Herman Meyer

Herman H. Meyer son of John and Margaret (Overbeck) Meyer was born on April 20, 1874, in Vuesselhoevede, Hanover, Germany. He grew up there and at the age of 19 he came to America all by himself and could not speak a word of English. He first worked on a farm for William Badenhop in Monroe Township. He often said that he did not keep track of his earnings but at the end of the year he knew just what he had spent and how much he had coming yet. Mr. Badenhop was surprised by Herman's memory. Later he got a job as a section hand on the railroad near Deshler, Ohio. He could tell many stories of his experience at this job.

Herman met Louise Imbrock and their friendship turned into marriage on Feb. 8, 1895. They farmed near Deshler, Ohio; then later moved to Marion Township near Hamler, Ohio, on a farm. Their children were:

Erna, born Aug. 9, 1895. She married Ferd Arps and their children are Eldor Arps; Irene married Henry Huener.

Emma, born on Dec. 12, 1896, married Otto Rabe; their children are Julius married to Rose Oeder; Louise married George Gobrogge and Harold married Gertrude Bauer. Emma lives with her family near Pinconning, Michigan.

Martin, Meyer born June 25, 1898, and married Agatha Seeman; their children are Olga married to Wesley Revill, Louise married Walter Drewes, Rev. Herbert Meyer married to Edna Pinke, Ruth married to Ervin Geiger, Arlene married to Chester Dahl, and Walden at home. Agatha died July 10, 1938, and on Jan. 6, 1942, he married Christine Witte.

Albert, born April 7, 1901, and died April 30, 1901, and one stillborn daughter. Herman and Louise had only seven years together as Louise died on July 20, 1902.

In 1907 he married Caroline Lange (widow of Heinrich Lange). She had five children.

Ernest, born Nov. 1, 1888, married Erna Gerken. Their children are Pauline, married to George Schwiebert, Alvina married to Franklin Kruse, Helen married to William Meyer, and Julian married to Ruth Gerken.

Sophia, born Dec. 11, 1890, married George Sonnenberg. They are the parents of Hugo married to Esther Hagen, Hulda married to Otto Hahn, Regina married to Harold Germann, Victor married to Frances Miller, Gilbert married to Lillian Gerken, Roger married to Eloise Glantz.

William Lange born Oct. 11, 1893, married Emma Cordes. To them were born Arthur married to Lois Houschon, Leonhart married to Ellen Henning, and Raymond married to Arlene Yungman.

Fred Lange born Jan. 19, 1896, and married Amelia Cordes. They have no children but have many relatives and friends.

Carl Lange, born Nov. 12, 1898, married Alvina Fintel. Their family are Eugene married to Dorothy Seeman, Arnold married to Wilma Seeman, Victor married Irma Badenhop, and Paul married to Margie Cordes.

Herman and his family kept on farming. Herman and Caroline became the parents of two more children: Paul, born Oct. 29, 1907, married Caroline Bindemann; they are parents of Bernadine at home and Margaret Ann married to Melvin Bishop; Pauline, born March 20, 1911, married Henry Pan ning. Their children are Vernnon married to Ruth Schwiebert, Herald (deceased) married to Margaret Bostelman, Bernadine married to Carl Higbea, Ronald married to Kathleen Martin, and Ruth married to Howard Romaker.

Herman was very active in Hope Lutheran Church and also on the elevator board. He and his wife bought the Imbrock farm on State Route 65 now owned by Henry and Pauline Panning. He also bought a farm on 109 near Hamler now owned by Paul and Caroline Meyer. At one time he owned some land near Rhodes Michigan. In Jan. 26, 1926, Herman had a sale and got interested in trucking. He and his son Paul operated the Meyer Truck Line until 1935 when he sold out to the Mohawk Truck Line. Herman lived to be 91 years old.

Submitted by John Hayes