Col. Zahm’s Funeral

 

            The last sad rights of respect were paid to the late Col. Zahm on last Friday by a large concourse of friends and neighbors. The services were conducted by Geo. Graham Post No. 92 assisted by Oneida Post No. 153 and the Grand Opera House was crowded with former friends of the lamented dead who honored him in life and respected him in death. The Seneca Cornet Band played a funeral dirge. After ceremonies and honors by the Posts, and singing by male quartets, “Rest, Solder, Rest” and solo, “Nearer My God to Thee” by Miss C.C. Tennant Clary of New York. Rev. R.E. McBride delivered the funeral oration, in which the life of his subject was grandly and royally set forth, and his deeds of valor for his country and straight and honorable dealings with all, with his clean, pure and private life was commended to mankind in words forcible, expressive and elegant. In life his integrity was his honor and his honor was his all, and to his family he bequeathed a more valuable legacy than riches – an honored name, beloved and respected by all who knew him. In life he was superior, and as he lay in the casket, wrapped in the uniform of a solder of his adopted country, in death he looked grand.

            Offices of trust and honor had been his in civil and military life, and with his name left out the pages of history of his adapted country would be incomplete. The following short and brief sketch serves in a slight manner to show the kind of metal that was in him.

            Col. Lewis Zahm was born in Zweibriucken, Rbiuish, Bavaria on the 7th day of August 1820. At the age of fifteen he graduated from Grammer school, passed examination and entered the University. Soon after he in company with two sisters, started for America being some four months making the tripfrom his home to New York City. A few days after his sixteenth birthday he landed in New York, a total stranger, 900 miles from his destination, nearly destitute as to funds and his sisters sick and unable to help themselves. He succeeded in getting some work at once and by that means got his sisters to a place where they could recover from their trip on water, and to get a little help on their way to Ohio, where he had a brother residing. After some two weeks he had succeeded in getting a chance to work for his board and take his sisters to Buffalo on the Canal, and as soon as possible they started. When they reached Buffalo he found an Uncle but could not, after stopping a day or so with him, get any help, and they being anxious to get to their journeys end all went to work and in a short time had enough to pay for one sister’s way to Sandusky, Ohio, and there he kept a lookout for a vessel that would be going there, and finally after a few days watching the docks he succeeded in finding one and made arrangements to his way and pay for his sisters. When he reached Sandusky he expected to meet his brother or find where he was, but could not until next morning, when he started out on foot to go to the place where he lived, some sixteen miles. On his way who should he meet but his brother coming to town. He came back with him and loaded up the luggage and the sisters into a wagon and the boys started with ox team for their new home. After resting a couple of days he started out to find something to do, and finally got work. He resided in that vicinity from that time on until he came to Kansas in the spring of 1871.

            At the outbreak of the rebellion he was in June called to Washington on business, and while there he was requested by members of congress of that district and the adjoining districts, to raise a regiment of cavalry. Afterdelibrating overnight he accepted and raised the Third Regiment Ohio Volunter Cavalry, and on the 20th of September 1861, the full regiment was mustered into service. In December 1863, he was commissioned Brevet Brigadier General. At the close of the war he was appointed U.S. Int. Rev. Assessor for his district in Ohio, which position he held until the office was abolished.

            In 1874 he came back to Kansas and purchased the farm he resided on in its origional state, also half section known as the Steinmeir place on Harris creek, which is now known as the Turck farm. He brought with him from Ohio two cars of thoroughbred and graded stock, and has since been one of the stock growers and handed as many as any farmer in northern Kansas.

He during the past fews years shipped something over 600 animals to the western market for breeding.

 

Copied by: Pauline Esslinger

Dist. IV Genealist DAR in NE