Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-02-28
AUGUST GERD|NC IS.
CLAIMED BY DEATH.
AF TER LONG ILLNESS.
ONE OF ciTYs BEST KNOWN PRO.
FEssloNAt MEN LOSES THREE
YEARS FIGHT TO REGAIN
HEALTH-MRS. SARAH e. FISH.
BURN PASSES AWAY.

Last night at II; 80 o'clock, at the
family residence G27 East Main street,
occurred the death OF August f. Gerd.
ing, for almost half a century "A lead
ing photographer OF Ottawa. The
passing Of Mr.. Gerding followed
three years illness, against which he
made a brave fight to regain his
health, only to meet with reversal at
a time when he seemed the cOnGueror
rather than the yanquished.'
Born in Ottawa siXty-tWo years ago,
Mr.. Gerding spent his life here, grow
ing up and progressing in his profes
sion with tn city and its institutions.
AT the age of ii he took up photog
raphy,. selecting it for his life's work
As his profession advanced Mr.. Gerd.
ing kept pace with it, until he achieved
a reputation throughout Ottawa anS
central Illinois an artist OF exceptional
abi.iCy. When the Illness which latei
proved fatal attacked him three years
ago he was forced to retirment, only
occasionally visiting his studio and as
sisting with the work there.
Mr.. Gerding was born Aug 6, 1856
and after graduating from the graded
schools apprenticed himself as a
photographer assistant. After be.
coming conyersant with the business
he became a partner in the firm O.
Wilson & Gerding. with studios or
the third floor of the Keeler a.
kroehnke building. In 1892 he pur
chased the Gleim studio at 13l West
Main street and remained there until
September, 1915, when he moved tc
the present location over the Cres
cent Theater Later his son, Hubert
Gerding, was admitted into partner
ship with him.
Socially the deceased was a mem
ber of the German Benevolent Society
and the Order of Mutual Protection
holding for long periods the office o
financial secretary in both these or
ders. He served as financial secre
tary of the German Benevolent So
ciety for twenty-five years.
Surviving he leaves his widow, Mrs
Louise, and these six children Au
gusta c.. Ottillia h., Fred A, Carl F.,
Hubert h. and Louis H., all of Ottawa;
four sisters, Mrs Arthur keesler OF
Muscatine, Iowa; Mrs. Charles Zurich
Wallace township; Mrs. John Budaci
and Mrs. William Kastler of Rutland
town; and one brother, Jacob j Gerd
ing OF Ottawa One grandchild, Mabel
Louise Gerding, also survives.
Funeral Sunday
The funeral services will be hello
Sunday afternoon at 2:30 O'Clock al
he Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
on Jefferson street, Rev. J. T. Mueller
officiating, and burial will be made III
The ottawa Avenue cemetery.
Mrs. Sarah Fishburn.
Mrs. Sarah b. Fishburn, widow OF
the late Frank Fishburn Sr., died last
evening at her home, 511 Fourth
street, after a weeks Illness of heart
trouble Mrs Fishburn had resided
| in South ottawa and Ottawa since
| 1866 and had made many friends.
| She was born in Middletown, Pa.
| seventy years ago. In 1881 she
was united in marriage to Frank
Fishburn of South Ottawa township
and the family resided on a farm
south of town until twelve years ago
when Mr. Fishburn died. Mrs. Fish
burn then moved to Fourth street
where she had since resided.
Surviving she leaves one sister
| Mrs. J. A. Townsend and two broth
ers, Martin L. Kahn Of 0ttaM and aHfiea J
| l.. Kain of Lunsford, Ark
The funeral will be held from the
late residence at 2:30 O'Clock Satur
day. Burial will be made in the OF
tawa Avenue cemetery.