Fred Stricker Service Held on Wednesday
Lincoln County’s last Civil War Veteran dies at Tyler. Charles Geo and Herman Enzenauer returned to Owatonna from Tyler, Minnesota where they attended the funeral services for Fredric Stricker, Civil War Veteran.
Mr Stricker, the last Civil War veteran in Lincoln County died at his home Sunday nite according to the Tyler Herald. He was 92 years of age last January.
Mr Stricker was born in Wittenberg, Germany, January 14, 1841. He came to America when he was 16 years old in 1857 and lived for a while in McGregor, IA. On February 9, 1866 he was united in marriage to Miss Dora Wickman and in 1877 they moved to Tyler.
In the family there were 12 children - five now living. There are 7 of the children dead and Mrs Stricker died in 1914.
Mr Stricker entered the war in April 1861 and discharged in July 1865 having served 4 years, 3 months and 17 days for his country.
He was in Co G, 20th Illinois Regiment. His commanding officers were: Colonel King, Colonel Richardson, and Colonel marsh. He belonged to the Sunbeam Army Corps and the Army of Tennessee.
Among the activities in which he took part were Fredericktown, Maryland 1862. Ft Henry, Ohio, Ft Donaldson, Pittsburg, Memphis, all in Tennessee. Wicksburg, Champion Hill in Mississippi. Cairo, Illinois, Chattanooga, Sherman’s march to the Sea and several others. He went from Columbus, SC to N Carolina, then to Richmond and Washington, DC. Mr Stricker moved to town from the farm in 1902 and lived there ever since. The Legion boys were the most welcome visitors and he regaled them with thrilling stories of his trials and experiences in the Civil War when he was 23 years old. These were his happiest days when the boys came to see him and he could reminisce for them.
The funeral took place Wednesday from the Danish Lutheran Church and was attended by a large crowd of friends and neighbors.
Interment was made in the Hope Cemetery. The pallbearers were Legionnaires, Svend Hanson, Chris Nielsen, Richard Jenson, Percy B. Mackie, Viggo Christensen, Axel Sorensen. Rev Strandskov, pastor of the church, officiated. The Tyler Band was in the march to the cemetery and played the beautiful Chopin Funeral March. About 50 Legionnaires from Arco, Ivanhoe, Lake Benton and Tyler took part in the march.
At the gravesite Lake Benton Legionnaires fired the salute and taps were sounded as the old soldier, last member of the GAR, was lowered to his final resting place.
There are left to mourn, 3 sons and 2 daughters - Albert and Herman of St Paul, Edward of Mankato, Alta Brey of Mankato and Emily Leavitt of Minneapolis. There are 14 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.