Obit: Sternitzky, Charles #2 (1832 - 1900)

Contact: Stan

Surnames: STERNITZKY OPELT MARTH

----Sources: NEILLSVILLE TIMES (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 01/18/1900

Sternitzky, Charles #2 (5 MAY 1832 - 12 JAN 1900)

Chas. Sternitzky of Lynn (Clark Co., Wis.), died at the Merchants Hotel in Neillsville (Clark Co.) at 9:30 p.m., Friday, of pneumonia. He was taken sick shortly after the breakfast hour that morning, and went up to his room and sat down on the edge of his bed. Friends sent for Dr. Lacey, who came promptly and found Mr. Sternitzky with his face turning purple, and having hard work to get breath. Hypodermic injections of morphine were administered, Dr. Conroy called in and the two worked over him all day, giving oxygen, bleeding and doing all that science could do to ward off death, but the end was inevitable, and he died at the hour stated. The remains were taken to his home Saturday morning by team, and the funeral held Monday.

He was at the county seat representing his town as a member of the county board, and had been actively at work at the courthouse the day before. He had a few days before attended the annual meeting of the Lynn Mutual Insurance Co., and made his report as secretary and treasurer.

On Thursday, while he, with others, was coming down from the courthouse, he slipped and fell on the icy sidewalk in front of the Stannard residence, and was helped up by those about him, and it was thought that his sudden sickness was in some way brought on by the fall, but the doctors say not.

Charles Sternitzky was one of the pioneers of his section, having lived there some forty years. He cleared his farm at a time when Lynn was deep in the remote wilderness, where, with his three brothers, Ernest, James and Henry, he became prosperous and wealthy. He leaves two sons, Albert and William, and two daughters, Mrs. John Marth and Mrs. M. Opelt of this place. He had held many town offices, was at one time a candidate for county clerk, was one of the organizers of the Clark County Agricultural Society and always loyally supported the society. For years he was a justice of the peace, administering justice impartially, and was in all his relations and deportment so patriarchal and kindly that he was regarded by all as a friend and wise counselor.

He was born in Germany, May 5, 1832, and settled in Clark Co. in 1856, with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Sternitzky, who are still living here.

The principal work of his life was the upbuilding, with the aid of others, the Lynn Mutual Fire Insurance Co., which is one of the model companies in Wisconsin, the report published in these columns last week showing $1,747,009.00 insurance in force Dec. 31, 1899. He put much careful thought into this work. He had, incidentally, kept a store near his home for some years. He was a public spirited citizen, and realized as few do that public affairs, in a republic, call for the personal attention of every citizen, and strove to fulfill his duty in this particular.

He was but 68 years of age at the time of his death, was a jovial, rotund, pleasant faced man, always appearing to be in sturdy health. He belonged to the class of men to which Bartemus Brooks, Uncle Billy Yorkston, and John Ure, senior, belonged, all sturdy pioneers, and all dead. His death is a distinct loss to the county, where he has for many years been so prominent a figure.