Reider, Gustave / 1846-1930
Gregory Times-Advocate, Thursday, November 6, 1930, front page.
DEATH CLAIMS MAYOR AND CIVIL WAR VETERAN
Gustave Reider, Gregory's Only Civil War Veteran Dies at HomeMonday afternoon at four forty o'clock, G.F. Reider, Gregory's most influential citizen, died at his home after months of suffering with cancer of the lungs.
The people of Gregory are deeply grieved over the death of G.F. Reider as he was always interested in doing his full measure toward bettering the conditions of the town, where he so faithfully served as mayor for fourteen years. He devoted his entire time to the administration of city affairs and in his quiet and masterful way was able to discern the strong and weak points in every measure, and the city council always relied upon his judgment as he was a careful student of public improvement enterprises and he had the proud distinction of being instrumental in gaining for Gregory many modern improvements and having it known as a town free from debt. Leading papers throughout the United States and papers and magazines in foreign countries commented upon his ability as a public benefactor. Of him it can be truly said that the world is better for his having lived in it.
The funeral was held at St. Joseph's Catholic church at 10:30 this morning and during the hour of service the business places and schools were closed as a mark of respect to the memory of the honored citizen, who for so many years held the highest official position in the town. A solemn requiem Mass was celebrated by Rev. D.F. Padula of Gregory. Rev. Father Abler of Dallas was deacon, Rev. Fr. Connaughton of Burke subdeacon and Rev. Fr. Dube of Fairfax, master of ceremonies.
The Mass was sung by St. Joseph's church choir, Miss Susie Marx, organist.
The pall bearers were the son, three grandsons and two sons-in-law: Carroll Reider, Leo Reider, Melvin Irwin, Maurice Moran, Ed Kirwan and Ed Brimmer. The honorary pallbearers were the six members of the City Council. The American Legion, Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, City Council, representatives for each business firm and sorrowing friends, from far and near, were present at the funeral to pay respect to the memory of Gregory’s greatest benefactor.
The attendance at the funeral and the floral offerings were testimony of the high esteem in which the deceased was held in the community. Interment was made in the Catholic cemetery. Rev. Fr. Padula assisted by Rev. Fr. Dude conducted the service the grave after which the American Legion sounded taps and fired the customary salute and all that remained mortal of Gustave Reider, husband, father and honored citizen, was tenderly laid to rest.
Gustave Reider, eldest son of Leopold and Mary Reider was born in Baden, Germany, June 3rd, 1846, and came to Philadelphia, Penn., in 1865 and immediately enlisted in the army and saw some service during the last days of the Civil War under Schofield at Raleigh and Goldsborough. Following the war he joined the regular army and served in Texas, Kansas and New Mexico, where the soldiers were kept to hold the Indians under military control. Later he was transferred to Ft. Randall where he remained until mustered out of the service and from where he went on many trips as a trooper policing the western part of South Dakota. He was the first white settler in Gregory county and the last of the Civil War veterans in this section.
In 1876 he was united in marriage to Susan Carroll and to this union nine children were born, three sons and six daughters. The wife, two sons and a daughter preceded him in death. January 30 1912 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary O’Sullivan.
The widow, five daughters and one son, a brother August, living in Germany, and the grandchildren are left to mourn his death. The surviving children are: Mrs. Nellie Moran, Lake Andes; Mrs. Mollie Kirwan, Ft. Randall; Carroll Reider, Lucas; Mrs. Lizzie Henry, Kimball, Nebr.; Mrs. Lucille Brimmer, Dallas and Miss Susie Reider, Los Angeles, Calif., all of whom excepting Mrs. Henry, with their families were present at the funeral.
Other relatives to attend the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Cole, Dante; J. Cole, Tyndall; Mr. and Mrs. B. Cole, Kingsley, S.D.; J.D. Kirwan and sons, Ft. Randall; Mr. and Mrs. W. Jonas, Spencer, Nebr.; Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Kirwan, Ft. Randall.