MEVES, William H.

MEVES, GRAVES, KANZMEIER, HAYWARD, BURLEY, SCHROEDER, CHRISTENSEN

Posted By: Joan Hayward Helm (email)
Date: 9/22/2002 at 15:48:25

Copied from Wheatland Gazette, 26 May 1937 issue, page 1

William H. Meves

Last Thursday night, May 20, 1937, at 10:30 o'clock, William H. Meves, our last Civil War veteran, answered the final roll call and joined the great host of comrades in the Great Beyond. He had been one of the favored few who remained in the rapidly thinning ranks of the boys of '61 who answered the call of Father Abraham, and marched away to engage in four years of the longest and bitterest civil strife in history. He was but a lad of 17, yet he tasted the full horrors of war, and when the struggle was ended, knew full well the terrible price of peace.

Mr. Meves was born December 17, 1844, in Germany, and came to America when he was but a child, settling with his parents near Davenport in Scott county, Iowa.

When the call came for volunteers he enlisted in Company A, 8th Iowa Infantry, at Davenport, and served in several of the major engagements. His closet call to death came in the battle of Spanish Fort, when his hat was shot from his head by exploding shrapnel, and for years he kept the hat as a souvenir of that most thrilling of soldier experiences.

With an honorable discharge from service, at Fort Montgomery, Alabama, at the close of the great conflict, he returned home to resume a peaceful life.

He was married Dec. 26, 1868, to Miss Anna Graves at DeWitt, and for over 68 years this worthy couple have lived the perfect ideal of married lives. Nowhere within the scope of the writer's acquaintance has he met a couple who together faced the trials and tribulations of life with any greater fortitude or perfect faith in the justness of all things, than did this worthy couple. And the good wife still carries on with that deep understanding built up through all the years.

For a short time after they were married they resided on a farm in Grant township, then moved to Lost Nation where Mr. Metes was engaged in business for a brief time. Their next moved was to Tama, Iowa, where they engaged in the hotel business for a couple of years, then came to Wheatland, finally settling on a farm west of town, where they lived for many years before retiring to their town home here.

Mr. Meves always interested himself in everything that was worth while for his community, and had at heart those things that were good for his family, his church, the schools and his town. He was a man who was liberal in his ideas and towards his fellowmen he was four-square, enjoying the love and respect of everyone who knew him. Surely a record of which his family might be forever proud.

The death of this man not only loses to this community its last old veteran but one of its oldest and most valued citizens, and all have truly lost a good friend, whose kindly smile an Christian ways will remain as a bright memory to all who knew him.

He was the father of four children: Emma, who died early in life; Amelia Kanzmeier, William J., and Otto C. all of whom preceded him in death.

Surviving him are his aged widow, and two granddaughters, Phyllis and Virginia Metes of this place; two grandsons, Walled and Myrrh Metes of Venice, California; and several other relatives.

Funeral services were conducted at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon in St. Pauls Evangelical and Reformed church, following a short prayer service at the home. The Rev. A.C. Fischer paid splendid tribute to the departed veteran, exemplifying the life of this man who fought the good fight that perfect peace might result; most truly an address to the many friends present who are living in a world that is facing the possible dangers of another great conflict.

“Saved by Grace” was sung by Miss Verna May Hoffmann and Miss Geneva Peterson, and the “Old Rugged Cross” was sung by Walter Thiele and Kenneth Hoffmann, with Miss Wilma Riedesel at the pipe organ.

Pallbearers were. J.C. Clark, Edward Hamdorf, Prudent DeBakere, Edward Grundmeier, Emil Endorf and Albert Burricheter, uniformed members of Wheatland American Legion Post 447. The many floral pieces were in charge of Mrs. Frank Smith and Mrs. Walter Morgan.

A large cortege of relatives and friends followed the remains to Pine Hill cemetery, where interment was made, with Wheatland American Legion post in charge.

Dr. E.V. Riedesel read the commitment service over flag-draped casket. Color bearers were Edward Rowald and C.A. Minnaert, and color guards were Edward Cavey and Ray Andresen, while Harry Witte, Walter Fox, Carl Missel, Walter Hamdorf, Leonard Ahl, Rene Vens, Frank Andresen and Harvey Schneider constituted the firing squad. The Auxiliary also attending in a body.

Rev. A.C. Fischer pronounced the benediction as taps were sounded by Erwin Martens.

Relatives attending the funeral from a distance were a nephew, Chas. Meves of Tama, who was accompanied by his daughter, Mrs. Manning Hayward, his sister Mrs. August Burley, and a cousin, Mrs. Christine Schroeder, all of Tama.

A niece, Mrs. Wilbur Christensen and husband of Rockford, Ill., were also here a short time Friday night at the Meves home, being unable to remain over for the funeral.