Miami Union

August 28, 1880

ZIEGENFELDER, JOHN GEORGE - Sudden Death - Mr. John George Ziegenfelder, one of our old and best known citizens, died suddenly yesterday morning at his home here, of heart disease. Mr. Z. had been afflicted several years with this disease, but was seldom confined to his house. He was around, as usual, Thursday, and retired at night feeling as well as he ordinarily did. During the night he was taken ill and died at an early hour in the morning. The funeral of Mr. Ziegenfelder will take place to-morrow (Sunday) afternoon at 4 o'clock. Interment at Rose Hill Cemetery. Services by Rev. J. P. Watson.

Miami Union

September 4, 1880

ZIEGENFELDER, GEORGE - The funeral of Mr. George Ziegenfelder was largely attended last Sunday afternoon. The pall-bearers were officers of the First National Bank, of which institution the deceased had long been a Director.

It is from the pen of a citizen of Troy. John George Ziegenfelder, was born in Utenbach, Saxony, Nov. 27, 1820. He was christened in the Lutheran Church Dec. 1, 1836, and at once came West to Cincinnati, Ohio. The family stayed at Cincinnati until April, 1839, when they moved to Troy, where Mr. Ziegenfelder made his home. On Feb. 6, 1842, Mr. Ziegenfelder married Catharine Buea, who survives him. To this couple were born eleven children, of whom Lilly, Simon and John P. have preceded their father to the tomb. Eight children, of whom two sons are minors, survive their father. Mr. Ziegenfelder was emphatically a self-made man. Compelled to work for his living at an age when many children are attending school, and thus deprived of educational advantages, yet by improving his time in study, when his associates were seeking recreation, he became a well informed man upon the commercial, political and social history of his adopted country. George Ziegenfelder's word was literally as good as his bond. His advice in business affairs was sought by many, and very many have received pecuniary aid and kind words from him. The rules guiding him in life may be given in three words--Honesty, Industry, Veracity. He was a good citizen; and, for more than forty-one years of his life in Troy, was closely identified with the interests and prosperity of his adopted home. Mr. Ziegenfelder was one of the founders of the St. John Lutheran Society of Troy, and for many years the President of the society, and was a regular and faithful attendant upon the services of the church. He was also at the time of his death a member of the Board of Directors of the National Bank of Troy. For several years, he had understood that he was liable to die at any moment. And, while his death appeared sudden to his family and friends, yet it was not unlooked for by him. He was prepared. His principal solicitude has been to live until his little boys were of age. But yet, to his intimate friends, he continually expressed his willingness to bow to the Lord's will, believing that He would provide for his little ones. He was a loving husband, a kind and affectionate father, a steadfast friend, a good citizen, an honest man and a Christian.