Adolph Hodel
| Date of Interment or Death | 11/08/1930 |
|---|---|
| Location | Old Fairview |
| Section | D |
| Block-Lot-Grave | 10-3-1n |
Obituary
A. Hodel, Resident In Wahpeton Since 1871 Buried Saturday
Pioneer Who Came to County 51 Years Ago Passed Away Thursday Night
A pall of gloom was cast over the entire Wahpeton community Friday morning when news reached residents of the city that A. Hodel, pioneer resident and builder in Wahpeton, had passed away during the night at the Wahpeton hospital. He had been a patient in the hospital for four weeks. Death was believed to have been due to complications following his advanced years.
Adolph Hodel was born in Thun near Berne, Switzerland, May 30, 1847. At the age of fourteen years his parents passed away. Living in the land of his birth until he was twenty-two years of age, he emigrated to the United States. Arriving in the United States he went to Melrose, Minn., where he was employed in and around that city several years.
Later he went to Chicago where he worked in his trade as a tinner. He was in that city at the time of the famous Chicago fire and has often told many of his old time friends in this city about his experiences during the time of the fire In the spring of 1879, Mr. Hodel came to Wahpeton at the time when the railroad extended only as far as Breckenridge, the virgin prairie and when there were less than a dozen business enterprises in the city of Wahpeton.
Shortly after arriving in this city he opened his first tin shop I Wahpeton. He located in a building near the river where he operated his shop several years. In the year of 1887 he married Augusta Otto in Wahpeton. Three sons were born to this union. Ernest Hodel of Fergus Falls, Art and Hebert Hodel of Wahpeton, all of whom survive. He is also survived by one daughter, Mrs. R. B. Thompson, of San Diego, Calif., a daughter of a previous marriage, his first wife passing away when his daughter was only a child. Mrs. Hodel died April 18 this year.
In 1926 Mr. Hodel retired from active business and sold his interest in the A. Hodel & Co., tin shop business, that had been progressing in this community for fifty years.
Wahpeton has lost one of its most valued citizens in the passing of A. Hodel, loved and honored by everyone who knew him. During his residence in this city he traveled quite extensively. He has made many trips to the coast and into the southern states. He always returned to Wahpeton believing his city and his state the best in the country.
During his early residence in Wahpeton he became the trusted friend of the Indians. Although there were no Indian disturbances during his early life here many of them visited Wahpeton on special occasions and always visited Mr. Hodel. He often talked about the visitations of the Indians and especially of a big pow-wow when the Indians held a war dance where the court house grounds area now located. For a half a century he was held the friendship of the Indians and in the later years he has made many trips to Indian reservations at Veblin and Sisseton, S.D., where he was intrusted with their most important business matters. He was known not only to the Indians as the “Honest White Man” but to everyone who knew him.
Mr. Hodel drilled the first artesian well in Richland county. He experienced the hardships of the pioneer. During the winter of the heavy snowfall he had made a trip to Milnor and was obliged to remain there until the early spring thaws, being unable to return to Wahpeton on account of the blocked highways. Mr. Hodel was a city alderman of the First Ward for several years. He believed in the city beautiful. He was a charter member of the Sons of Herman, and an honorary member of the Fligelman Fire Department.
In a conversation with Math Harles, old time friend of M. Hodel, he stated some of the early history of Wahpeton and the important place Mr. Hodel held in the upbuilding of this community. Wahpeton. Mr. Harles said “Wahpeton boasted very few business places. I came here a year later. At that time Henry Miller conducted a drug store in what was hardly more than a shanty; Math Braun was located near the river and was selling lots; Mr. Meyer was in the machine business; Henry Walker had a meat market; H.T. Hintgen was the city photographer, James Purdon & o., was in the general merchandise business located near the river; Henry Albrecht was in the harness business; the court house was located between the jail and the court house, Mose Proper, now residing at Lidgerwood, was the sheriff; Indians held their celebrations and their war dance on the court house grounds; in 1881 the first hotel in Wahpeton was built, it was located where the postoffice now stands, it was later burned. During the same year, the entire Merchants Hotel Block was converted into residence lots; a newspaper was started the same year but did not continue; Math Kraker operated a general merchandise store for Miksche, there were also a few other business enterprises in the city.”
Funeral Service were held for Adolph Hodel Saturday afternoon from the Methodist Church at two o’clock. Rev. Meyers of Hankinson officiated. He was assisted by Rev. Coombs, church pastor. The pall bearers were Henry and Math Kraker, Herman Schweizer, Ernest Brunner, Carl Popp and Herman Betcher. The same pastor officiated for Mrs. Hodel. The same friends acted as pallbearers. Interment was made in the Fairview cemetery.
As a tribute to Mr. Hodel friends from far and near gathered for the last rites. Many floral offerings showed the esteem in which Mr. Hodel was held by his friends in this community.
Headstone photograph(s)
Location
Old Fairview is located on the southern half of the cemetery grounds.