamaugua, etc. His army rifle, now in the possession of his children, bears the indenture of three bullets. In the battle of Tupelo, Conrad Warneske, standing at his side, fell dead with a bullet in his breast and John Winter was wounded in the arm. He was honorably discharged August 16, 1865, but was so ill from privation and exposure, that he was carried unconscious from the boat that brought him to Henderson. After his return from the war Anton acquired the old homestead from his parents and lived on the same until the time of his death. November 16, 1868, he was married to Caroline Zeiher and 10 children were born of this union. Mrs. Henry Klepperich, Mrs. Joe Winter, Mrs. William Klepperich, Henry, Anton, Frank, Annie, John, Louis, and George. Frank and Annie died in 1881. Antons life was filed with sorrow. One son, John met with an accident when 6 years old, that caused him to be bed ridden for over 8 years. His wife was accidentally burned May 3, 1897, and died from the effects 3 days later. In addition to these misfortunes, Anton never recovered his health which was impaired by his services in the war and culminated in a complication of diseases, death being caused by uremia following enlarged prostate glands. The funeral took place from the Henderson Catholic Church, Tuesday, March 6, 1919. Father Van den Heuvel reading the requiem mass. The pall bearers were: John Barth, John Kemp, George Haggenmiller, Charles Siebenand, Mat Hinsler, and George Berger. All the children were present at the funeral.