grave import

Obituary

Mr. E.T. Dankwardt, proprietor of the planing mill and sah and door factory north of the city and the largest individual owner of Burlington property, died at 11 o'clock last night at the family residence, 319 S. Seventh street. Although Mr. Dankwardt had not been in robust health for some years and had been confined to his home since last October, his condition was not known to be serious and his death comes as a great shock to his many friends and business associates. During his long illness he had the tender care of wife and children and died peacefully surrounded by his loved ones. Edward Theodore Dankwardt was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Otto Dankwardt and was born in Germany, August 16, 1845. When a lad of seven he came with his parents to America, landing at New York, after a sea voyage which consumed forty-two days. From New York the family journeyed by rail to the Ohio river. While en route the mother died, a victim of the dread cholera scourge of that year (1852) and was laid to rest near Cincinnati. The bereaved family continued their journey by steamboat down the Ohio and up the Mississippi until they reached Burlington, destined to be the home of the little German emigrant for fifty-seven years. The family first settled on a farm one mile west of Kingston where they resided until 1857 when then moved to a farm, six miles west of Burlington. In 1864 another move was made, this time to a farm on the Ridge road, where they lived for a period of three years. At the end of that time (1867) Mr. Dankwardt was married to Miss Mary J. Miller and the young couple left the parental roof and settled on a farm three miles north of Dodgeville until 1872 when they moved to a farm six miles west of this city. In 1887 the family moved to Burlington and has since lived here. Mr. Dankwardt recognized the value of Burlington real estate and from time to time became the possessor of sundry pieces of property until at the time of his death he is accredited with the ownership of one hundred and forty dwelling houses and in addition several business blocks and many vacant lots. He was also the sole owner of the planing mill and sash and door factory, which was founded by J.D. Harmer and occupies the extensive plant under the North Hill bluff on the site of the old island mill. Possessed of a keen, far-seeing mind, a trememdous industry and rare intelligence, Mr. Dankwardt from a humble beginning was able to accumulate by dint of his talents an estate which even in this day is counted considerable. He was well liked by his army of friends and his scores of employes and in his quiet and unostentatious way did a deal of good for the city's poor and unfortunate. He was honest and painstaking and leaves his children the heritage of an untarnished name. A great lover of home and all that pertains to the domestic side of life, Mr. Dankwardt's real thoughts were centered in his family and it is to its members that his death will be the greatest blow. He is survived by his widow and two sons and two daughters, A. Theodore and Nathan E. and Lydia J. of this city and Mrs. Clara C. Hartman residing on a farm west of town. Announcement of the funeral will be made later.

At 2:30 p.m. Saturday, from the residence of the family, occurred the funeral of Edward T. Dankwardt. The funeral and interment were private and hence only the family and immediate relatives were present. The casket was almost buried in floral offerings, many of which were rare and of beautiful designs. The ceremony was very simple, the arrangements of which were Mr. Dankwardt's request. The ceremony was characteristic of the deceased-modest and simple. When Mr. Dankwardt knew his end was near he outlined the arrangements for his burial. He asked that his friend, Senator T.G. Harper, conduct the same. Mr. Harper's remarks were a review of the life of his dead friend. In spite of the poverty of youth and without education or aid of powerful friends, his life had been one of unusual success and of great usefulness. his successes were of a character that made for the advantage of others and the benefit of his own city. His home life was pictured and it was there his kindly nature appeared at its best. The following old friends of the deceased acted as pallbearers; J.M. Scott, Geo. Stone, Fred Duckstein, E.A. Starkey, Fred Williams and William Magel. He was interred on the family lot in Aspen Grove cemetery. The kindly sympathy of our people will go out to Mrs. Dankwardt and their four children, all of whom were with him when the end came, in this hour of their deepest sorrow.