Henry Bertling
Copied from The Gonzales Inquirer, August 11, 1921
(Submitted by Karen Monsen)
Kamonsen@aol.com
Old Citizen Passes
Henry Bertling, one of the oldest citizens of Gonzales county, passed on to his reward Monday
evening, August 8th, 1921, at 5:45 o'clock at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Fred Broer, in the
northern part of town. Death was due to the infirmities of old age, Mr. Bertling having been in
feeble health for some time. He was 86 years of age.Surviving him are four sons and four
daughters, besides a number of grandchildren. His wife and a son and daughter precede him to
the great beyond.
Mr. Bertling was one of the old-timers of Gonzales county, having lived here for 70 years. For
many years he was one of the substantial farmers of the Denton Creek community. In more
recent years, the family moved to town, and after Mrs. Bertling's death the decedent made his
home with his children. He was well known to all the old residents of the county, by whom he
was held in warm esteem.
Mr. Bertling was born in Germany Nov. 28, 1835, and was a young boy when he came here. He
was a Confederate veteran, being among the few remaining very aged veterans of the county.
While his presence will be sadly missed in the home where he was care for so long, his loved ones
realize that it is better so: that he has entered into rest, following a long life that was ripe onto the
harvest.The remains were laid to rest Tuesday afternoon at 4 o'clock in the Denton Creek
Cemetery beside those of his wife and other loved ones who had gone before.
In the presence of a number of relatives and friends of the family, the simple funeral service was
conducted at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Fred Broer, with whom he had made his home
for a number of years. Rev. H.M. Ratliff, pastor of the First Methodist Church of this city,
officiating. A number of the old friends of the family residing in the Denton Creek community met
the remains at the cemetery, where a brief service was held as the last offices for the dead were
performed.
Many lovely floral offerings beautified the last resting place of the aged father, tributes from loved
ones and friends.
The acting pall bearers were J.F. Wood, Frank Hampton, John DuBose, Jr., D.S. Steubing, A.E.
Floyd, and Harry Gurinsky.
Mr. Bertling having been one of the county's oldest Confederate veterans, the honorary pall
bearers were for the most part old veterans and associates of the decedent and included Captain
Reid, Judge John S. Conway, W.L. Clark, Sam McMillan, T.E. Stephenson, N.J. Christian, W.M.
Atkinson, E.C.Conway, H.K. Wood, Gil Ramsay, J.B. Wells, Henry Qualls, John Garrison, Fred
Steubing and F.F. Wood.
The sons and daughters who survive Mr. Bertling are Cleveland Bertling of Flatonia, Ed. Abram
and Dee Bertling of Oklahoma, and Mrs. Fred Broer and Mrs. Jim Christian of this city, Mrs.
W.W. White of Houston and Mrs. Agnes Watson of Dallas.
For many years Mr. Bertling has been a professing Christian and was a member of the Methodist
Church, but in recent years he withdrew from that denomination, joining the Church of God.