Sporrer, Joseph E. 1879-1941

SPORRER, BAKER, ANGELSBERG, ENGLESBERG

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/15/2022 at 07:58:17

From the Hawarden Independent, March 6, 1941:

J. E. Sporrer Dies as Result of Auto Accident February 27

J. E. Sporrer, 56, of Huron, S.D., died in the Samaritan hospital in that city about 11 o’clock last Thursday night, February 27, of injuries suffered last Wednesday night in an automobile accident in which R. N. Munson, 45, of Huron, was instantly killed and two others were injured.

Sporrer, who was a brother of W. W. Sporrer of Hawarden, died as the result of chest injuries suffered when the car in which the four men were riding crashed through the rail of the Lake Byron bridge about 15 miles from Huron and plunged to the ice-covered surface of the Jim river. According to the officers the car driven by Munson apparently skidded on the east approach of the bridge for a short distance and then dropped 25 feet to the river bottom, landing upside down.

Munson’s neck was broken and his body pinned in the wreckage, and the others were pummeled severely by the impact. L. M. Doyle, who suffered a fractured collar bone and general shock, is recovering and Lyman T. Hinckley, the fourth member, escaped with minor cuts and bruises.

The victims were members of a group of eight men, who had gone to Lake Byron for a fish dinner at one of the cottages. When the party broke up about 10 o’clock the four above mentioned left for home and the other four men followed in another car. As the second car crossed the lake the men noticed the car in the river but thought it was a fishing party. It wasn’t until they had proceeded a mile or so that they noticed that the Munson car was no longer ahead of them. Suspecting then what must have happened they turned round and went back to the bridge and found Munson’s machine overturned on the frozen surface of the river. Doyle had managed to extricate himself, but the others were still trapped inside. Munson was pinned under a partly open door and his body could not be removed until a wrecker appeared on the scene.

Joe E. Sporrer was born at Alton, Iowa, October 10, 1884, and went to Huron to live about 25 years ago. About 22 years ago he was united in marriage with Miss Edna Baker of Hawarden. When he first went to Huron he was engaged in the draying business together with his brother-in-law, William Heermann. He joined the Huron volunteer fire department January 5, 1927, and was an active fireman until the time of his death.

He is survived by his wife and two daughters, Mina, 20, and Joan, 16. He also leaves four brothers and two sisters, Ted C. of Centralia, Wash.; Frank E. of Houston, Texas; John F. of Breckenridge, Minn.; William W. of Hawarden; Mrs. J. T. Reese of Huron, S.D.; and Mrs. Harley Gibson of Washington, D.C.

George Royer, son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Sporrer of Hawarden, drove here from Huron as soon as he learned of the accident and Mr. and Mrs. Sporrer returned to Huron with him. They reached the bedside of Joe Sporrer before he passed away but he never regained consciousness.

Funeral services for Mr. Sporrer were held at 4 o’clock Sunday afternoon at the Welter Funeral home with Rev. Hayes in charge. Burial was at Huron. Others besides Mr. and Mrs. Sporrer from Hawarden who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Emil Anderson and daughter Audrey, Mrs. Mary Henderson and Harry Baker. John Sporrer of Breckenridge, Minn., and Mr. and Mrs. William Heermann of Great Falls, Mont., also attended the funeral.

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From the Alton Democrat, March 7, 1941:

Joe Sporrer Victim of Car Accident

Joe E. Sporrer, boyhood resident of Alton, died at the Samaritan hospital in Huron, S.D., Thursday from injuries received Wednesday night in an automobile accident in which R. N. Munson, 45, was instantly killed and two other Huron men were injured.

The car in which the four men were riding crashed through the rail of the Lake Byron bridge 15 miles northeast of Huron and plunged to the ice-covered surface of the Jim River. The car was driven by Munson.

Sporrer was born at Alton, Ia., Oct. 10, 1884, says the “Evening Huronite” (a copy of which was mailed to J. B. Braskamp of Alton by his brother, Will Braskamp of Huron) and came to Huron about 25 years ago, engaging in the draying business. He joined the Huron volunteer fire department in 1927.

He is survived by his wife, Edna Baker Sporrer; four brothers, Ted C., Centralia, Wash.; Frank E., Houston, Texas; John E., Breckenridge, Minn.; and Wm. W., Hawarden; two daughters: Mina, 20, and Joan, 16; two sisters: Tracy (Mrs. Harley Gibson), Washington, D.C., and Mrs. Anna Reese, Huron.

The Sporrer family grew up at Alton under difficulties, their father having been killed in a gravel pit accident at Granville. The four boys began running errands and helping around the depot when but small boys. All including Joe became good citizens of their communities.

Joe was a member of the Alton baseball team organized by the late “Bob" Holm and played several seasons with the team which became so favorably known all through this section. His teammates and other friends here greatly regret to learn of Joe’s passing.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His FindaGrave.com page has Joseph Edward Sporrer, born 10 Oct 1879 in Saint Marys, Warren County, Iowa; died 27 Feb 1941 in Beadle County, South Dakota; buried in Riverside Cemetery, Huron, S.D. The submitter, a descendant, says his birth date is from the records of the Immaculate Conception Church, St. Mary’s, Iowa, where he was baptized. There is a photo of the joint headstone of him and wife Edna M., which gives his life years as 1884-1941. Parents Joseph Sporrer (1857-1888) and Mary Angelsberg Sporrer (1856-1937). Six siblings listed. Wife Edna Mae Baker Sporrer (1896-1952). One child listed: Joan Nadine Englebretson (1924-1991).

The 1925 Iowa state census gives his parents as Joe Sporrer and Mary Englesberg.

There is an 1880 (July) U.S. census record for Jackson Township, Warren County, Iowa, showing Joseph Sporrer, age 24, a farmer, wife Mary (24), and son Joseph Jr. (7/12, born in October 1879). The 1900 census shows Joseph Sporrer, age 20, born Oct. 1879, as a railroad section worker and boarding with a family in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The 1910 census shows him, age 30, living in Alton, with his mother Mary and three younger siblings, where they are running a hotel.

His World War I draft registration card (Sept. 1918) has Joseph Edward Sporrer, residence 1269 3rd, Huron S.D.; age 38, born Oct. 10, 1879; a self-employed truck driver; nearest relative Mary Sporrer of Huron; medium height and build, blue eyes, dark hair, blind in right eye.

Ancestry.com has a South Dakota marriage record for Joseph E. Sporrer, age 36, resident of Huron, and Edna M. Baker, age 24, resident of Huron, married 3/24 or 5/24, 1920 in Redfield, Spink County, South Dakota.