Mrs. Rosy Kraxberger, one of the old residents of Macksburg, died
at the home of her son last week. The funeral was held at
the Macksburg Christ Congregational German Lutheran Church, the Rev.
W. R. Morenx-Oeser officiating.
Mrs. Kraxberger was born in Axberg, Upper Austria, in 1840. She
was the mother of 14 children, eight of whom are now living
at Macksburg. She came to America in 1893 and settled at Macksburg,
where she has been prominent in the affairs of the community.
Before coming to America she was three times granted an audience
before Franz Joseph, the Emperor of Austria. The first time
she was received was when she desired a license to conduct her
father's business during his long illness while she was still
under age. She had been refused a license by the town, county and
provincial authorities, but carried the case to the Emperor
himself, and after awaiting an audience for eight days, she reached
the Emperor, and kneeling, pleaded her suit. Franz Joseph,
instructing her to rise, and taking her by the hand, told her never
to bow the knee to any human being, that Kings are only human
like all other people, and granted her petition. On her return
home, the local officials refused to issue the license for months
and she again went to Vienna, laid her case again before the Emperor,
who immediately rebuked and displaced the delinquent
officials.
A few years later, when she met her future husband, their union
was barred by the fact that he was an officer in the Emperor's
army, as officers were not allowed to marry. Again the unconquerable
little Austrian girl appealed to the great monarch and
again her difficulties were swept away, and they were married.
The survivors are the husband, seven sons and two daughters.
The sons are the Rev. William Kraxberger, of Oregon City; Franz
Kraxberger, president of the Oregon Rural Carriers' Association;
Charles Kraxberger, a prominent farmer and bank director of
Aurora, and Ferdinand, Adolph, John and Otto. The daughters are
Mrs. Rosy Kummer and Mrs. Mary Etzel, of Macksburg |
