John Kartheiser (1842 - 1882)

Born 14 Oct 1842 in Ermsdorf, Echternach, Luxembourg

Ancestors

Husband of Catherine (Welter) Kartheiser — married 25 Oct 1866 in St. Mathias Catholic Church, Chicago, IL

Descendants

Died 1 Jun 1882 at age 39 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States

Biography

John Kartheiser migrated from Luxembourg to the United States.

Johann Kartheiser arrived in New York (Castle Garden) on June 7, 1862 aboard the ship "Richard Alsop" which had departed from Antwerp. His occupation was given as 'Carpenter'.

This man is among the most interesting persons in all the lineages I have researched. He was active in his Church, as well as in the local community of Luxemburger immigrants. John had been a founding member of the Chicago chapter of The Luxemburger Unterstützungsverein (Luxembourger Benefit Society).^[1]

Below is a translation into English of the article which appeared in the Luxemburger Gazette Newspaper (published in DuBuque, Iowa the week following his death on June 1, 1882):

"The Dreadful Death of a Truly Brave Countryman!"

In Chicago last Thursday the two-story frame planing and joining mill building of Kaeseberg & Rinn was destroyed by fire. The fire was discovered after it started in the storeroom and very quickly the whole shop was in flames. The very quick call to the Firemen and their valiant efforts with hoses and other equipment could not save the building.

The loss of the building is not irreplaceable, but the death of the Foreman John Kartheiser, who was loved by everyone, and who was a very brave Luxemburger is irreparable! The Deceased was (according to the 'Illinois State Newspaper') having breakfast in a nearby restaurant at the corner of Halsted and Division Streets when the fire broke out.

When he heard the Fire Call (alarm), he got up rushed out, and, without thinking of himself, plunged into the burning building in order to save some valuable books and papers from his desk on the second floor, where he then became trapped by the fire. He was never again seen alive.

The owners of the firm and his friends began to search for him as soon as they could, fearing the worst. All these men kept trying desperately again and again for over two hours before finally finding the unrecognizable corpse of the man.

The Firemen found his body at the southern end of the building as they searched through the rubble. It was an awful sight and the bystanders had to be made to leave.

Mr. Kaeseberg and Mr. Rinn were mourning over the victim's conscientiousness that made him such a great foreman and that he was a brave, true friend. Both men claimed that they would rather have doubled their financial loss if it would bring Kartheiser back to life. They speculate that Kartheiser went in after some documents on in desk on the second floor of the North end of the factory, then, when the way back was blocked by flames, he ran down to the South end of the room, searching for another way out when he was overcome by smoke and collapsed. The body was found buried under the rubble of the collapsed building.

John Kartheiser was born in Luxembourg, his cradle stood at Ermsdorf near Echternach, and came to Chicago in the spring of his youth. He was 41 years old and had worked in his same occupation for 16 years. Due to his industry and history he rose to the position of Foreman and had already put his whole heart into the growing work of this firm. For this he had earned the greatest respect and confidence, which he abundantly deserved.

What appears below are the translations of Death Notice and a brief poem of loss, love and sorrow which were published in the Luxembourger Gazette of Dubuque, Iowa at the time of Johann Kartheiser's death in June of 1882:

Death - Notice

Friends and Acquaintances here is the sad news that, in accordance with the unfathomable will of God, without any mistake on His part, our much beloved husband and father

Johann Kartheiser

on 1 June 1882, after only 40 short years, has suddenly crossed over to the better life in Kingdom come. The deceased was born in Ermsdorf City, Luxemborg. Surrounded by silence in our mourning, we pray for healing mercy upon his beloved children.

-Katharina Kartheiser, Widow, and his 4 children.

At the time of the above notice, the widow had lost one child to infant mortality via meningitis and was five months pregnant with her last child, Frank.

Her sad poem of loss is translated thus:

May He Rest in Peace

Oh! He is Gone! He is gone too soon for me and mine. Each one is so saddened by his passing. He was such a good father. Oh such a great grief, such suffering! He will forevermore be the blood of my heart, and that of our bereaved children. To someday follow him - that is our great yearning. And may God grant him peace and life eternal!"

- Chicago, IL 5 June 1882

Sources

• Link to Find-A-Grave Memorial # 145488130 for John Kartheiser
• Certificate of Death issued by Cook County, IL.;
• Several Federal Census Enumerations in Chicago,
• Luxemburger Gazette articles and obituary,
• Fraternal Yearbooks,
• City directories,
• Chicago Tribune articles and obituary.

• Keith Baker, family and historical documetary research. Unfortunately, much of the family-held myth was untrue: No, he never was the Head Bookkeeper for Marshall Field, and No, he and we are NOT descended from any European Royalty nor Aristocracy. (Thank God). See the Changes page for the details of edits by Keith and others.

1. ↑ Entered by Keith Baker, a G-G Grandson of Johann.