GERLACH, Frank H. 1875-1927

GERLACH, PRIEM

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 8/17/2009 at 12:07:26

#1 of 2 items:

FRANK H. GERLACH ACCIDENTLY KILLED

Fork Handle Driven Into His Brain While Threshing Last Wednesday.
Died Eight Hours Later.

One of the worst accidents in this part of the country took the life of one of the best men in the country last Wednesday afternoon. They were threshing at E. E. Priem’s place, and about four o’clock Mr. Gerlach went to climb up on the load of grain with fork in hand. No one saw just what happened but they saw him start to get on the load and just afterwards they found him lying by the side of the load on the ground with the end of the fork handle through his left eye into his brain. Drs. Westenberger and Culbertson were called and arrived at the Priem farm as soon as possible. It was decided to take the injured man to the Mercy Hospital at Mason City and though everything possible was done, he passed away at 12:30 o’clock in the night.

Just how the accident occurred no one knows, as no one happened to be looking in that direction, but it is supposed that a tine of the fork was caught in the big drive belt and thrown in such a way that the end of the fork handle struck Mr. Gerlach in the left eye. The eye ball was crushed and from all evidence the fork handle entered his head to the depth of five or six inches.

Frank was one of the best known and best liked men in this section of the country, one of the men we can not afford to lose.

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#2 of 2 items:

Obituary of Frank H. Gerlach

Frank Gerlach, well known farmer and citizen of Newburg Township, was born on a farm near Nora Springs, Iowa, February 10, 1875, and died at Mercy Hospial, Mason City, Iowa at 12:30 A.M. aged 52 years, 5 months and 14 days [ died 24 JULY 1927?? ].

In 1882 he removed with his parents from the home near Nora Springs to the Carpenter community where he has made his home ever since. He was educated in the schools of the community and at the age of 12 united with the Evangelical Church at Carpenter and gave a life-time of service to the work of the Kingdom of God through the church and Sunday school.

On September 26, 1894 he was married to Emma M. Priem. To this union there were born nine children, eight of whom remain to mourn his loss: Rev of St. Cloud, Minn.; Earl of Carpenter, Irma Gerlach Ball of St. Louis, Missouri, and Arthur, Rose, Lucille, Wilmer and Gene, who still remain in the family home with the mother, Emma Priem Gerlach.

Though Mr. Gerlach himself was one of a family of 12 children, only . . .
[illegible]

An active and fine spirited citizen and neighbor, Frank Gerlach will be greatly missed from all good enterprises of the community. The shock of his sudden death, which came as the result of an accident with a threshing machine, has come with stunning effect upon the neighborhood.

It is hard indeed to realize that he is gone. He was universally respected and often trusted with respobsibilities for the township and community. A true man, a willing worker, a kind and helpful neighbor, a humble and devoted follower of Jesus Christ, his life shines out as an example to his sons and to other young men of the community. It is the quiet lives like stars up to which we look and from which we obtain our deepest inspirations.

Though Frank Gerlach was deeply interested in the affairs of school and community, his supreme interest was in the work of the church and Sunday school, the Kingdom of Jesus, his Saviour. Through the years he held many offices in church and Sunday school and at the time of his death was both steward and trustee of the Carpenter Evangelical church.

[a poem omitted from transcription]

The funeral services were held at the Carpenter church on Saturday, in charge of Rev. Walters of Bolan and Rev. Moore of St. Ansgar. Wm. Groth sang, "Face to Face" and a trio composed of Miss Clare Moe, Mrs. J.P. Lund and Mrs. Otis Moore, with Miss Amy McCulla at the piano, sang several beautiful selections.

Interment was in the Priem cemetery, just west of St. Ansgar. Members of the local camp, M.W. of A., were present and held brief services at the grave.

Present from away to attend the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Roy Gerlach of St. Cloud, Minn., Mrs. Al Colby and daughter of Northfield, Minn.; Carl Macklett and son of Minneapolis, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. E.G. Birdsall of Farmington, Minn.; G.E. Schreiber and family of Cresco, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. John Ball of St. Louis; Mrs. G. Stelner of Mason City, Iowa; EMil TObsing and family of Mason City, Iowa; J.B. Pribenow and family, Dave Huff and wife, A. Schlesser and family of Nora Springs, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. J. Noddla of Osage, Iowa; Mrs. Annie Bauer and family, M. Brandt and family, Mrs. Milton Merkel and children of Austin, Minn., besides a host of friends and neighbors from his old home. . . .

[From St. Ansgar Museum Collection - dated 1927]