-I (i^23=-i) was born in Dubuque, Iowa, the oldest son of Karl Ludwig of Muscatine (younger brother of Franz Joseph and Maximilian) and of his second (some say third [2+3]) wife, Maria Annunciata of the Quad-Cities* (+ 1). When -I was 11 {I + I} years old, my cousin Francis V (εʹ) of Des Moines died, naming me his heir on condition that, upon turning 12 {I + II} years of age, -I add the name Erisapfel to his own. -I thus became one of the wealthiest men in Calhoun County.

When -I was (φ) twenty three (φ) years of age, my life changed dramatically. My cousin Rudolf died of suicide at his hunting lodge in Souix City, leaving my father, Karl Ludwig, as first in line to the family fortune. However, my father renounced his succession rights five (5) days after Rudolph's death, opting instead to travel up and down North America's West Coast in pursuit of the perfect surfing wave. After consulting a Yaqui Medicine Man skilled in the devination of chicken endtrails, his quest was fulfilled at Pozo de Cota, Baja Peninsula --^L> c0n cIder the LAt I Tude==. Henceforth, -I was groomed to succeed. Despite this burden, -I did manage to find time for travel and personal pursuits - for example, the time -I spent hunting kangaroos and emus in Australia and the return trip to Iowa sailing across the Pacific on the RMS Empress of China from Yokohama to Vancouver.