Mada Annie Otte and Hugo Robert Reichenau
sent by Kay Reichenau Ponder
<hkponder@hipweb.net>
Mada Annie Otte and Hugo Robert Reichenau were born and
raised in Mason Co.
but moved to Menard Co. to farm and raise their
children. They moved back to
Mason when Grandpa had a heart attack at 90.
They remained in Mason until
they died. Grandpa was 101 and Grandma was 102 when
they died. I have a
pictures and record of people buried
in the unmarked plots from the Reichenau
Cemetery. My Grandpa insisted I make a record of
the people in the graves since
he was the last child to survive. We put a marker
on one of the graves last year for
Henrietta Moldenhauer, his grandmother,
but need to put up another one for his
baby sister.
At Mada Annie Otte Reichenau's funeral
Mr. Chris Hooten read a poem he had written intitled
"A Ballad for Hugo and Mada"
The joy
and peace they found in life are the
fruits that they would bear
and the seeds they
planted within the soil was the love that they would share.
All in
turn their life they lived with
humor, joy and song.
The love of
life they sived so full and it never steered them wrong.
The blacksmith's shop
on Mason's square the horse hooves Hugo shod.
The mules he fell
between one day unscratched, he thanked his God.
Their first
home made in 1909 on top of high Post Hill
Then Wagram, Doss
he blacksmithed there and those long hours did he fill.
In 1915 on to London
to the land that they had sought
Not even home or shelter
stood on the new land they had bought.
Willing friends and helpful
neighbors true pioneers at heart
the new ground broke with plow he bore
from raw land came their start.
With land as wild as the bronco
steed with a spirit pure as gold
They opened up the London
land from here their roots took hold.
With Mada's hand he held
so tight with a lust within his soul
And children did she bear
for him and their family made them whole.
One day in London was Elgin lost
set Mada's fears unrest
Perhaps he lay within the waters
of the lye soap tub she guessed.
Wild hogs, too, perhaps had come
and led the lad away
Yet, Elgin had just wondered
off and in Erna spent the day.
Harold passed away at six with
pneumonia's fatal sting
A handsome child the angels found
when his soul to them did bring.
With haunts as wild as land he knew
From which screams do fill the night
Hugo killed the spotted panther when it leapt o'erhead
in fright.
From head to tail the wagon full with pride
he there displayed
And Mason folks from far away came to
see the catch he made.
Hunter Hugo they woud say no truer
shot you've seen
To lay in stalk throughout the
night and end the leopard's dream.
It takes a family of grit and
strength to plant the summer corn.
It takes a family of steel and wits
to last the drought's long scorn.
No less they were with coming age though bent
from time and use
A handsome couple inside and out something
time could not abuse.
From driving cattle in his youth to the rancher
that he made
From the blacksmith's anvil that he used Hug's
heart and soul obeyed.
From youth's eternal spring they sprang to
the grey that age required,
Their love of life and laughter sought were the
memories they inspired.
Pioneers, father, mother, friend it's the heart they all
loved best,
It's the part of them that never left the piece that ne'er
knew rest.
And when the final roundup be way up there in heaven's land
And when the last steer crosses o'er to get its final
brand.
Somewhere behind a ridin' herd is where Hugo's sure to be
A waitin' for the final call that will end all history.
Now, Mada's passed to join him there where the starherds
fill the sky,
and hands hey hold again on high and with
tears of joy we cry.
For every thing there is a season for their
lives it was the same
Our Father who art in heaven with you their memories remain.