Lena was a busy homemaker. She was well known as an excellent cook. Her cookies and homemade buns were the best. She raised her own chicks. Each hen had its own little hutch were there was a nest of eggs. The hens would sit on those eggs until the chicks hatched. During the summer months while those chicks were hatching Grandma Meyer was very busy “with a chick, chick here, a chick, chick there -here a chick, there a chick, everywhere a chick, chick!" At least that is what it seemed like to me when I was growing up and would visit Grandma and Grandpa Meyer’s farm. I presume those chicks were very important to Grandma for besides using the eggs to feed her family the extra eggs were her only source of spending money. If she had extra she would sell them to the local grocer and use the money to purchase some needed item.

A son Walter was born in 1910 in Bloomfield Twp. He only lived to be 4 years old. Inez can remember that it was her job to carry him around on a pillow when he was very sick. Then Orvel was born in 1916. Esther, Inez and Vera all became rural school teachers after graduating from the Postville High School. Inez went on to college at Upper Iowa University in Fayette, IA. Vernon worked for the Scenic Ridge Telephone Company. He was an excellent carpenter. Orvel farmed with his father and later in life also became an excellent carpenter.

On Easter Sunday morning, 28 Mar 1940, the big old farm house burned to the ground. It was a family tragedy without loss of life but loss of many things that could never be replaced. After awhile a new smaller house was planned for the farm. Vernon was the carpenter with some hired help. Grandma and Grandpa Meyer moved into the old granary on the farm while waiting for the new house to be finished. I can remember that we grandchildren thought it was great to visit the makeshift home. It was sort of like camping out under a leaky roof.

In 1941 August and Lena moved into the new house but August was only to live there a short time before he died at his home 18 Nov 1942. Lena lived on the farm for awhile. I stayed with her one winter and walked to and from school every day. Then the family purchased a nice house in Castalia for her. She moved to town 6 Dec 1956. She suffered a broken hip as a result of a fall in her home and was moved to the Waukon, IA Good Samaritan Center after being released from the hospital. She died 3 Feb 1957 at age 84. August and Lena and all their children are buried at the Pleasant View Cemetery in Castalia. The land for this cemetery was originally part of their farm known as the “Northview Stock Farm.”

Meyer, George F. and Luella (Lauer)

(Luella Meyer)

John L. and Hannah Meyer bought the William and Mary Bush farm in 1936 southwest of Ossian in Military Twp. They rented out the farm. In 1947 their son George F. Meyer married Luella L. Lauer, daughter of Fritz and Ella (Neumann) Lauer of Eldorado.

George and Luella started their married life there and had 4 children: Diane, Wanda, Luann and Donald. Donald died at birth.

In 1957 they purchased the farm. They continue to live on the farm renting out the land. The farm is in the South Winneshiek School District.

Diane married Larry Coots in 1969. Her husband was killed in a hit-and-run bike accident in 1984. They adopted a daughter Angie Sue in 1978. In 1987 Diane married Curtis Fisher of Cedar Rapids. He has a son Steve. Curt owns Morf Concrete Company at Cedar Rapids and Diane works for Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids.

Wanda married Dennis Wenthe in 1971. They lived by Elgin, West Union, Postville area and now live on a farm by Fennimore, Wl. They had 6 children: Matt, Dawn, Scott, Paul (died at 5 mo.) and 2 adopted Korean sisters, Shelly and Joy.

Luanne married James Barness in 1975. They farm south of Ossian and have 4 children: Allison, Jason and twin boys Bryan and Danny.

Meyer, Harold and Mabel (Blumhagen) and Elsie (Blumhagen)

(Marlys Hager)

Harold Frederick Meyer was born 16 Jun 1902 to William A. and Katherine (Schroeder) Meyer. On 9 Feb 1927 he married Mabel Blumhagen. Mabel was born 17 Sep 1904 to Henry and Anna (Schutte) Blumhagen. Harold and Mabel farmed southwest of Castalia “just across the hill” from where Harold was born and raised. They had one son Arthur William born 3 Mar 1929. Mabel died 12 Mar 1929.

Harold married Elsie Augusta Blumhagen, another daughter of Henry and Anna (Schutte) Blumhagen, 2 Apr 1930. Elsie was born 26 Jun 1906. Harold and Elsie became the parents of Cloy Frederick, Duane Harold,  and Marlys Anna,. Besides their farming operation Harold purchased a school bus and transported students to Postville after the Castalia High School closed in 1944. He operated the bus route from 1944-1967 when he sold it to his son-in-law Gerald Hager. After the children were raised Elsie bought a loom and did custom rug weaving. She also enjoyed the grandchildren and sewed dresses for the granddaughters. Elsie died 6 Dec 1973 and Harold died 16 Nov 1982.

Arthur attended Wartburg College in Waverly and became an instrumental music teacher. He married Joanne Arenholtz. They have 3 children: Greta, Gregory and Grant. Art and Jo Raised their family and still live in Atlantic, IA.

Cloy served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Korea during the Korean conflict. He married Bonnie Schroeder 28 Mar 1954. They had 2 daughters: Rebecca and Corinne. Rebecca  married Michael Kramer. They have 2 sons: Clay and Will. They live in Waukon, IA. Corinne married Gary Lenth. They have one son Jared. Cloy and his family farmed the land that has been in the family since William and Katherine settled