MEYER, John J. & Christina (b: 1827)

MEYER, WILLIAMS

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 9/19/2010 at 18:20:38

#1:

John J. Meyer was born January 13, 1827 in Kolberg, Germany. He was married to Christina Williams, also of Kolberg, in August of 1845.

John and Christina came to America about 1860. They settled in Calumet County, Wisconsin near Marytown. In the spring of 1876 John came by himself to Mitchell County and spoke for land in Stacyville Township, Section 26, one mile west of what now is the town of Meyer. He was said to have two dollars in his pocket when he came. He bought an ax with one dollar and the other he gave to the church. John worked for several people until he earned enough to build a house. He then brought his family from Wisconsin.

John was well-known in the area and when it came to naming the settlement of Meyer, it was said that John Meyer’s name was drawn from among a few other names in a hat; therefore the town of Meyer was named after him. He was the oldest living settler at that time and due to his dedicated involvement in the community he was called “The father of our village.”

John had the first team of horses in the area. He hauled his wheat all the way to McGregor, Iowa to be ground. The local post office was in his home for about six years until the town had one.

John and Christina had eight children: Gerhard, Kathryn, Mary, Teresa, John, Peter, Joseph and Hubert.

John died October of 1910 at the age of 83 and Christina died March of 1916 at the age of 90. Both are buried in the Sacred Heart Cemetery at Meyer, Iowa

[By Marvin Krebsbach, MITCHELL COUNTY HISTORY, 1989]

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#2:

Story of John Joseph Meyer and Christina (Willems) Meyer

John Joseph Meyer was born January 13, 1827 in Bruchhausen, Vulkaneifel, Rhl.Pfalz, Germany. Church Records show he was born and baptized the same day. His Baptismal name was Johan Joseph Mayer baptized at Bruchausen, Rheinland, Germany. John was the son of Michael J Meyer and Maria Elizabeth (Halfmann) Meyer.

The original surname in Germany was Mayer, and through the years in the United States families have used Mayer, Meyer, and Meyers.

He was married to Christina Willems (aka Williams), on December 18, 1849 in the Catholic Church, Allscheid, Vulkaneifel, Rhl.Pfalz, Germany.

Christina Willems was born October 8, 1826 in Allscheid, Vulkaneifel, Rhl. Pfalz, Germany. She was baptized, records show the same day, at Allscheid, Vulkaneifel, Rhl. Pfalz, Germany. She was the daughter of Mathias Willems and Maria Katherine (Maus) Willems.

1852: In 1852 almost all people of Allscheid, a small village in the Eifel mountains in Germany, left their homes and emigrated to the United States. The best documented family of Allscheid is the Mayer family. The children of Michael Mayer and Maria Elisabeth Halfmann (who both died before 1852) all emigrated with the Allscheid group.

The Meyer family arrived in the New York Harbor, United States September 3, 1852, on the ship Antarctic. Their port of departure was Antwerp, Belgium, Place of Origin was Germany. On this passenger list was: John Joseph 35; Christina 36; Gerhard 26; Catherine 20; Johann 17; Gertrude 16; Nicholas 11 and Gerhard 6 months.

1853: After arriving in America, John and Christina settled in Calumet County, Wisconsin near Marytown. On December 1, 1853 Calumet County Wisconsin, Johann J Meier (spelled wrong on document) filed for citizen papers; Naturalizations - Declarations of Intent; Johann J Meier born Prussia.

1870: In the 1870 US Census: New Holstein, Calumet Co., Wisconsin - June 23, the family was living in New Holstein.
John Joseph Meyer 45 farmer born Prussia, Christine 46 born Prussia

Children: Gerhard 17; George 15; Marie 13; Catherine 12; Chrisandes 10; Theresa 9; Johan 7; Peter 5; Franz 3; Hubertas 2

1876: In the spring of 1876 John came by himself to Mitchell County and spoke for land in Stacyville Township, Section 26, one mile west of what now is the town of Meyer. He was said to have two dollars in his pocket when he came. He bought an ax with one dollar and the other he gave to the church. John worked for several people until he earned enough to build a house. He then brought his family from Wisconsin.

According to their daughter Theresa, they traveled by wagon, crossing the Mississippi by ferry.

The naming of Meyer Iowa--

Several meetings were held at the schoolhouse and after the government concession had been granted, a vote was taken for naming the town. Several names, among them St. Anna, Durben, and Meyer were suggested and eventually the name of Meyer was adopted in honor of John Joseph Meyer, the oldest living settler, who through his active zeal has merited the title: "The father of our village." At these meetings, the name of May Creek was also determined and given to the creek north of Meyer.

John had the first team of horses in the area. He hauled his wheat all the way to McGregor, Iowa to be ground. The local post office was in his home for about six years until the town had one. (The family story was that John Meyer’s name was drawn from among a few other names in a hat)

Meyer Community

The territory around Stacyville had long been settled before anyone came to fix the constant abode with those limits known as the Meyer corporation. The first settlers came from McHenry, Illinois, and selected a place for their home somewhere north of the present site of Meyer. In 1872, Peter Freund, Henry May and Bernard May arrived from McHenry Co. Illinois, and were the first to erect permanent homes in this vicinity. Although Greer and Foster lived south of even a few years previous, yet after a period of several years sold their land again and sought homes in a different locality.

Two years later in 1874 Stephen Freund followed and settled directly west of the present site of Meyer. In 1875 Jacob Winkels, who had bought the year before, and Peter May, both from McHenry Co. Illinois, arrived. In the same year Baltas Schaffer and Hubert Hackenmiller built a home on the place formerly known as the John Klapperich farm. Early in 1875, Anton Wolf arrived from Fond du Lac Co. Wisconsin, and located nearby where Meyer now stands.

In the spring of 1876 John Joseph Meyer of Calumet Co. Wisconsin, Math Durben and Anton Mauer of Fond du Lac Co. Wisconsin bought land one mile west of Meyer. Anton Mauer however did not erect a home there until a few years subsequently while Meyer and Durben fixed their homes immediately upon their arrival. About the same time Peter Theobald who had come from Fond du Lac Co. Wisconsin some years previous, took possession of his farm located directly southeast of the present site of Meyer.

Within this period of four years a promising settlement had grown up and soon many others followed and homeseekers came in great numbers. They had no place of worship of their own but joined hands with the Stacyville pioneers and erected a church in that village until their number grew so large and demanded a division to accommodate the needs of the entire people.

Manifold were the hardships which these heroic settlers had to endure. The entire country was a vast prairie, a home of rapinous beasts, a source of danger of man and flock. Besides they were unable to erect homes, convenient and warm, as we have them at present. Then too, they had no adequate market nearby. In the earliest times McGregor was a much frequented market, but very soon after Osage became the most visited trading post.

1904 Last Will and Testament:

I, J. J. Meyer, of the town of Meyer, County of Mitchell and State of Iowa, being of sound mind memory and understanding do hereby make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, to-wit:

First. All my just debts and funeral expenses shall be first fully paid.

Second. I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife, Christina Meyer, all my personal property and real estate, money, securities for money and credits, where ever found for her only use during her natural life, and after her death, the property shall be divided as follows.

Within one year after my death and my wifes death, the real estate and personal property shall be sold at an auction sale by my executor to the highest responsible bidder and after all my just debts are paid, then my executor shall have a monument erected on my grave not to cost over fifty dollars ($50.00).

Third: The residue and remainder of my property (which should be all then in ready money) shall be equally divided, share and share alike, among my legal heirs.

Fourth. I appoint my son, Peter Meyer, executor of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and signature this 7th day of February 1904. J. J. Meyer Signed, sealed and acknowledges by J. J. Meyer, as his last will and testament in presence of us and we have signed here as witnesses upon his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other this 7th day of February 1904 at Meyer, Iowa. Anton Mauer; Peter C. Koenigs

October 17, 1910: J. J. Meyer Dead.

J. J. Meyer, an aged resident of this county, died at his home in Meyer Monday morning. the funeral services were held in the church at Meyer at 9:30 o'clock this morning and the remains laid to rest in the cemetery at that place.

John Joseph Meyer was born in Germany, January 13, 1827 and departed this life October 17, 1910 at the ripe old age of 83 years, 8 months and 4 days. In 1849, he was joined in marriage to Miss Christina Willems and two years later they emigrated to America.

They settled in Wisconsin where they lived for 24 years, then came to Meyer which has since been their home. Besides his aged wife he leaves to mourn his death five sons, Gerhart, of New Ulm, Minn.; John, of Canby, Minn.; Peter, Joseph and Hubert; and three daughters, Mrs. Jacob Seibert, Mrs. John Bertram Kuechenberg and Mrs. Martin Werner all of this county.

March 23, 1916 – Obit for Christina Meyer
Mrs. J. J. Meyer died Monday. Funeral held today at 9:30, burial at Meyer, Iowa. Eighty Nine Years. Mrs. J. J. Meyer one of the oldest citizens of Meyer, Iowa passed away Monday afternon at the age of 89 years. This aged lady had been supporting ill health for a long period.

She is well known in this vicinity and enjoyed a lot of friends. The funeral will take place Thursday (today) at 9:30, from the home of her son, Joseph, and internment will be made in Sacred Heart Catholic cemetery at Meyer.
John and Christina had twelve children:

(1) Totgeburt Meyer 1850-1850 (in German it was the name of a child who had died shortly before birth)

(2) Gerhard (aka Gerard) 1852-1935 (married Mary Katherine “Katie” Koeckner)

(3) George 1854-1872

(4) Mary Elizabeth 1855-1944 (married Jacob Seibert)

(5) Mary Kathryn 1857-1935 (married John Bertram Kuechenberg)

(6) Chrysanthus 1859-died as infant

(7) Theresa 1861-1950 (married Martin J Werner)

(8) John August 1863-1943) (married Anna Mary Thome)

(9) Peter Joseph 1864-1949 (married Adelheid “Hattie” Wolf)

(10) Frank, died as infant

(11) Hubert 1868-1953 (married Mary Ann Stanton)

(12) Joseph Carl 1874-1958 (married Margaretta Julia Stanton)

[ Written by Diane Scott, 9/2010 ]

Mitchell Biographies maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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