Albert J. Woltzen, for many years one of the most prominent citizens of the vicinity of Benson and Roanoke, died at Benson on last Friday night at 10 o'clock at the home of his daughter, Mrs D.G. Moritz, aged 86 years, 3 months and 27 days. He had been sick for eight days, mainly due to the infirmities of age, but before that had been about in good health. Ten years ago he had a sick spell, when he was afflicted for about a year.

Funeral services were held on Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at St Peter's church two miles west of Benson and burial took place at the church cemetery there. The services were conducted by Rev Fred Seifert, who spoke in English, and by Rev J. Hafferman, who spoke in the German language. Those who acted as pallbearers were the five sons and D.G. Moritz. Among those from out of town who attended the funeral were A.G. Jacobs and daughter, Mary, Mr and Mrs Herman Jacobs and Mr and Mrs Albert Saathoff, of Pontiac; Adolph Woltzen, of Washburn; Jurgen Harms, of Minonk; Mrs Ede E. Woltzen, Harm and John E. Woltzen, Mr and Mrs Albert DeWilde, Mr and Mrs W. Brown and Mr and Mrs Carl Klumpe, of Roanoke.

Albert J. Woltzen was born at Riepe, Ostfriesland, Germany, on Jan. 8, 1836, coming to America with his parents at the age of 16 years. The trip was made in a sailboat, requiring eight weeks, and they landed at New Orleans, La. They came to St Louis and then to Peoria, where they lived on a farm east of that city for five years. On March 4, 1862, the deceased was married to Miss Tenna (should be Fenna) B. Saathoff and the young couple moved at once on a farm in Roanoke township, in this county. They lived there until 1910, when they went to Benson to (next four words are illegible) and where the wife died on January 14, 1911. Since that time Mr Woltzen had made his home with his daughter there, Mrs D.G. Moritz. Thirteen children were born to Mr and Mrs Woltzen, of who one is dead, Mrs Cassie Manninga passing away in 1912. Those who survive are John, Albert, Heye and Edward Woltzen and Mrs John J. Moritz, of Roanoke; E.A. Woltzen, Mrs George Hinrichs, Mrs Jacob Schroeder, Mrs D.G. Mortiz and Mrs Harm Tjaden, of Benson; Mrs Hallie Oltman, of Hoxie, Kan., and Mrs Kate Oltman, of Eureka. There also survive one brother, S.J. Woltzen, of Benson, fifty grandchildren and twenty-six greatgrandchildren.

The deceased came to Roanoke in its pioneer days and saw the country develop from raw prairie to beautiful farms. He was public spirited, taking an active part in public affairs, on the board of supervisors for several years, was on the building committee when the present courthouse was built and was treasurer of St Peter's Lutheran church for forty years. There are but few lived blessed with such fulfillment of an average man's desitny as featured the life of Albert J. Woltzen.