LACHNER, Joseph died 1878

LACHNER

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 10/17/2024 at 18:44:46

Joseph Lachner, a somewhat eccentric German farmer living about six miles from Lansing, in the Greuber neighborhood, came to town yesterday, early in the day for a load of lumber, accompanied by his son with another team.

He was about town for several hours, settling up a number of little accounts in various places, and started for home about four o'clock P.M., and is said by those who saw him last to have been perfectly sober.

In going down the brewery hill the team became unmanageable and started to run. Lachner unfortunately dropped one of the lines and by holding tightly to the other he pulled the team across to the north side of the road far enough to run the wagon over the bank. He was pitched off, his head striking against a stone wall, and the lumber was thrown against him, wedging him in tightly, smashing his head in a frightful manner and killing him instantly.

Assistance was close at hand, but those who reached him first say he never moved a muscle. His son soon came up and was horror-stricken to see his father, who he had but a few moments before parted with, a mangled corpse before him. The body was placed in a wagon and taken to his home.

Mr. Lachner was a man about 50 years of age, and was in good circumstances. He leaves a wife and five children, all boys, the eldest of whom is capable of taking full charge of affairs.

~North Iowa Journal, Wednesday, January 16, 1878; pg 4

Note: Burial is in Oak Hill cemetery, with his wife Theresa.