Meyn, John Peter, 1846-1935

MEYN, ROHDE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:35

From the Boyden Reporter, November 14, 1935:

OBITUARY OF JOHN PETER MEYN

The late John Peter Meyn was born on the 6th day of May, 1846, in Oppeln Province, Hanover, Germany. Soon after his birth his parents brought him to Jesus in Holy Baptism. At legal age he attended the Public school and his pastor confirmed him at the age of 15 years. Following his confirmation he learned the trade of carpenter. In 1875 he joined in Holy Wedlock with Miss Rebecca Rohde. This union was blessed with two sons, Henry and John Meyn. The latter lives near Yorkton, Sask., Canada, the former in Boyden.

Advancing in age the deceased was honored by his contemporaries in the old country by making him Mayor of the village. He was then at the height of his life and many a time afterwards his thoughts returned to this phase of his life, telling his visitors interesting incidents which happened in the old country. No doubt he was held in highest esteem by his fellow citizens.

However, as many others had done before him, he emigrated from the old country and came to the United States in the year 1896. For about 14 years he farmed northwest of St. Paul’s church and then moved to Boyden, where he had a livery stable. But the competition of the automobile made it advisable to quit and he made a second attempt to farm in Canada. But he remained only 4 or 5 years, for adverse conditions forced him to give up farming, and he returned to Boyden, where he bought a house. Here he remained until his wife passed away in the spring of 1926. Ever since then he remained here in Boyden and lived in a small house which his son, Henry, had erected for him.

For the past nine years, grandpa Meyn was more or less sickly and many a time we thought that his last hour had come, but he always was able again to be up and around. But in the last year of his life he was more days in bed than out of bed. On the 27th of September he desired and received the Lord’s Supper. His thoughts were not always clear towards the end of his life, but it is amazing to observe how intelligent and sensible he could talk about religion and other things connected with it. What he learned in his youth made him wise unto salvation.

On the 7th of November, at 7:00 o’clock P.M., he quietly passed away and his weary soul went to his eternal home. He leaves to mourn their loss: two sons and their respective families, one brother-in-law and his wife, and many other relatives. Four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

He reached the ripe age of eighty-nine years, six months and one day. May he rest in peace.—Contributed.

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RESEARCH NOTES:

His death certificate has John Peter Meyn, born May 6, 1844 in Germany; parents unknown; wife Rebecca Meyn; died November 7, 1935, at 7 p.m.; age at death 89 years, 5 months, 1 day [which would make his birth year 1846]. The informant was his son Henry. Primary cause of death: a question mark, the physician noting that “I was not called for a half hour after death and had not attended him for several years”; contributory cause, senility.

FindaGrave.com has him as Johann Peter Meyn, born 6 May 1846, died 7 Nov 1935; buried in Saint John Lutheran Cemetery, Boyden. He does not appear in the Sioux County Cemetery Index.