Earling Map
Earling is a city in Shelby County, Iowa, United States. The population was 471 at the 2000 census.
The town was platted in 1882 by the Milwaukee Land Company and was first known as Marthan. However there was already a town called Marathon in Iowa, so the name of the town was soon changed to Earling, in honor of Albert J. Earling who in 1882 was division superintendent of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway. (Earling became president of the said Railroad on September 23, 1899.)
Earling is well known in paranormal circles for being the site of a 1928 exorcism. Over 23 days in 1928, a Roman Catholic priest named Theophilus Riesinger worked to exorcise demons from Emma Schmidt at the local Franciscan convent. During the exorcism Schmidt reportedly flew across the room, landed high above the door, and clung tightly to the wall. Despite attempts by church officials to keep the exorcism secret, townspeople soon began hearing strange noises coming from the convent as well as horrid odors. Finally after 23 days the demons in Schmidt's body gave up after Father Riesinger commanded, "Depart, ye fiends of hell! Begone, Satan." After the exorcism Schmidt reportedly led a fairly normal life.
Nearby cities include Harlan, Dunlap, Irwin, Dow City, Manilla.