Peter Hettrick

Racine Daily Journal, July 19, 1859

On Sunday last the mournful music of a funeral dirge broke upon the ears of our citizens. The music was on the occasion of the marching of the funeral procession which followed the remains of Peter Hettrick to the tomb. Mr. Hettrick emigrated to this country, from Germany on the Rhine, in the year 1839, and stopped three years in the State of Pennsylvania, and from there came to this city in the year 1842. He was the first German settler in this village, and has been a member of both city and county board of officers. Mr. H. was born in June 1807, and was consequently 52 years of age and over at the time of his death, on Saturday morning last at 8 o’clock. He died of consumption. He was one of the hardest working men that ever lived in this city. He kept a great many men in his employ, and was universally liked by all classes of our citizens. He leaves a wife and seven children to mourn his sad departure.

The funeral services were performed at the German Catholic Church, by the Rev. F. X. Seiler, and his remains were escorted to the Mound Catholic Cemetery by the Governor’s Guards (of which he was formerly a member) under the command of Capt. F. X. Haas, preceded by the Racine City Band. A very large procession in carriages, besides hundreds upon foot followed the procession to the tomb. The procession was escorted back by the Governor’s Guards in the same manner as they went out. We also noticed Capt. Keleher, John Lynch, and other members of the Emmett Guards doing escort duty. Mr. H. was of a retiring and kind disposition and ever ready to assist in enterprises of a public nature. His removal from our midst is a loss that will be felt.