Veteran Suddenly Summoned to Join Silent Army-Eventful Life-Long Public Service

H.F. Reuter died of apoplexy last Thursday, Nov. 7, at 5 p.m., aged 69 years 11 months and 26 days. The call came suddenly without warning. While superintending the erection of a monument on the Odd Fellows' cemetery, the old soldier was touched by the Silent Messenger and fell from the ranks, passing from work to rest. Thinking that Mr. Reuter had dropped in a faint his assistants, Fred Althoff, Alex. Willis and Chas. Rogers, tried to revive him, but their efforts were futile and the physician, who was hastily summoned, found that the great change had taken place. The closing day with its lengthening shadows merged into the dawn of Eternal Morning and at eventide there was light-the veil was lifted from the unseen and all the perplexing problems of mortality were revealed.

The still form was taken to the home which Mr. Reuter had left shortly before apparently in fairly good health. The sad home-coming was a great shock to the family who, although aware that he had never fully recovered from a lingering illness last winter, did not apprehend any immediate danger. Mr. Reuter showed scant trace of infirmity in his erect soldierly bearing. His eye was bright, his step firm and he had a cheery greeting for all his friends and these numbered almost every one in the county. The grief of the bereaved family was shared by all the citizens.

Henry Ferdinand Reuter was born December 11, 1842, near Wiesbaden, Hesse Nassau, Germany, and as a 5-year-old boy came across the water to America with his parents, settling in Belleville, Ill. In 1857 he was apprenticed in St. Louis to a stone cutter and served a four years' apprenticeship, becoming a master-workman.

At the breaking out of the Civil War he answered Lincoln's first call for troops, enlisting as a private in Co. G, 2nd Mo. Inf. Vols., and served in many hard fought battles, among which were the battles of Pea Ridge, Perryville and Stone River. He was captured on the second day of the battle of Chickamauga and for fifteen months was confined in the Confederate prisons at Bell Island, Libby and Andersonville, enduring privation and untold hardship. He was exchanged in December, 1864, and honorably discharged in March, 1865.

In 1872 Mr. Reuter removed to Nashville and established the Reuter marble works, which he successfully conducted until his activity was terminated by death. In 1876 he was appointed county clerk by the county commissioners to fill the vacancy caused by the election of T.R. Needles as State Auditor. In 1878 he was elected county clerk on the Republican ticket. He was re-elected, serving seven consecutive terms until 1906 when he retired. During his thirty years of service he earned the reputation of being one of the best clerks in the state.

After the war he worked at his craft for a time in Belleville and later in Quincy. At the latter city he wooed and was married to Miss Mary Stoelzing on Dec. 18, 1868. To this happy union were born four children, one son dying at an early age. He leaves a wife and three children: Dr. John Reuter of St. Louis, Fred Reuter, post office inspecter [sic], of St. Louis and Mrs. Elmer Ayers of here, also two brothers, T.L. Reuter, commander of the Nashville G.A.R. Post, Nashville and Rev. Wm. Reuter of Lewiston, Idaho.

In 1884 Mr. Reuter was one of the delegates from the Eighteenth District to the Republican National Convention in Chicago, which nominated James A. Garfield, and he was also a delegate to the Republican national convention n 1904 which nominated Theodore Roosevelt for president. He also served for years as member of the senatorial and congressional committees. At the time of his death he was president of the Nashville Building & Loan. He belonged to Nashville G.A.R. Post, No. 419, and had been commander and for many years chaplain of that organization.

Mr. Reuter was musically gifted and his fine tenor voice gave pleasure to many. The voice that is stilled will be heard no more in the G.A.R. quartet and will be sadly missed in social and patriotic gatherings where it added to good cheer, and in church, where it was uplifted in hymns of praise.

As a public official and business man Mr. Reuter was conscientious and faithful in the discharge of his duties. Honest, obliging and capable, reliable in all his dealings, he was esteemed by all who knew him. In politics he was a staunch Republican, a firm believer and advocate of party principles and policies-no quitter. As a public spirited citizen he was intensely interested in all questions that concerned the welfare of the community and ever ready to champion a cause for the public good. In his family life he was a loving husband and tender father. Helpful and kind to his neighbors, and a loyal friend and useful citizen, his memory will be kept green in the hearts of his fellow-men.

The funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the family residence and were attended by an immense concourse of people who mourned the loss of an honorable and honored citizen. Rev. A.F. Ludwig, pastor of the German-M.E. church, spoke words of comfort. Nashville G.A.R. Post and the Woman's Relief Corps attended in a body and formed in ranks at the residence and at the cemetery as the departed comrade was borne to the Odd Fellows cemetery; the silent city, whence his spirit had winged its flight. There in the gloaming, amid falling leaves that suggested the mutability of life, taps was sounded and the soldier laid to rest under flowers to await the reveille of resurrection.

The following acted as pallbearers: H.H. Hosmer, J.M. Hassinger, Dr. P.B. Leseman, A.W. Hutchings, Ph. H. Scheurer and B.B. Holston.