FRANK NAIBERG SR

Frank Naiberg Sr., son of Frank and Anna Naiberg, was born August 14 1862 in Bohemia. He married Josephine Roshell December 17 1892. Frank died October 29 1937 at his home in the Town of Goetz, Chippewa County, Wisconsin after 75 years, 2 months and 15 days of life. The cause of death was heart failure. Frank's obituary appeared in the Friday, November 5 1937 edition of the Cadott Sentinel. Funeral services were held November 1 1937 with the Rev. A. E. Christiansen of the Baptist church officiating. He was laid to rest November 1 1937 in the Bohemian National Cemetery, Town of Arthur, Chippewa County, Wisconsin.¹

In 1881, Frank immigrated to the United States from Bohemia (Czech Republic). He arrived² at Castle Garden, Port of New York, on September 10 1881 aboard the German steam ship S.S. Elbe. His 10-day sea voyage began at the Port of Bremen, Germany, August 31 1881. From the Port of Bremen, the S.S. Elbe steamed down the river Weser to the North Sea, passed through the English Channel to Southampton, where they boarded additional passengers before crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Frank declared his intent to become a citizen of the United States August 16 1890 in Marshalltown, Marshall County, Iowa. Renouncing his allegiance to the Emperor of Austria, Frank became a citizen of the United States August 30 1892 in Marshalltown, Marshall County, Iowa.³

Frank was an employee of the Iowa Central Railroad, working as a machinist for 23 years.

Circa 1892. Frank Naiberg.

Circa 1900. Iowa Central Railroad crew. Frank Naiberg is in back row, 5th from left.

Circa 1920. Frank Naiberg Sr. with one of the boys (believed to be Frank Jr.).

Frank Naiberg Sr.

The S.S. ELBE⁴ was built by John Elder & Co, Glasgow in 1881 for North German Lloyd of Bremen. She was a 4,510 gross ton ship, length 416.5ft x beam 45ft, straight stem, two funnels, four masts, iron construction, single screw and a speed of 15 knots. There was accommodation for 120-1st, 130-2nd and 1,000-3rd class passengers. Launched on 2nd Apr.1881, she sailed from Bremen on her maiden voyage to Southampton and New York on 26th Jun.1881. She was a record breaking ship at the time and sailed from Southampton to Sandy Hook in 8 days 12 hours 50 minutes, and in the Easterly direction in 8d 9h 10m. She sailed from Bremen on her final voyage on 29th Jan.1895, and the following day was sunk in collision with the British ship CRAITHIE in the North Sea with the loss of 322 lives.⁵