Elkader Register, IA, Thursday, December 13, 1923, pg. 2, col. 5

Frank Auer.

On Sunday Dec. 2nd at 8:45 p. m. an old pioneer of Garnavillo Ia. Mr. Frank Auer passed away peacefully at his home near Garnavillo. He was born at Landhod, Bavaria on March 30, 1838. He came to this country with his parents in 1851 and resided at Garnavillo.

He was married to Miss Mary Schmelzer in 1870. He remained on the old homestead where he lived 73 years up until the time of his death. He was blessed with 7 children. Two died in infancy and 5 were present at the funeral. Sister Mary Columbia of Sacred Heart hospital, Le Mars, Iowa, Mrs. Mary Schaefers of Clayton and Mrs. Fred Wissell of Dubuque Iowa, Frank Auer of Postville Ia. Ed Auer of Garnavillo township.

After the death of his first wife he was reunited in marriage to Mrs. Margaret Beck who had two children, Barbara and Otto Beck. This union again was blessed with 5 children, Ambrosia, Anna, John, George, Oscar all of which are residing at home. The funeral was held from St. Joseph's church at Garnavillo at 10:00 a. m. Wednesday with Rev. Father Raedler officiating. His six sons acted as pallbearers; after the service the funeral proceded to the cemetery where the remains were laid in a vault.

Mr. Frank Auer was a faithful member of the Catholic church and died with the last rites. He was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him and his funeral was largely attended. He was an old pioneer, a good father and a loyal neighbor and noble citizen.

May his soul rest in peace.

Those from outside of town present at the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. John Bewer, Mrs. Fred Wissell, Mrs. H. Enteringer, Mrs. Christ Maker and Joseph Claus all of Dubuque. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Krauel and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Donahue of Elkader.

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1984 History of Clayton County, Iowa, pg. 25

Franz II and Marie Schmelzer Auer

Franz (Frank) Auer II b. 30 March 1838 near Holzkirchen, Bavaria, Germany, and immigrated to the United States about 1853 with his parents, brothers and sisters. They spent 53 days on the ocean before they arrived in America, and found sanctuary in the home of friends in Indiana before coming to the Garnavillo area. At the age of 16, Frank II took over management of the farm, located between Clayton Center and Garnavillo.

Frank II m. 3 May 1871 to Marie Ann Mozet Schmelzer, b. 15 Jan. 1851, fourth of nine children of Johann and Katharina Grell Schmelzer. It is believed that Katharina Grell's grandfather was a French General Mozet, who served under Napoleon Bonaparte.

Frank and Marie were members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Garnavillo, and were parents of eight ch., three died in infancy: Helen Marie (Sister Columbia) b. July 1874, d. 18 Dec. 1957; Mary b., 10 Feb. 1876, m. Xavier Schaefers b. 1871, lived near Clayton, Ia. and had six children; Catherine b. 22 Nov. 1879, m. Fred G. Wissel of Dubuque, three children; Frank Auer III b. 21 Dec. 1881, m. Lucy Kister and had one daughter; Evelyn Auer m. Geo. Munz; and Edward Francis (see his article).

After the death of his wife, Marie Schmelzer Auer, in childbirth on 13 Feb. 1887, Frank II m. 26 Oct 1887 to Margaret Riegel Beck, a widow with three children, but a son died shortly after arrival to U.S. from Germany. To this union six children were born: Ambrosia Adela b. 30 April 1888, d. 17 Aug. 1974; Anna Marie b. 29 June 1889 m. Thomas Garaghty, two children; John (Jack) Joseph b. 11 Aug. 1890, d. 4 July 1940; George Aloysius b. 21 May 1892, m. Pearl Chettinger, five children; Oscar Joseph b. 18 March 1894, d. 13 Oct. 1971. Twin brother of Oscar's died in infancy.

The Auer's lived on the same farm near Garnavillo for about 110 years. Frank II d. 2 Dec. 1923, buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Garnavillo.

By Gertrude Auer Rose and Leona Auer Voss