Lehrman, William, 1864-1931

LEHRMAN, JACOBS

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/19/2010 at 23:28:31

FALL FROM TOP [OF] ELEVATOR FATAL TO WM. LEHRMAN

A deep shadow was cast upon this entire community last Thursday [Oct. 8] evening when the shocking news of the tragic death with which Mr. William Lehrman, Sr., met was spread over the wires in every direction.

The deceased, William John Henry Conrad Lehrman, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lehrman, was born in Jackson county, Iowa, Aug. 29, 1864. He was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on March 21, 1881, at Fort Wayne, Ind., by the now sainted Rev. H. G. Sauer. On Aug. 17, 1887, he was united in marriage with Miss Wilhelmine Jacobs at Mechanicsville, Iowa, by the Rev. J. H. Brammer. In the same year he with his young wife came west to Sioux county and established his own hearth on a farm six miles southeast of Maurice and resided there until death. To this happy union eleven children were born, five sons and six daughters. Frank, the oldest of the sons, preceded his father in death.

Lost Balance and Fell

Mr. Lehrman, together with his faithful helpmate, by hard and honest labor, was successful in accumulating enough of earthly goods to enable them to live at east in their older days. The Lord in whom they had put their trust had indeed visibly blessed the labors of their hands. Advancing in age he no longer engaged in the harder work on the farm, but would help his son whenever he could and felt able to. And so, when last Thursday evening his son was unloading the last load of corn for the day with an elevator, he went up into the high corn crib to spread the corn. And there it happened that, while he apparently shifted the spout of the elevator, he must have lost his balance and fell from a height of 16 feet to the cement floor of the alleyway breaking his neck. This occurred at about 6:30 o'clock. No one was there to witness the accident. However, about 20 minutes after the corn had been unloaded and the family was about ready to take their supper the father had not as yet made his appearance, and when, upon calling him, no answer was received his son and his help went in search of him, and, coming to the corn crib found him prostrated on the floor with life totally extinct.

Leaves Ten Children

He attained the age of 67 years, 1 month and 9 days and leaves to mourn his loss his widow, 4 sons, Oscar, William, Lorenz and Harold, all of this community; 6 daughters, Mrs. Henry Bremer of Ocheyedan, Mrs. Earle Cooper of LeMars, Mrs. Frank Stubbert of Sioux City, Mrs. John Van Gelder of Rock Rapids, Evelyn and Carmen; elevan grandchildren; his only surviving brother, Henry, of Stanwood, Iowa.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon, Oct. 12 at 1 o'clock from the home and at 2 o'clock from St. John's Lutheran church, 4 miles east of Ireton, with Rev. C. D. Nuoffer in charge, who preached on the text found in Isaiah 57:2 in the presence of a very large concourse of relatives, friends and acquaintances. A choir consisting of Mrs. Herbert Vander Hamm, the Misses Leona and Luella Vander Hamm and Messrs. Walter and Leonard Vander Hamm, with Miss Lelah Vander Hamm at the instrument, sang at the house, "Asleep in Jesus," and at the church, "Beloved it is well." Interment was made in St. John's Lutheran cemetery.

Very Large Funeral

The overflow crowd in attendance and the many and beautiful floral offerings gave evidence of the high esteem in which the departed brother was held.

Those in attendance from abroad were: Mr. Henry Lehrman, Mrs. Minnie Lehrman, Mr. and Mrs. Walther Lehrman, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Lehrman, Mrs. Henry Haesemeyer, Mrs. W. G. Nagler, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Portwig, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Wigger, Mr. Fred Van Buren, all of Stanwood, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Wendt of Lowden, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Will Kremier, Miss Agnes Kremier, Herbert Kremier, Mrs. Henry Jacobs, of Okarchee, Okla.; Mr. and Mrs. Stromberg of Hartley, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. A. Peterson of Hulstein, Iowa; Mrs. Ed Rueter, Mr. Ernest Bremer, Mrs. Robert Bremer, Mr. Aug. Counsour, of Ocheyedan, Iowa; Mrs. Ed Peterson and Mrs. Geo. Merrill of Sioux City.

Source: Alton Democrat, Oct. 16, 1931.
A similar, but more flowery, obit was published in the Ireton Ledger, Oct. 15, 1931.

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WILLIAM LEHRMAN INSTANTLY KILLED

William Lehrman, aged 67, well known farmer residing twelve miles north of LeMars, was instantly killed shortly before dusk Thursday evening when he fell from the roof of a corn crib. His neck and back were broken.

The accident happened on the farm owned by Mr. Lehrman in Sherman township, Sioux county. Corn husking operations were in progress during the day at the Lehrman farm. Mr. Lehrman had climbed to the peak of the roof in the corn crib to adjust a spout connecting with the elevator used in unloading corn and was standing on a plank about eighteen feet from the ground. No one witnessed the fatal accident. The body was found on the concrete floor partly submerged in corn.

From indications Mr. Lehrman lost his balance and toppled over backwards from the plank making a futile grab to save himself, carrying away with him the spout. Marks on the slats of the upper part of the crib showed he had made a desperate effort to avert danger.

Mr. Lehrman came to Sioux county when a young man and settled on a farm in Sherman township where he farmed successfully and attained a competency and was regarded as one of the leading and outstanding members of the community. He was a life-long resident of Iowa, having been born in Jackson county, Iowa.

He leaves to mourn his death his wife and ten children who are Mrs. Henry Bremer, Ocheyedan, Iowa, Oscar L., William and Lawrence Lehrman of Ireton, Mrs. J. E. Cooper of LeMars, Mrs. Frank Stubbard of Sioux City, Mrs. John Van Gelder of Rock Rapids, Misses Evelyn and Carmen Lehrman, living at home. One son, Frank, preceded his father in death being a victim of an influenza scourge some years ago. There are ten grandchildren.

The funeral was held Monday afternoon from the home and services were conducted at St. John's Lutheran church in Reading township, Sioux county, with Rev. C. D. Nuoffer, the pastor, officiating.

The funeral was attended by a large number of friends and neighbors. The deceased was held in high regard by everybody who knew him. He was a good citizen and one of the best type of men who have helped to make this part of the country what it is today, a shining example to many who have taken advantage of opportunities laid out by nature and omnipotent forces. --LeMars Sentinel.

Source: Hawarden Independent, Oct. 15, 1931.
Similar obituaries were published in the Rock Valley Bee (Oct. 16, 1931) and the Sioux Center News (Oct. 15, 1931).