Groton Independent, June 1928
Conrad Von Wald died 18 Jun 1928
Conrad Von Wald, another one of Groton's pioneers, answered the last call, last Thursday and laid down his life, after fighting a lingering illness. Although his illness kept him confined, Mr. Von Wald really had not been in his usual health for the past year. About a year ago, he was attacked with a severe case of the hiccoughs, while he recovered from this it left his physique in a greatly weakened condition. Flu and complications were the final factors in death.
Mr. Von Wald was one of the earliest pioneers of this section. He came to Brown County in company with Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Ringger. At the time they arrived in Groton the railroad had not extended this far westward. They were compelled to ship building material stock and household goods to Webster. There it was placed on wagons and hauled to the new home in Hanson township.
After spending considerable time erecting suitable buildings and improving the farm on which they homesteaded he returned to his old home at Alma, Wisconsin, and was accompanied to Dakota by his family. When they arrived here the railroad had been built into the city and a small store erected. Thus he and his family began their real existence in South Dakota. Their careers were not unlike those of the early pioneers who blazed a trail across the prairie, enduring the hardships with fortitude and faith.
The present generation can but little visualize the remarkable transformation that followed in the wake of the trail blazing. The mind is too young and too modern to picture pioneering as it was 45 years ago. But as the old timers drop by the wayside, they leave behind them a heritage that is rich beyond words.
The deceased was born in Sayis Canton, Graubueden, Switzerland on February 21, 1846, and came to America with his parents at the age of 3 years. The family located in the town of Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin. As he grew to manhood he and his brother Christ, established a wagon and blacksmith shop and later a machine shop.
On January 12, 1872, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Accola of Sauk County, Wisconsin, and ten years later they came to South Dakota. To this union were born 14 children, 4 of whom preceded him in death. Those who survive are his wife and children, Mrs. Elizabeth Zoellner, Mrs. Anna Zoellner, Mrs. Barbara Rose, Mrs. Mary Thieman, Mrs. Christina Zoellner all of Groton; and sons Conrad of Stratford, Valentine and George of Groton, Ora of Cochrane, Wisconsin, and Walter of Aberdeen. He is also survived by one brother, Christ, of Paraboo, Wisconsin; three sisters, Mrs. Margaret Tehl, Bloomfield, Montana; Mrs. Mary Schroeder, Paraboo, Wisconsin; and Mrs. Ursula Luck of Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin; 31 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren; together with his faithful wife who he had been married for 56 years. In January 1922 they celebrated their golden wedding. In 1900 he retired from farming and his family moved to Groton.
The funeral was held at the Presbyterian Church and remains were laid to rest in Groton Cemetery. Rev. Spence conducted the service.
~Transcribed by volunteer researcher, Kathy Smith