Troy Times

June 30, 1864

ZIEGENFELDER, J. C. M. CH. - It is my painful duty to announce to the public the death of one our worthiest citizens, Mr. J. C. M CH. Ziegenfelder. A short biography may not be uninteresting to the people of Troy. He was born January 28th, 1819 at Indenbach Saxony Meiningen, Germany. He was the son of Simon Peter and Gertrude Ziegenfelder, and was the oldest of ten children, of whom five survive. Mr. Ziengefelder was consecrated to the Lord, in holy baptism very soon after his birth, and renewed the vow of his baptism in the 14th year of his age (1832) and became a full member of the Lutheran State Church at his birth place--then for the first time partaking of the Lord's Supper. He emigrated with his father to America in 1835; lived successively at Norfolk, Virginia, Baltimore, and Cincinnati, and came to Troy in 1838, where he was married to Catharine Bock, August 24th, 1840 had nine children (six sons and three daughters of of whom two sons died in their infancy). The seven are yet living. Although a short sickness hurried him to the grave, he was not altogether unprepared for this sudden event, looking for it for several years, and knowing very well the apoplectic condition of his body. Sunday, June 19th, he had a violent headache, and at half past 3 o'clock Monday afternoon was struck with apoplexy, which repeated itself the following day at the same time, with increased violence. During his whole sickness he was almost entirely deprived of the use of his limbs, and of sight and hearing, and altogether of the power of speech, but appeared to have given a sign of returning consciousness by shedding tears before his beloved wife and children shortly previous to his death. He fell gently asleep without bodily struggle or suffering, on Thursday evening, June 23d, at half past 8 o'clock, after four days sickness, at the age of 45 years, 4 months and 25 days, under the protection of the Most High, his body growing pale in death, and his soul returning to the God who gave it. His funeral services took place the next day. A great many friends, relatives and citizens from Troy, Piqua, and the country, attended his funeral, paying him their last respects. His mortal remains were with appropriate religious ceremonies committed to the tomb, near his father's grave in Rose Hill Cemetery. The funeral obsequies were solemn and impressive admonishing every attendant and beholder "Keep your home in order for you must die." Mr. Ziegenfelder was reserved in words, but spoke in deeds. He was poor in his youth, but had accumulated a fortune at his death having carried on business on a very extensive scale. His children more dear to him; he loved them with a father's love; spared no means for their education, and admonished them to attend to their religious duties; became very serious on the subject of religion within the last two years and was on the point of renewing his solemn vow made in his early youth, when death took him suddenly from his wife, children, brothers and friends. Before his apoplectic attack he prayed on his sick bed to the Heavenly Father, entrusting his soul to him who can hear the prayers of his children, because his grace and mercy is unlimited--it is now every morning and his faithfulness is great. His funeral sermon was preached at his mansion, the text being Revelations 14, 15: "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them." The hymn sung at the house was:--

Was Gott thut darist "Wehigethas" die
And at the grave:--
"Eshet Wehithr Tedingbilet." die
May Almighty God who is a father to the widows and orphans, watch with prodistinations over the mourning wife and orphan children.
"The grave is now a favor'd spot--
To saints who sleep in Jesus bless'd
For there the wicked trouble not,
And there the weary are at rest.
At rest in Jesus' faithful arms;
At rest as in a peaceful bed;
Secure from all the dreadful storms
Which round this sinful world are spread.
There happy souls, who're gone before
To that inheritance divine!
They labor, sorrow, sigh no more,
But bright in endless glory shine.
Then let our mournful tears be dry,
Or in a gentle measure flow;
We hail them happy in the sky,
And joyful wait our call to go." J. Hinderer
The grave is now a favor'd spot--
To saints who sleep in Jesus
To those the wicked trouble
And then his
At rest in Jesus
Which
happy
To that inheritance divine!
They labor, sorrow, sigh
bright in endless glory shine.

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