Elmer CHURCH

CHURCH, STAUFFACHER, MERSON, PLUMLEY, SMITH

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/2/2013 at 21:57:53

February 22, 1867 -- March 30, 1909

Elmer Church Killed

The sad news of the death of Elmer Church reached Pine River [Minnesota] Wednesday. Mr. Church left here Tuesday for Brainerd. In the evening he started to walk to Sylvan where he formerly lived and where he was going after some household goods he had left there. He secured a ride with a dairyman to the edge of town and from there walked the track about three miles where he met a show train going at about a mile a minute. It met him at a curve and on a high grade where he could not get very far away from the track without falling down the steep grade. It is presumed that the suction of the train attracted him towards it causing his death. The body was found the next morning by the section crew and on investigation it was found that his neck and one arm was broken and his chest badly crushed. The watch was found along the track about 14 feet from him and his revolver about the same distance in the other direction. He evidently died instantly.

He was a Woodman and carried $1000 insurance. The remains were brought home for burial. He leaves a wife and three children to mourn his loss.

The bereaved relatives have the sympathy of their many friends. -- The Pine Tree Blaze.

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Elmer Church was born at Cedar Falls February 22, 1867 and was the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. N. Church. In 1868 he moved with his parents to Webster City and from there to Luni [Renwick, Iowa] in the spring of 1876. He was united in marriage to Lizzie Stauffacher February 2, 1892. To this union four children were born, the oldest daughter, Alma, died in October 1907. In the spring of 1908, Mr. Church with his family moved to Sylvan, Minn., and from there in the fall of 1907 to Pine River, where he has since made his home.

He leaves to mourn his death a loving wife, two daughters, one son, one sister, Mrs. Inez Merson of Renwick, and two half sisters, Mrs. Alice Plumley of Ausland, Minnesota, and Mrs. Lottie Smith of Bayfield, Wisconsin, all of which were present at the funeral.

Rev. Blunting, assisted by the members of the M. W. A. conducted the funeral at the M. E. church on April 8, at four o'clock. Mr. Church was a well respected citizen and will be greatly missed in his home community. The deepest sympathy is extended to the friends and relatives in the loss of a loved one.