Mary Eixenberger

Peter Eixenberger enlisted on November 15, 1875, in New York City. He listed his previous occupation as musician. He was discharged on November 14, 1880, at Fort Meade, Dakota, upon expiration of service, as a private of excellent character. He then re-enlisted for another five year term. 

He was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. He was on detached service with the rest of the 7th Cavalry band at Yellowstone Depot, Montana Territory. 

In November, 1885, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Achenbach.  To this union eight children were born: Frank of Sykes, Mont; Mrs. John Kellar of Sioux Falls, S.D.; Peter, Jr., Gladys, Arthur, Clarence, Carl, and Joseph of Sturgis.  All were present at the funeral but Mrs. John Kellar, who will arrive here tomorrow. [Eixenberger's obituary; Sturgis Weekly Record; September 14, 1917]

Peter and Mary Eixenberger

Peter Eixenberger died on September 12, 1917, in Sykes, Montana. He was buried in the St. Aloysius Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota. 

Just over a year after her husband's death, Mary was faced with more sorrow. Two of her children, Peter, Jr., and Gladys, both died during the Spanish Influenza outbreak. A while back, the death of Eixenberger's children was a topic on this same blog. You can find that previous post by clicking here.

The following appeared in the November 16, 1918 edition of the Custer Weekly Chronicle, Custer, South Dakota, also reporting the deaths of Peter Jr. and Gladys.

Custer Weekly Chronicle; November 16, 1918

Mary went on living in the Black Hills. In 1939, her family threw her a surprise 72nd birthday party. The party received mention in the April 28, 1939 edition of the Lead Daily Call.

Lead Daily Call; April 28, 1939

The following year, in December, Mary passed away. She was buried alongside her husband, who had died 23 years previous, in St. Aloysius Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota.

Lead Daily Call; December 8, 1940

PETER EIXENBERGER PAGE

Eixenberger Photo

On the 1876 Campaign, Peter Eixenberger was a member of the 7th U.S. Cavalry band which was under the leadership of Chief Musician Felix Vinatieri. Therefore, he was not at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, but instead was on detached service at the Powder River Depot with the rest of the band. 

Eixenberger was discharged from the 7th Cavalry on November 14, 1880 at Fort Meade, upon expiration of service as a private of excellent character. He re-enlisted in the band for another five years and was discharged for the final time on November 14, 1885. That same month, he married Mary Achenbach and together they had eight children.

Peter died on September 12, 1917 near Sykes, Montana. He was buried at St. Aloysius Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota. Sadly, two of his children, Peter Jr. and Gladys, died the following year during the Spanish Flu epidemic. His wife, Mary, lived until 1940. She died on December 8 and is buried next to her husband.

Many thanks to Diane Merkel of the THIS WEEK IN LITTLE BIGHORN HISTORY blog for providing me with this photo.

Peter and Mary Eixenberger

Eixenberger grave at St. Aloysius Cemetery, Sturgis, SD.

PETER EIXENBERGER PAGE

Peter Eixenberger: A Double Bereavement

Peter Eixenberger was a member of the U.S. 7th Cavalry mounted band. He enlisted on November 15, 1875, in New York City. He listed his previous occupation as musician.  He was discharged on November 14, 1880, at Fort Meade, Dakota, upon expiration of service, as a private of excellent character. He was not present at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.  He was on detached service from June 14, 1876, at Yellowstone Depot, Montana Territory, with the rest of the band members.

Custer wanted his band with him in battle. General Terry would not allow this so the band members were left behind when the 7th Cavalry marched off to the Little Big Horn. Custer did however take the band member’s white horses with him to the battle.

World famous Little Big Horn researcher, Walter Mason Camp, stopped off in Lead, South Dakota, to interview Charles Windolph, who had been with Benteen’s Company H at the Little Big Horn battle. While in the area, he also interviewed Peter Eixenberger along with former 7th troopers John Mahoney and Max Hoehn.

Peter Eixenberger died on September 12, 1917, and is buried in St. Aloysius Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota. Buried alongside him are his wife, Mary (died December 8, 1940), and two of their three children, Peter, Jr. and Gladys. Both Peter, Jr. and Gladys died on October 31, 1918, after becoming ill with the Spanish flu and pneumonia. They died less than a half hour apart.

The following appeared in the Sturgis Weekly Record of Thursday, November 7, 1918:

A Double Bereavement

The hand of misfortune rests heavily on Mrs. Peter Eixenberger of Sturgis in the loss of two of her children, Peter, Jr., aged twenty-four years and ten months and Gladys aged eighteen years and eleven months.  They both passed away, after a severe siege of Spanish influenza followed by pneumonia, on Thursday night of last week, less than a half hour apart.

Words are inadequate to assuage the grief over this double loss, but the tenderest sympathy of the entire community is extended to the bereaved mother and brothers and sister who survive them, in this dark hour of bereavement.

The funeral took place last Saturday morning and the services were conducted by the Rev. Father Columban at the grave in the Catholic cemetery.

Both the young people were favorites among their many friends in this vicinity, and their so sudden passing away will not soon be forgotten.

** The next issue of the Sturgis Weekly Record (November 14, 1918) carried the front page headline, END OF THE WAR HAS COME!, announcing the end of World War I.

Peter Eixenberger Page