Place of Birth: Switzerland
Date of Death: August 11, 1899
Interment source:
Bay View Cemetery Association, Corpus Christi, Texas. Record of Interments
NO HEADSTONE
Biography
The Reuthinger family had multiple members here in south Texas. The interment records of the Bayview Cemetery Association indicate that Elizabeth is a relative of Henry Reuthinger, one of three brothers who came to south Texas from Switzerland. In the 1900 federal census of Nueces County (E.D. 132, page 144a/sheet 3a) Henry's brother Jacob Reuthinger reports that he came to this country in 1874, and presumably his brothers Henry and Godfried also came about that time or shortly afterwards. Jacob met and married Elizabeth Uehlinger, also of Switzerland in Nueces County on 19 July 1874 (Marriage Records volume D, page 108). His brother Godfried is listed as "Gottfreid Reuthinger" in marriage records of Bexar County, Texas (San Antonio) where he married "Helen Smidt" on 16 April 1883. He was in Laredo by 1899 when Henry departed for his homeland, and Gottfried was still there in Laredo in 1903 at the time of Henry Reuthinger's death. Henry returned to Switzerland in the later part of 1899. The announcement of his death in Switzerland in 1903 (C.C. Caller issue of 9 October 1903, page 5 col. 1) notes that he had left the Corpus Christi area about 3 years previously. It seems most likely that his decision to return to Switzerland was prompted by the death of his daughter Ida on 30 May 1899 when only a little more than 7 months old (C.C. Caller issue of 2 June 1899, page 5) and the subsequent death of his wife Elizabeth only two months later. Henry's obituary notice says that he had been in the confectionary business in Corpus Christi for many years next door to E. Bechert's jewelry store. The paper implies that he was doing quite well here in his business so it does not seem that he left because of financial difficulties. It is most likely that he was terribly depressed after the lost of his loved ones and decided to make a new start back at home. While no obit is found for Elizabeth in the Caller (because those issues are not extant), it seems likely that this is Elizabeth his wife and not a daughter. That his wife was named Elizabeth is confirmed by the note that the couple published in the Caller at the time of their daughter's death to thank the many friends who had supported them in their time of need (Caller, 2 June 1899, page 5 col. 4). That Elizabeth buried in Old Bayview appears to be his wife is indicated by the notation from burial records of the Bayview Association that the deceased Elizabeth was a native of Switzerland. By September of 1899 the paper announced that Henry had left Corpus Christi for Laredo (presumably to visit Gottfried before leaving America). The paper mentions only Henry as if he were now without wife or children. The paper reports that he would spend several days in Laredo before leaving for "Schaffhausen, Switzerland, via New York" (Caller, 22 September 1899, page 4 col. 3). It said this would be for a visit, but apparently he found a new wife and began anew back in his homeland because at the time of his death in 1903 his obit noted that he had brothers "Jacob" and "Godfried" in America, but that he also had a brother in Switzerland as well as a wife and a child. Meanwhile little Ada's death announcement indicates that Henry left a wife (Elizabeth) and child (Ida) in Corpus Christi, both buried in Old Bayview Cemetery. It should be noted that members of the Uehlinger family (some of which are buried in Old Bayview) are also from Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Henry's brother Jacob was married to Elizabeth Uehlinger.
Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell