Victor Julius Rosenberger died Sunday, July 24, at two p. m. on the lawn of the home of the deceased in the presence of hundreds, the last rites were pronounced over the body of Victor J. Rosenberger, West Long Prairie.

The funeral services were conducted by the Rev. Orville Hawkins, Mt. Vernon and by the Mt. Vernon Lodge No. 31, A. F. & A. M. A nephew, Emil P. Rosenberger, Montgomery City, MO., read the obituary and delivered a short eulogy.

The obituary as read, follows:

Victor Julius Rosenberger, son of Julius P. and Catherine Rosenberger (once Vincenz) was born May 5, 1836 in the town of Gruenstadt, Bavaria, and entered into rest at his home on West Long Prairie, Jefferson county, Illinois on July 21, 1921, at 4:10 p.m., having reached the age of 85 years, 2 months and 16 days.

He is the last of the four Rosenberger brothers who migrated to this country from Germany between the years of 1848 and 1853. only one of his sisters survives him, Mrs. Matilda Nebel of High Hill, MO.

According to the German customs of his days, Mr. Rosenberger learned a trade after his confirmation. He chose that of cabinet maker, which trade he followed for a short time in this country.

In 1853, at the age of seventeen years, Victor and Eugene Rosenberger, brothers, left their native land to try their fortunes in a country whose opportunities were boundless. It is claimed that Victor Rosenberger was the first volunteer, who enlisted from Jefferson county, at the outbreak of the Civil War, going to Belleville to join a company that was being organized there and he served the full four years. These four years that he spent in defending the country of his adoption were the Red Letter Days of his life. He enjoyed nothing quite as much as relating his reminiscences of the Civil War, especially those connected with the boys of his company, the 22nd Illinois Infantry.

On August 29, 1867, Victor J. Rosenberger was united in marriage to Mary Jane Robinson at her home on Knob Prairie, this county.

The home Mrs. Rosenberger was brought as a bride has been their home these fifty-four years and here the family of seven children, all of whom are good and representative citizens, were reared. These children are Mrs. Steve Campbell, of near Waltonville; Eugene and John, the sons and Mrs. Mary Lacey, all three of West Long Prairie; Mrs. John Sanders, of near Boyd; Mrs. C. E. Hampton of Kansas City, MO., and Miss Katie at home. A daughter, Annie Margaret, died in her infancy.

Besides his widow and the seven children, Mr. Rosenberger is survived by twenty-six grand children, and three great grand children.

Through church records in Germany the Rosenberger ancestry can be traced back as far as 1683, traditionally, it can be traced back as far as the Thirty Years' War. The mother of Mr. Rosenberger was a cousin of the German poet, Karl Gerok.

Victor J. Rosenberger was one of the oldest Masons in Jefferson county, both in point of age and of long standing. On Feb. 18, 1879 he petitioned Mt. Vernon Lodge, No. 31, A. F. & A. M. for membership. April 5, 1879 he was initiated as an Enter Apprentice, on April 21st he passed to the degree of Fellow-craft and was raised to the Sublime degree of Master Mason on Dec. 19, 1881.

Mr. Rosenberger's health had been failing rapidly the past few months. On July 21, while very weak he started across the room, when he fell to the floor; he was helped to his bed and within a few moments, passed peacefully to the Great Beyond.

Submitted by: Cindy Ford

Note from Sandy: there is an additional obituary posted on his Findagrave Memorial