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Charles F. Auer

While yet a young man, Charles F. Auer has succeeded in gaining a good foothold in the business world of his own community, being a native of Jefferson township, Fayette county, where he was born May 15, 1881, the son of Frederick and A____ (Oelwein) Auer, the father a native of Hessen-Darmstadt and the mother of Saxony, Weimer, Germany. They came to America in their youth, he with his father, Carl Auer, who settled in Carroll county, Iowa, where he purchased eighty acres of land, where the senior Auer lived until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick A. Auer met in this country and were married here. He finally went to Independence, Iowa, where he followed his trade of mason and contractor. He was one of the first settlers in Oelwein, Iowa, in which city he married. His wife first married August Schmidt, a native of Saxony, Germany, who came to America and lived on a farm in Jefferson county, until his death. The following children were born to August Schmidt and wife: Otto, a farmer on the old home place in Jefferson township, this county; Oscar and Lena, twins, the former now deceased; Lena married Albert Sherman, who is living in Los Angeles, California, his wife being deceased.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Frederick A. Auer, named as follows: Anna, wife of Fred Sachtleven, of Oelwein, Iowa; Charles F., of this review; Emma, the wife of Warren Gremmels, of Oelwein, Iowa. The father of these children lived in Jefferson township until 1894, when he moved to Oran township, Fayette county, and bought one hundred and forty acres of land in section 2. It was all wild, but he made extensive improvements on the same place, placing it under a high state of cultivation, and erecting a good dwelling and other buildings. His death occurred December 26, 1906, having been preceded to the grave by his wife on March 15, 1902. They were members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Auer was a Democrat but never an office seeker, preferring to lead a quiet, honorable life.

Charles F. Auer attended the home schools and the school at Westgate, Iowa, and he remained under his parental roof until he was twenty-one years of age. He had his youthful imagination fired by tales of the far west and he took a trip to California, traveling throughout the state and remaining there one year, spending considerable time at Los Angeles. He also remained for some time in Colorado in the fruit belt.

On January 14, 1906, Mr. Auer married Malinda Crandall, of Volga, Clayton county, Iowa. She is the daughter of Wallace and Mary (Jennings) Crandall, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Clayton county, Iowa. Mr. Crandall is a successful farmer and stock man.

One son, Cyril Warren, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Auer.  Ever since his marriage, Mr. Auer has lived in Oran township, Fayette county, on a valuable and well improved farm of one hundred and eighty-three acres in sections 1 and 2. He carries on general farming and stock raising in a very satisfactory manner, and in connection with his other work he maintains a dairy of twenty milch cows. He handles a good grade of shorthorn cattle, draft and driving horses, Chester White hogs, Rhode Island Red and Plymouth Rock chickens. He is a fine judge of all kinds of livestock and poultry, and he is regarded as one of the leading young farmers of Oran township, keeping well advised not only regarding agricultural and livestock subjects, but also on general topics of the day. He takes much interest in the general progress of his community and he has served as school director. He is a Republican and a member of the Lutheran church, and bears an unblemished reputation throughout the county or wherever he is known.

~transcribed by Ann Borden