Anton Bruch

ANTON BRUCH DIES OCTOBER 31, WAS 96 YEARS OF AGE

Anton Bruch, a well known and long time resident of this community, passed away at his ranch home located about nine miles east of Lusk at 11:40 o'clock Tuesday evening, October 31, 1939. His death was attributed to cancer of the larynx. He was 96 years, 10 months and 23 days of age at the time of his death.

Relatives at home that were with him at the time of his death were his two daughters, Misses Pauline and Elizabeth, and one son, Carl.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday morning at St. Leo's Catholic church in Lusk.

A complete obituary will be published in The Herald next week, as it was unavailable at the time we went to press this week.

The Lusk Herald,  November 9, 1939

Death of Anton Bruch Brings To Close A Long, Useful Life of Hardy Pioneer

Anton Bruch, one of Niobrara county and Eastern Wyoming's most beloved citizens, and eldest resident of the county, passed away quietly at his home east of Lusk at 11:40 o'clock p.m., October 31,1939. His death brought to a close one of the most interesting personalities in the west.

Coming to America with his parents in 1844, Anton Bruch spent a large portion of his life pioneering in the newer sections of the Unites States, enduring the early day hardships, and contributing much to the welfare and development of those communities so fortunate as to have this fine gentleman as a resident.

His was a life which might well serve as a splendid example for any youth. A faithful, loving father and husband who took pride in his home, family and his life's work.

Anton, son of Sebastian Bruch and Anna Marie Muhl, was born at Helferskirchen, Hesse Nassau, Germany, December 7, 1842. At the age of one and a half years he, the parents and three other children emigrated to America.

The Atlantic passage of six weeks duration, that being the approximate usual time for sailing vessels of that period , proved uneventful, however, naturally subjecting the family to the monotony of its duration. This, together with limited means and the parting of relatives and friends required much courage, fortitude and determination, and might have been climaxed in defeat of the undertaking had it not been for the light of hope and promise of obtaining greater freedom, security and reward for the application of worthwhile effort.

Settlement was made by the family during the spring of 1844 in the then densely timbered vicinity of Sandusky, Ohio, where six years of early life were spent.

Much hardship was then endured by the family. Malarial fever recurrently prevalent, due to the primeval, swampy country and the depressing times proved an unconquerable discouragement and decision was mad to cast their lot westward.

Embarking at Sandusky, the distance to Chicago was achieved via the Great Lakes. At Chicago, Mr. Bruch has related, the transfer from dock to railroad was made by hack, routed along a corn field. At that time the Northwestern railroad extended westward to Freeport, Illinois. The rails on the last several miles consisted of long timbers, faced with heavy strap iron. From that point passage was made by stage to Dubuque, Iowa, where the family proceeded to effect a clearing for a farm home.

Again much difficulty was encountered, the family being required to subsist on a bag or two of corn meal and a fattened hog which the father and two older sons earned by splitting rails for a neighbor. Later fire threatened their log home on three different occasions. The third fire proved disastrous, destroying the home completely.

At that time the little settlement in Iowa was relatively new and Anton, with his father and brothers and neighboring farmers, cleared the land and built the first log school in the vicinity of Vienna, Iowa, where he attended school that first winter. The following winter he attended school at the Epworth Seminary, a private school, this being his only opportunity to secure an education in those early days.

In 1869 the family settled at Mt. Carmel, Carroll County, Iowa, then a virgin country where they finally achieved a commodious home with a fine orchard and a grove of shade trees, the father being greatly interested in horticulture.

On June 14, 1870, Mr. Bruch was united in marriage with Bernadina Godde. Twelve children were born to this union, six of whom preceded the parents in death.

Mr. Bruch was one of the first surveyors of Carroll County, Iowa, which office he held for three terms. Later serving two terms in Nebraska, in the same capacity.

In 1894 the family moved to Antelope County, Nebraska. A new home was established and greater fortune became their lot. In 1905 location was made in the Black Hills at Sturgis, South Dakota. It was from here in 1932, that Mrs. Bruch departed from this world and from which Mr. Bruch, the last remaining member of the pioneer family was called on October 31, 1939, at the age of 96 years, 10 months and 23 days. His mother and two sister attaining the age of 90 years and an older brother passing away at the age of 15 and one-half years.

Those with Mr. Bruch at the time of his passing were Henry S. Bruch of Sturgis, South Dakota; Julia A. Milek of Thermoplois , Wyoming; Elizabeth , Pauline and Carl, Albert P. Bruch being called from Cheyenne, and was with the family shortly after his father's death.

Funeral services were held from St. Leo's Catholic Church, on Friday, November 3, at 10 o'clock. Rev. Father Bernard officiating. Two grandsons of the deceased served at the altar. The choir under the direction of Mrs. Joe Kuhn and consisting of Mrs. Frank Barrett, Miss Maxine Austin, Brian Dougherty, George Gibson, Misses Louise Austin and Mary Alice Barrett, sang three touching hymns, and Mr. Gibson rendered a beautiful solo. Funeral arrangements were in charge of the Peet Mortuary.

The body was laid to rest beside that of his wife in the Lusk Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers were Edward M. Arnold, Otto Koeberlin, Constantine Klemke and Frank Reed. Active pallbearers Wm. Pfister, Nick Kaan, Otto Klemke, Anton Hansen, Tom Pfister and Ralph Larson.

Rev. Father Endres of Thermopolis who has long been a friend of the family, spoke a few well chosen words of consolation to the bereaved family at the grave side.

Relatives from a distance who were here for the funeral services were Mr. and Mrs. John Stamen, Lohrville, Iowa; Albert Bruch of Carroll, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bruch and family of Sturgis, South Dakota; Mr. and Mrs. H.J. Milek of Thermopolis, Wyoming; Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Milek of Thermoplois, Wyoming, and Mr. and Mrs. Albert P. Bruch and family, of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Friends from a distance included Mr. and Mrs. C.P. Broderick, of Harrison, Nebraska; Mr. and Mrs. John Coffee of Harrison, Nebraska.

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