CONRAD AUER was a brave soldier in the late war in which he did noble service for his adopted country and is doing no less good work as one of its industrious practical farmers. He is conducting his agricultural interests in Point Precinct, Calhoun County, where lie has a good farm.
Mr. Auer was born in the town of Schaffhausen, Switzerland, May 20, 1839, and was nine years old when he came to America with his parents. He remembers well the incidents of the long ocean voyage and of the life that followed after settling here amid pioneer surroundings. He was of great use on the farm during his boyhood and continued to live with his parents until 1854 when he and his brother Melchoir went to Pike County to find employment. He first worked with a farmer and remained with him until 1857, when he came back to Calhoun County and was employed on the home farm two subsequent years. After that we find him engaged at the trade of a carpenter with his brother Jacob. A year later he gave that up and in the fall of 1860 commenced farming with his brother.
Our subject was thus engaged in agricultural pursuits when the war broke out. He watched the course of the great conflict with interest and with all the patriotism of a native-born citizen offered his services to his country as soon as he could arrange to do so and on the 1st of August, 1861, became a member of Company D, First Missouri Cavalry and served until after the close of the war, being with his regiment in Missouri and Kansas until June, 1863, and then on detached service at headquarters the first eight months as messenger. November 8, 1864, he joined his regiment at Little Rock, Ark., and remained with it in that State until September 1, 1865, when he and his comrades were honorably discharged.
Mr. Auer after his return from the army quietly resumed farming, buying a part of the old homestead on which he lived until 1869. He then sold it to his brother and farmed as a renter until 1877 when he bought the place where he now resides on section 15, of Point Precinct, township 13, range 1. Here he has everything in good condition, has the soil under excellent tillage, neat and well-arranged buildings and everything convenient for carrying on farming after the best methods. His reputation as a skilled farmer places him among the best in the township. He is an intelligent citizen, interesting himself in whatever will benefit the community and he is a well-informed man as he is fond of reading and has good powers of observation.
Mr. Auer and Miss Hannah O. Barnhart were married in the month of November, 1872. Mrs. Auer is a native of this State, having been born in St. Clair County and she is a daughter of Henry J. and Mary (Clausen) Barnhart. The pleasant wedded life of Mr. and Mrs. Auer has been productive to them of four children — Maud E., Ella Rose, Grace D. and Dora H.
Extracted 23 Mar 2017 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Album of Pike and Calhoun Counties, Illinois, published in 1891, page 787
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