Louis Leimbach (~1870-1942)

LEIMBACH, JOHNSON

Posted By: Alan Nicholson (email)
Date: 3/29/2010 at 19:59:28

The Daily Republican-Times
Ottawa, La Salle Co., IL

12 Dec 1942, p10 c5
Louis Leimbach Missing; Police Aid in Search

Search is being made by police for Louis Leimbach, elderly south Ottawa resident, who has been missing from home since Tuesday noon. Leimbach has been a gardener in Ottawa for many years.

14 Dec 1942, p2 c5
Sheriff Fears Louis Leimbach Met Foul Play

Sheriff Clayton E. Harbeck said today he fears Louis Leimbach, 80, of south Ottawa, who has been missing since last Tuesday, many have met with foul play. Leimbach was believed to have been carrying a large sum of money when he disappeared, and was last seen Tuesday night in a Main street restaurant and tavern, Harbeck said. The sheriff is using the police radio system in an effort to locate him. Police also have been seeking Leimbach, a south Ottawa gardener many years.

15 Dec 1942, p2 c7
Market Basket of Missing Man Found in Tavern

Efforts were being made today by Sheriff Clayton E. Harbeck, to locate Iowa relatives of Louis Leimbach, 80, missing South Ottawa gardener, to determine if he had gone to that state for a visit.

State police radio broadcasts were also being used to give peace officers a description of the missing man.

A market basket Leimbach was carrying when he left his home last Tuesday was found today in a downtown restaurant and tavern, where Leimbach was last seen on Tuesday night of last week. The sheriff has expressed the fear that Leimbach may have been carrying a large sum of money and met with foul play.

Leimbach is described as five feet eight inches tall and weighing 130 pounds. He has a gray mustache, a fair complexion and was last seen wearing a dark overcoat, dark gray skull cap and black trousers with a small gray stripe.

2 Jan 1943, p1 c2
Disappearance of L. Leimbach Baffles Police

Search continues for Louis Leimbach, prominent south Ottawa gardener, who has been missing more than three weeks.

He was last seen in a downtown restaurant and tavern, where a market basket which he usually carried when on visits to the business district was found following his disappearance.

Radio broadcasts over the county police broadcasting system have been made, giving a description of the missing man. Chief of Police Frank M. Frazier and Sheriff Clayton E. Harbeck said they have run down all possible clews without success. It was thought that Leimbach might have gone to visit in Iowa, but this was not the case, and relatives there said they had heard nothing from him. No message has been received from her husband by Mrs. [Betsey] Leimbach [nee Johnson], who fears he may have met with foul play.

21 May 1943, p4 c3
Recover Body of L. Leimbach at Peru Today

The body of Louis Leimbach, aged about 80, South Ottawa gardener, who disappeared last Dec. 8, was taken from an Illinois river slough at the mouth of Cedar creek, two miles south of Peru, this afternoon.

Paul De Groot, son of Mr. and Mrs. John De Groot of Peru, came upon the remains today as he traveled through the flood area. He went into Peru and notified police, who summoned Sheriff Clayton Harbeck.

The body was taken to the Friedrich Funeral home in La Salle, where Sheriff Harbeck made the identification from a watch and a name in the victim's purse.

Leimbach disappeared while on a trip to the business district the night of Dec. 8. He was carrying a basket containing some Christmas gifts to be mailed to relatives. It was believed at the time he disappeared that he had a large sum of money on his person. He was last seen alive in a Main street tavern and restaurant.

When found, he was without a shirt, wore long underwear, dark trousers and had on new shoes.

The body, when found by the De Groot youth, was face downward and had been snagged onto some undergrowth in the slough.

When Sheriff Harbeck and Deputy Stanley Murray reached the scene they had Paul De Groot and Peter Kepper, Jr., tow the body to the shore, and had it removed from the water to the undertaking parlor, where the identification was made.

The remains were in a bad state of decomposition and apparently had been in the water since Leimbach disappeared.

Leimbach and his wife lived on Prairie street on R. F. D. 4, Ottawa. He had operated a garden there for many years, selling vegetables to residents of South Ottawa, and was a familiar figure in the south part of Ottawa. He usually carried a market basket.

22 May 1943, p8 c1
Leimbach Death Due to Drowning, Inquest Verdict

A coroner's jury at La Salle late yesterday returned a verdict finding that Louis Leimbach, 74, South Ottawa gardener, met death by drowning in the Illinois river.

Leimbach's body was taken from the Illinois river two miles south of Peru yesterday. He had been missing since Dec. 8.

Sheriff Clayton C. Harbeck said today that an examination of the skull and body failed to show any indication of foul play.

Funeral services will be held at 4 .p m. today at the Gladfelter chapel.

The inquest was conducted by Dr. M.H. Sawyer of Ottawa, deputy county coroner.

Mrs. Leimbach, the widow, testified her husband left his home shortly before noon last Dec. 8 to go downtown to a barber shop. She said she asked him why he did not go to a shop in South Ottawa, and that he told her he wanted to go downtown.

Deputy Sheriff Stanley Murray testified that a report was made on Dec. 9 to the sheriff's office that Mr. Leimbach was missing.

No trace was found of Mr. Leimbach from the evening of Dec. 8, when he was seen in a restaurant and tavern on Main street until yesterday, when his body was found in a slough at the mouth of Cedar creek, south of Peru, where it had been washed up by backwater.

It was first rumored that he was carrying a large amount of money at the time he disappeared, but Mrs. Leimbach said at the inquest she did not believe he had more than $10, as he had not collected his rents.

The couple have no children.

Editorial notes - Betsey was the sister of Olena Johnson and Ole Johnson; the obituaries for both appear on this website and refer to Betsey. No formal obituary seems to have been published for Louis Leimbach, so this collection of news stories will have to suffice.