Winnebago County WI Archives Obituaries.....Ernest, Conrad August 16, 1900
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/wi/wifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
R Percey rpercey@aol.com September 25, 2010, 11:32 pm

Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, Friday, Aug. 17, 1900 p. 6
Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, Friday, Aug. 17, 1900 p. 6

CONRAD ERNST DIES AT ST. MARY’S

PIONEER BUTCHER EXPIRES FOLLOWING AN OPERATION

Deceased Had Been Ill for Past Three Weeks - As a Last Resort Operation Was
Performed Wednesday 
Afternoon - His Life

Conrad Ernest, who for more than fifty years was engaged in the butcher
business in this city, died Thursday afternoon at 3:10 o’clock at St.
Mary’s hospital, following an operation which was performed as a last and
only resort, and in the hope that the man might survive. He was nearly
seventy-eight years of age and on account of his years the family
entertained little hope of his recovery. About five o’clock Wednesday
afternoon Mr. Ernst was taken to St. Mary’s hospital in a carriage and an
operation was performed. The attending physicians advised the operation as
they said he could live but a few hours unless this was done and there was
a slight chance he would survive the operation. He weakened gradually
however and breathed his last shortly after three o’clock Thursday
afternoon. His family in this city were at his bedside and he was perfectly
conscious and recognized them. Death came quietly and without apparent
pain. Deceased first became ailing about three weeks ago. For two weeks
previous to the last he was confined to bed. Inflammation set in and it was
decided that the only resort was the operation.

CAREER OF THE DECEASED

Conrad Ernst was one of the first butchers in Oshkosh and more than fifty
years ago, when this city was not much more than a village, he started in
business and surmounted many trying difficulties, building a large trade.
He made a life-long profession of butching. He was born in  Angstbach, near
Wiesbaden, Nassau, Germany, October 10, 1822 and would have been seventy-
eight years of age next October. He was reared and educated in the town of
his birth and when thirteen years of age commenced to learn the trade of
butcher. He worked at the business in many of the large cities in Germany
until 1849, in which year he emigrated to the United States, and coming to
Wisconsin took up his residence in Milwaukee. Here for several months he
followed butchering.

On the 10th of October, 1849, his birthday anniversary, he removed to
Oshkosh and here was his abiding place ever since, with the exception at
Beaver Dam in agricultural pursuits and in becoming acquainted with the
English language. During his early business career he had a host of
difficulties to contend with, through lack of transportation facilities and
ordinary conveniences. It was not uncommon for him to travel on foot to
Omro or other towns, some forty or iffy miles distant, purchase catte,
drive them back to Oshkosh slaughter them on the day of his return.

Among other serious drawbacks in the life of Mr. Ernst was the difficulty
he encountered by fire. He was burned out no less than seven times, in
nearly every instance the fires did not originate in his own building but
adjoining ones. His first fire loss amounted to $18,000 and the insurance
had expired but three days before the fire. But his indominable will and
energetic business methods enabled him to overcome obstacles and through
industry and perseverance he succeeded in accumulating a large business and
a snug competence for his declining years.

Feb. 26, 1851, Mr. Ernst was married to Frederica Wilhelmina Reinhart, who
was born Oct. 26, 1829, in the the village of Rosbach, Saxony, Germany. His
wife died in 1891. Twelve children were born to them. Those surviving are
the following: Mrs. William G. Brauer, Richard Ernst, Oscar Ernest, Mrs.
Henry C. Roenitz, and Miss Amanda Ernst, all of this city, and Mrs. William
Roche of Chicago.

Deceased was a member of but one organization, the Oshkosh Turnverein.

The funeral will be held Sunday afternoon at two o’clock from the
residence, 60 Main street. Rev. E.H. Smith will officiate. The pall bearers
will be grandsons of the deceased, H.W. Roenitz, W. E. Brauer, H. G.
Brauer, Alfred P. Brauer, O. A. Derksen, E. A. Derksen.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wi/winnebago/obits/e/ernest650gob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/

File size: 4.6 Kb