The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-09-13
OBITUARY,

from Italy, the tidings so sad to wide
circle of Wisconsin friends, that the Hon.
Frederick Borcherdt was dead. To all
1t was surprise. To such as were closely
Joined to him by ties of friendship and
OF blood. it was stunning blow. He
was dear to the hearts of many because
OF his worth, in part and because he
had made them feel how dear he had
held them to his heart.
Frederick Borcherdt was born at
Chemnitz, Saxony, July 9th, 1911 and
consequently had reached the age of &c
years. Social position, and the advan-
tages that wealth bestowes we're his by
birth. To careful home training and
social culture were added the advantages
of an university education at Dresden,
where he graduated in 1882.
In 1888 at % years of age, he came to
the United States, fully adopting the
country of his new home, as the country
OF his heartfelt choice. He purposed to
be an American citizen and he was one.
His first eight years in this country
were spent at Detroit, Mich, in mer-
camille pursuits. The remaining So
years of his life be spent SO citizen of
Manltowoc Co., Wis, and three wears
as United States Consul at Leghorn,
Italy, where he closed his days. The
first seven years spent in Manitowoc Go,
were spent in numbering at Neshoto at
first without white neighbors, and with
the children of an Indian chief as the
playmates of his children. The follow
ing three years he spent at Two Rivers:
and the following five years at Mani
towoc Rapids, at that time the county
seat, following mercantile pursuits, and
filling various offices of trust for the
town and county. In 1856 he removed
to Manitowoc, and there engaged in
trade; filled various offices of public
trust, and, in 1869 became the editor of
the Manitowoc Tribune, which he con-
tinued to publish until he received his
appointment in 1874 as United States
Consul.
In his domestic relations he was as
tender, devoted, loving and indulgent,
as the hearts of his household ought to
wish. Two years after his arrival upon
our shores, there followed him from
Germany, Wilhelmina Mueller, the
choice of his heart in the old world, to
whom he was married at New York, in
1885, two sons and six daughters crown
ed their married life, of whom two
daughters, Bertha, aged 10 and Clara,
aged z, in 1854, were drowned in the
Manitowoc river, and when found, were
clasped in each others arms in the cold
clasp of death. The other six children
are married, and as husbands and wives
are working out that great problem of
probation, which their honored father
has-to their bereavement alas!-already
solved.
and in their loss they have abundant
sympathy. His varied culture fitted
Linn for place in the society of any
while the unusual kindness of his
heart ensured him a welcome from all
Rarely has there ever been stilled in
death the pulsations of kinder heart
than his. In neighborly relations-in
business RELATIONSHIP political relations
in church relations that heart of his
was SO kind and tender that it could not
wish injury to another and 1t became
eminently fitted to pour the oil of peace
upon the waters of tho most boistrous
or bitter strife. He made his enemies
to be at peace with him what was he
not to his friends9
In his boyhood, at IA years, he was
confirmed and received to the bosom of
the Lutheran Church. When the first
missionary of the cross visited Mani
towoc Co. he found welcome from the
heart and at the fireside of Frederick
Borcherdt. He adopted with his adopt
ed country,its civil institutions not only,
but the religious Professionalism and re-
hgious usages which he found here.
Under the ministrations of that pioneer
missionary, the Rev. VIM. Eerit he
united, first, with Congregational
church organized at Two Rivers and,
when afterwards Presbyterian Church
was organized at the Rapids, of which
the church at Manitowoc was the sue
cessor, he was at once received as a
member and elected as its one first elder
in which Office he has continued during
all the history of this church having
been last elected to that office last De-
cember although then absent in Italy.
The measure of his education, as to
Christian proprieties, and Christian
consistency and duty, he has filed. If,
for time, he seemed to waver from the
orthodoxy of the standards of his adopt
ed church, it yet became manifest, to
his last pastor, that his heart turned
with final and full intensity of interest
towards the CROSS and his last year of
direct connection with his beloved church
found him unwontedly regular at all
meetings for worship and 8. S. instruc-
ton and his latest supplications were
the breathings for his dear ones, for his
church, for the unsaved around him,
that seemed prompted of the Divine
Spirit, and very much akin to such IS
the Master loves to carry. believed with
His blood, to nercy-seat, for the
Fathers acceptance.
What his last experiences in foreign