Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-23
DEATH CALL FOR
EARLY MERCHANT
Henry Guldenzopf, 38 Years in
Shoe Business Here, Passes
From Earth.
ONE OF FIRST STORES HERE
Had Locations on Sites Now Occu-
pied by Peoples and Rock Is
land National Banks.

Henry Guldenzopf, pioneer shoe mer-
chant of Rock Island, died last night at
Mercy hospital, Davenport. Mr.. Gull
denzopf was born Sept. 10, 1922, in
Neustadt, Holstein. In the days of his
tice, and then became a journeyman
shoemaker. During this period he
travelled far and wide. He was in
Italy, Switzerland, Austria, visited
Constantinople and numerous other
cities on the Mediteranneans and Ad-
Ratio.
Aug. Is, 1858, he was married at
Hamburg to Caroline Daniels, and on
the following day he and his wife
boarded the sailing vessel Bertram to
come to America. They set sail Aug.
IT, and were on the water for practi-
cally a month, arriving in New York
Sept. 16, 1853.
Narrowly Averts Catastrophe.
1t was about this time that the aw-
full catastrophe of the Austria oc-
CURED. The Austria was one of the
largest and most modern steamships
of it's day. Mr.. Guldenzopf on his SSth
III LAAOoy lSCa1IO0 ClCdIlJ InS SAC1lS-
ment which the accident created at
that time, as he and his wife had a
narrow escape from perishing in the
fire. Mr.. Guldenzopf had purchased
tickets to take the steamer Austria,
but his wife refused to go on this boat.
She had a dream that the Austria was
destroyed by fire, and the dream made
such an impression on her that she
absolutely refused to go on board the
steamer. Hence Mr.. and Mrs. Gulden-
zopf decided to take the Bertram, a
sailing vessel, instead, and they es-
capped the catastrophe, her dream com
ing true. In the burning of the Aus
tria 301 lives were lost, and it seems
like touch of Providence which saved
Mr.. Guldenzopf and his wife from the
same fate.
Week to Come From New York.
The trip from New York to Daven-
port took up fully week. This indeed
was quite fast time for those days
For five and half days they were on
board of an express train. The re-
time was taken up with STOP
overs at Albany. Buffalo, and Chicago.
They left New York on a Saturday and
arrived in Davenport the following Sat
urday.
After coming to America Mr.. Gulden-
zopf followed his trade for three years
in Davenport and then removed to
Rock Island, where he opened a shoe
store, which he conducted for 3S years.
Then for four years he had a store in
Davenport, and about IL years ago he
retired from active life
Mr.. Guldenzopf conducted one Of the
first shoe stores in Rock Island, when
that city was only a village. His first
occupied by the Peoples National
bank. Later he moved across the
street on the corner now occupied by
the Rock Island National bank. His
life covers a most wonderful portion
of Davenport and Rock Island his
tory.
Serves In German Army.
Mr.. Guldenzopf served In the Ger
man army in the war against Denmark
Idstedt, Schleswig. the anniversary OF
which was celebrated at that place
last summer.
Mrs. Guldenzopf died March Is, 1900,
and son, Henry, who served with
Company NJ, Goth U. S. regulars during
he Spanish-American war, died i'm
after the war from the eff /
,ects of the severity of the campaign. |
Four children survive: William of
Rock Island, Charles Of South Rock |
island, Mrs. Robert NJ. Ryer of Van
eouver, B. c., and Lewis of Milan; IL
grandchildren and one great-grandchild |
also survive.
The funeral will be held from the |
home of Charles Guldenzopf, 1882 |
Ninth street, South Rock Island, |
Thursday afternoon at o'clock. In
erment will take place in the family