Mrs. M. Matthiesen died at 4:30 last Saturday morning, Sept. 21st, of dropsy, having been ill since last April. She had been in charge of a special nurse since the middle of June, so she had every care that human hands could give. When the dropsical condition reached the heart death came suddenly. The funeral was held at the house at 3:30 Monday afternoon, Rev. A. E. Marsh officiating. Interment was made in the Blair cemetery by the side of Mr. Matthiesen’s first wife and infant son. Miss Margarita Stoltenberg was born in Schonberg, Germany, April 11th, 1835, and was therefore 77 years, 5 months and 10 days old. She came to Davenport, Ia., in 1866 with a married sister, coming later to Ft. Calhoun where Mr. Matthiesen met her. She returned to Germany to help care for her aged parents, remaining about eight years. During her absence Mr. Matthiesen married and his wife lived but little over a year. Shortly after her return to America they were married at the home of her sister in Davenport, Ia., June 28th, 1882. For ten years thereafter they lived on the farm southwest of town, moving to Blair in 1892. She had a severe sick spell in 1905 from which she never fully recovered. They went to California but she wasn’t benefited, and finally dropsy set in and the end came rapidly. Two nephews were here to attend the funeral, Gust Muhs, of Clarkson, Neb., who lived with them for some years, Otto Wiese, of Dixon, Ia., and a niece, Mrs. Joachim Lage, of Shelby, Ia. Another niece, Mrs. Beister, of Dixon, Ia., was here to see her but returned a few days before her death.

Blair Democrat 26 Sept 1912

Mrs. M. Matthiesen died at the family home in Blair last Saturday morning, after suffering a long time with tuberculosis and dropsy. The funeral was held Monday afternoon from the late residence, Rev. Marsh of the Episcopal church officiating, and interment made in the cemetery east of town. Margaretha Stoltenberg was born in Germany April 11, 1835, and came to America in 1866, returning to her native land four years later. She came to America again in 1880 and was married to M. Matthiesen at Davenport, Iowa, in 1882. They immediately came to Washington county where Mr. Matthiesen owned a farm and remained there until 1892, when they moved to Blair to spend the balance of their days in a well earned rest. No children were born to them and besides the relatives there is only the husband left to mourn the death of a kind and faithful wife. Among those from out of the city to attend the funeral were Chris Mathiesen of Chicago, Gustave Muhs of Clarkson, Neb., and a nephew and niece from Dixon, Ia.

Tribune 25 Sept 1912

Death of Mrs. Matthiesen

Margaretha Statterberg was born in Germany April 11, 1835. She came to America in 1866, remaining here for years when she returned and ten years later came back. In 1882 she was married to M. Matthiesen, the marriage occurring June 28, at Davenport, Ia. They settled on a farm near Kennard, where they remained for ten years, coming to Blair to reside in 1892. No children were ever born to this marriage. The deceased was an invalid for years. She was the victim of slow consumption and dropsical trouble.

The end came Saturday morning, Sept. 21, at 4:30 o’clock. The funeral service was held at the family home Monday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock, conducted by the Rev. Marsh, rector of the Episcopal church. Burial in the Blair cemetery.