Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-11-15
DIED AT HIS POST
PROF. w. H. ROSENSTENGGL SUD.
DENLY CALLED.
POPULAR EDUCATOR
Sad Occurrence Takes Place at Meeting
OF University Facuity-APoPiectic
Stroke Carries Him Off Almost Be-
fore Aid Arrives-A Useful Career

Madison, Nov. IS.
An occurrence, the news Of which
came as a great shock to the many
friends Of the family and which has
cast a gloom over both university and
town circles was the sudden death
Monday afternoon Of Prof. W. H. ROs-
enstengei head Of the department of
German in the University Of WiscOn-
sin. He died very suddenly Of apo
plexy while attending the regular
weekly meeting Of the faculty in sci
ence hall. There was no warning Of
the sad occurrence. He was seen to
lean back in his chair and to breathe
heavily. Members near at hand came
to his aid and DR.. w. L. Miller. who
was present, applied water to his fore
head, and tried other restorative meth
DDS, bat to no avail. He was then
carried out in his chair into one Of the
recitation rooms, but his heart had al
ready ceased beating. DR.. L. R. Head
was summoned and shortly afterWard
the body was removed to the saddeneG
home where great many friends
their condolences.
Prof. Rosenstengel had been suffer
ing from Bright's disease for a year or
more. Early last June he concluded
his years work before the university
closed and took a rest which benefited
him greatly. He spent some time at
the sanitarium at .Girard, near Wauke-
oh Of CT
meT was passed at watering places on
the New England coast. He returned
! in the fall much improved and was
carrying his full work as usual when
the end came.
Prof Rosenstengel was born in Bar
men, Prussia, Sept. 10, 1912. He was
| educated in the Realschule at Barmen
and was afterwaTd a teacher in Fiber
| field and Radevormwald. He came tC
| America in 1865 and settled in ST
Louis where he was first assistant
! then principal Of the German private
school. In 1869 he entered the public
| school as German head assistant and
from 1870 to 1919 was second assistant
in the central high school there. In
August, 1879, he accepted a call to the
professorship of German language and
! literature in the university of WiscOn
sin which position he since held. The
department of German was then in its
incipiency and under his supervision il
has been built UP to a great one con
tanning nine instructors and having 6
very large attendance.
In addition to his duties in the uni
versity, Prof. Rosenstengel was inter
ested in many other lines OF study anj
endeaVor. He was a wide reader anC
fluent writer and contributed much
to German papers, both in this coun
try and abroad. He was for time as
sistant editor of the German-Americar
Educational Monthly and wrote nearly
all the articles on literature il
Klemm's History ofGerman Literature
He was the author Of many readers
used in the schools and colleges of this
country. among his works Of more
general literary interest are: Die
J Gebrueder Grimm, Martin Luther
Veraenderungen, Ludwig INLAND
Friedrich Rueckert, and history OF
the early German settlers of Madison
He was for years assistant editor OF
Erziehungsbloetter and Lehrer Post OF
Milwaukee and contributed regular tc
many periodicals. The degree of mas
ter of arts was conferred upon him by
! Williams college.
Prof. Rosenstengel was married in
1866 to Lena Wirth of Radevormwald
Germany, who, with five children, sur
wives. The children are William r
| and Rudolph. now in Buffalo, engaged
in electrical work; Mrs. Fred. A. John
! son, who has been in Europe nearly
two years, and Misses Hattie and
Helen, who are at home. Mrs. John
son is now at Paris and has been ap
prised by cable of the sad occurrence
| The sons have also been notified and
! are expected to arrive today. No other
relatives are left in this country
| Prof. Rosenstengel was prominent n
many public enterprises and was inter
ested in numerous charitable move
ments. He was for years one of the
! guiding spirits of the National German,
| American Teachers seminary, located
| in Milwaukee, and his close friendship
with the Vogel and Pfster families Of
! that city was the means Of bringing
| to that institution nearly half a mil
lion dollars He was it's vice president
and one Of its trustees for many years
and for late years its acting president,
| he having just resigned that position.
He was also president and secretary of
| the National German-American Teach
| ers' association. He was at one time
president of the Madison Kindergarten
| association, was an officer and active
worker of the Benevolent society and
an honorary member Of the Turn
| verein. He was kindly and popular
| teacher who attracted pupils to him
and inspired them with enthusiasm III
their work, an upright and public
| spirited citizen and his death will be
widely and sincerely deplored.