CHARLES P. H. BIELENBERG
1846-1924
Born: 1 May 1846 in Holstein, Germany- Died: 31 Oct 1924 in Deer Lodge, Montana.
When CHARLES P. H. BIELENBERG was eight years old, he emigrated with his parents to the United States and located to Davenport, Iowa where he attended school. In 1861, he enlisted in the 8th Iowa Infantry. Near the close of the Civil War, Charles became ill and was furloughed to his home. In the spring of 1865, he came to Fort Benson, Montana and walked the distance to Helena, Montana. In 1866, he came to Deer Lodge, Montana and opened the City Market, which continued in business for many years. On 31 Oct 1869, he married MARY WILHELMI, in Davenport Scott County Iowa.
Colonel Charles P. H. Bielenberg, Noted Character, is Dead.
OBITUARY NOTICE: Anaconda Standard, Anaconda, Montana. November 2, 1924.
Colonel Charles P. H. Bielenberg, after an illness of nearly two months, crossed the last divide at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Warren E. Evans, Friday evening about 10 o'clock. Everything that medical science and skillful and loving nursing could do for him was done but as he had been watching the sun sink behind the mountains for more than a year, the loving care and medical attention were of no avail and he peacefully went to sleep. Early In September he contracted a cold, which developed into pneumonia. His sturdy and rugged system threw this off but the task was too great and complications incident to old age and gradually day by day he grew weaker, but before passing into unconsciousness he glimpsed the beauty his sunset regretting not that the last divide was just before him and that he was crossing it to solve the mysterious country beyond.
Colonel Bielenberg was born at Wevelsfleth, Holstein, Germany on May 1, 1846. He came to the United States with his parents about 1853. The family located in Davenport, Iowa, and when a boy about 14, Mr. Bielenberg ran away from home to join the army during the Civil War. At the close of the war after being honorably discharged he decided to come west to seek his fortune in the country to which his half-brother, the late Conrad Kohrs, and his twin-brother, the late John N. Bielenberg and his youngest brother, Nicholas J. Bielenberg had already come. He came by way of Fort Benton. For a number of years, he was a partner with his brother Nicholas in the butcher business in Pioneer and in Deer Lodge from which he retired to become associated with his twin brother in the cattle business and continued in that until his brother's death in June 1922. Colonel Bielenberg was well known throughout the state as an advocate of patriotic instruction in the public schools. He was responsible for the placing of the American flag in many of the rural schools and in the rooms of the grade schools in many of the larger cities especially in those sections where there was a foreign element. Each year just before Memorial Day when the schools of the state held patriotic exercises Col. Bielenberg, in his Grand Army uniform, and carrying his flag was one of the conspicuous figures. He taught the boys the proper method of saluting the flag. Mr. Bielenberg was a member of the G. A. R. of which he has been patriotic instructor for several years and the Montana Society of Pioneers, the Elks, No. 289 of Anaconda and the Kiwanis club of this city. His position as patriotic instructor of the Grand Army was a beloved duty to him. Having the financial means he considered himself better able to bear the expenses of spreading patriotic doctrine around the state than the Grand Army with its dwindling membership.
Coming to Montana before he had reached his majority he became a cattle man with his twin brother John W. Bielenberg. For 60 years he had ridden the range in the rain, through blizzards that filled the 'eyes and cut the cheeks like sand blasts and for nearly a third of that period he rode “Badger,” his cattle pony. When lowering night and slashing rain sheets confused the rider and robbed him of his land marks in the wide stretches of the valley or on the foothills, favorite horse could be relied upon to take its rider to the home corral. The Colonel in speaking of Badger and himself, when the picture of the horse and rider appearing in this story was taken, said: We are both on the retired list now. To the stable Badger' goes at night. In the daytime he will find exercise enough in the corral. He has done his part in the work of his day and has earned his rest. It is beyond the understanding of ordinary men to appreciate the reciprocal affection that develops between a dumb animal and its master. Only those who have enjoyed such love and admiration of a horse or a thoroughbred dog can realize the feeling that Colonel Bielenberg had for "Badger" at the time when he last rode that splendid cow pony.
Colonel Bielenberg was a most kindly and charitable man. He I made it a practice during the latter years of his life to remember the schoolteachers, the girls in the post office and the telephone operators at Christmas time by presenting each of them with a pound box of the finest chocolate candy. He followed out the Bible teachings when it came to charity in not letting the right hand know what the left hand did. In his going he will be missed not only by his family but also by the people of this community and in many other sections of the state where be was a familiar figure.
The funeral was held from the Presbyterian church and was conducted by the Rev. J. E. Groeneveld of the First Presbyterian church of Butte, who did his first ministerial work in Montana in the church of that denomination in this city. Rev. Groeneveld was assisted by the Rev. F. C. Phelps of the local church. “Rock of Ages” and “Abide With Me” were sung by a special choir. Many beautiful floral tributes surrounded the casket which was draped with the flag which he loved so much on which was placed a simple evergreen wreath. A firing squad from the local American Legion Post fired the last salute over his grave, thus ending the impressive service.
Charles P. H. Bielenberg, city market, Deer Lodge City, was born at Hamburg, Germany, May 1, 1847. His parents moved to the United States when be was 8 years old, settling at Davenport, Iowa. Here he attended school until 14 years of age. In 1861 he enlisted in the 8th Iowa Infantry. Toward the close of the war, being taken sick at Mobile, Alabama, he obtained a furlough and returned home. In the spring of 1865 be came to Fort Benton, Montana and walked to Helena, having no money to pay expenses. He went to Virginia City and was employed in a butcher shop for three months, and in the fall of 1866 came to Deer Lodge City and opened the City Market. This business has carried on to the present time. In 1873 he engaged in the stock business, raising horses and cattle. The firm of Bielenberg & Brothers is known all over the Territory. Their stock is of the highest grade, and always brings the best prices in Chicago, to which they ship each year several herds. Mr. Bielenberg was married in 1869 to Miss Mary Wilhelma, of Iowa, and has three children: Clara, Katie and Charles O. Bielenberg.1
References
1. Anaconda Standard, Anaconda, Montana. November 2, 1924.
Children of Charles P. H. Bielenberg and Mary (nee Wilhelma) Bielenberg:
CLARA EMILY BIELENBERG (1870-1950)
KATHERINE ADELL BIELENBERG (1873-)
CHARLES OSCAR BIELENBERG (1882-1949)
CHARLES P. H. BIELENBERG
1846-1924
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