The Freeport Daily Journal
June 10, 1908

This obituary was transcribed with mispellings and "errors" intact!

ANDREW GOCHNAUR DIES AT RIPE AGE

PROMINENT RETIRED FARMER SUCCUMBS TO GENERAL DEBILITY

MANY YEARS WAS PROMINENT IN AFFAIRS OF ROCK GROVE TOWNSHIP.

Decedent Came to Stephenson County Fifty-eight Years Ago and Had Lived in Freeport During Past Two years.

Andrew Gochnaur, a retired farmer of Rock Grove township, and a resident of Freeport for the past two years, died at his home, 107 Walnut street, at 11 o’clock this morning, aged 84 years. Death was due to general debility incident to advancing years and came to the aged man while he was unconscious. He returned from a visit to his son at Flagg, Ill., last Friday and soon after he did some work in his garden. It is probably that he over-exerted himself in the labor and as a result he was taken ill the next morning. He was unconscious from that time until his death, the disability taking form of a sort of paralysis.

Mr. Gochnaur was one of the oldest residents of Stephenson county. He was born in Lancaster County, Pa., on August 23, 1823, being the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Gochnaur, who were descended from pioneer German settlers who came from Europe when the country was in its infancy. He remained at home with his parents till he was fifteen and then he was employed working on the farms in the vicinity.

In the winter of 1850 he left his native state and came to Stephenson county, where he worked during one season. The next spring he went to southern Wisconsin where he managed a sawmill in the vicinity of Brodhead for almost two years. Following his milling experience he returned to his farm in this county, upon which he remained for nearly thirty years, retiring in 1881 to take up his residence in Rock Grove. Mr. Gochnaur remained in that village until a year ago last December when he came to Freeport to live. He was married in 1847 to Miss Mary A. Brenizer, whose parents were also natives of Pennsylvania. She died two years ago, just before the couple intended to observe their golden wedding anniversary.

Mr. Gochnaur was a Republican in politics and had filled the positions of collector and school director in Dakota township with ability. Despite his advanced age he took an active interest in all that affected the welfare of the city and the nation. He retained possession of all his faculties and was accustomed to take railroad journeys unaccompanied during the latter years of his life.

The deceased is survived by six children: J.B. Gochnaur, of Bennett, Neb.; William H. Gochnaur of Los Angeles, Cal.; Mrs. J. Candy of Dakota; Frank A. Gochnaur and Miss Mary Gochnaur at home and H.B. Gochnaur of Flagg, Ill. One brother Henry residing in Ohio also survives. Arrangements for the funeral will not be made until it is know whether William H. Gachnaur a son, of Los Angeles, Cal., will be able to attend.

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