Ervin Lauer 1903-1943

LAUER, SCHOTT, WELSH

Posted By: N Wagner (email)
Date: 12/17/2007 at 11:53:12

The body of Ervin Lauer, 30, was found in a corn field on the Dorsey Cannell farm in southern Banks township at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, eight days after he had wandered away from his parents' home two miles west of Auburn. The body was found by a 14 year old son of Mr. Cannell, who was hunting pheasants in a corn field on their home farm.

His rubbers had been found on the Cannell farm last Wednesday, this being the only clue after he left his home neighborhood.

Lauer's death without doubt resulted from exposure. He was clad only in a shirt, having removed his coveralls after he reached the spot where he died. His clothes were tattered and his body scratched. There was nothing to prove how long his death had occurred before the body was found.

He had wandered away from home at former times, but never so far or in such cold weather. He was last seen the day he left, two miles west of the Lauer farm, by a girl of the Otho Lee family.

The location of the Cannell farm is about nine miles southwest of Hawkeye, Iowa, six miles east and a little south from Sumner, and a mile and a half south of the Center Valley creamery. It is about 20 miles from the Lauer home.

Surviving are the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Lauer, and their daughter Florence, at home; also two married daughters, Mrs. William Schott, West Union and Mrs. Hilda Welsh, Fredericksburg.

Ervin was born Feb. 28, 1903. He was normal physically and mentally up to the time of an illness when he was four years old.

The funeral was conducted at 2 p.m. yesterday from Zion Lutheran church, West Union, and burial made in the family lot in St. Peter's cemetery, Eldorado.

Seldom is such a flock of untrue rumors circulated as was done in this case. Every half day or oftener a story was told on the streets of West Union, giving all the particulars of when and where and how the body had been found.

Fayette County Union, October 30, 1943