grave import

Obituary

Mr. G.H. Waldin, the veteran jeweler, and one of Burlington's oldest citizens-and perhaps the oldest, passed away this morning at the home of his son, Henry Waldin, No. 213 Washington street, at the age of 90 years. He has been in feeble health for quite a long period and his passing was not wholly unexpected. Mr. Waldin was in active business in the city for over half a century and there is no citizen who was more actively identified with the growth and progress of Burlington than he. He came here when the town was young and grew up with it. His early career was not without its drawbacks and vicissitudes, but by strict attention to business, he managed to prosper and thrive. He was born in Gera, in the province of Saxony, Germany, February 5, 1816, and came to this country in the year of 1837. Shortly after his arrival he enlisted in the U.S. army. This was the period of the Seminole Indian troubles in Florida, but Mr. Waldin was not accorded an opportunity of going to the front. During the three years of enlistment he was stationed at the Pittsburg arsenal and rose to the position of orderly sergeant. After his honorable discharge from Uncle Sam's service he went to Cincinnati and was married there. From that city he proceeded to Vicksburg. Before leaving the old county he learned the trade of watchmaker in a thorough manner,but wages were small and work was scarce. In Vicksburg he secured work at his trade and lived there two years, his son Henry being born in that city. The yellow fever scourge caused Mr. Waldin and family to flee from Vicksburg, after a two years' residence and they came north by boat to St. Louis, remaining there a month and continuing their journey up the river to Galena, Ill., where after a brief period of residence they came to Burlington, where Mr. Waldin resided until his death. He arrived in this city in August 1842, and secured employment as engineer in a flour mill that stood in what is now known as Stoney Lonesome. The mill was afterwards destroyed by fire and the night watchman, Henry Hilton, was burned to death. While engaged in the mill Mr. Waldin worked up a good clock and watch repairing business performing this extra duty in the evenings. Mr. Waldin then opened a shop in the old National block, located on the present site of the Garman building next to Andy Dehner's cigar store. His next location was in an old frame structure on the site of the Odd Fellows' building. In the year of 1846, Mr. Waldin puchased the building at 216 Jefferson street, from Mayor Corse and continued at that stand in the jewelry business, until the year of 1898, when he retired. As the years passed he made extensive improvements in the building, putting in a new front, etc. He was a man of studious turn of mind and took great interest in the study of astronomy, fitting up an observatory at his home on North Third street, which was equipped with one of the best telescopes in this part of the country. In politics he was a democrat and was at one time alderman of the fifth ward, beating the late Marcus Simpson at the polls for that honor. He was afterwards one of the first aldermen-at-large in the city, defeating Judge Phelps by a narrow margin after a heated campaign. He was also one of the eleven men in Burlington who supported Breckenridge for president. Mr. Waldin always interested himself actively in public matters and was a member of the first electric light company, organized in this city. The original power house was on Mt. Pleasant street, and it was afterwards moved to Valley street near the Iowa Soap company's plant. Mrs. Waldin passed away about five years ago. The couple were the parents of fourteen children, five of whom survive. They are Henry, Chas. and Gus, who followed their father's footsteps in the jewelry and watch-making business and who live in this city. There are also two daughters, Mrs. Caroline Hewett of Havelock, Neb., and Mrs. Laura McLane, of Beagle, Kansas.