The Whole Rudes Gang

In the most recent batch of photographs I scanned there were a couple group pictures. Boy was I pleased to find these as I was rummaging through things. This is from the water damaged box so I apologize for the shabby copy and if anybody has a better copy or a way of fixing this one I would be much obliged. From what I can make out I believe this to be Della Meyer-Rudes in the back row on the far right side. I believe she has her arm around Diane Rudes. The next row is Merrill in the back, Mary Cary Leutz-Rudes and then Merrill the younger. Terrence is between Merrill & Randy. Behind Randy is his mother, Marian Bringe. Behind Marian is George. Marian appears to be holding on to Connie & De Ila who are the two girls standing on the pillars by the stairs.

Timeframe: I think De Ila and Connie look to be about the same size in this picture as they do in yesterdays so I am guessing it was taken in the 1960's, pre-1963. Correction: There is a date on the bottom of the image that says Sep. 59 so I guess that makes it closer to 1959 than yesterday's 1961. :-) Thanks for pointing that out De Ila.

Where It Fits: Randolph & Connie are the children of George Rudes & Marian Bringe. Diane, Merrill, Terrence & De Ila are the children of Merrill Rudes & Mary Cary Leutz. Merrill & George are the sons of Merrill Rudes & Della Meyer. Della is the daughter of George Harlow Meyer & Marguerite Schnackenberg.

Today's Birthdays are Elizabeth Johannsen, John Meyer, Malinda Disher-Rahm and Kathy Cash.

Mary Cary, Della, Diane & Merrill

This is another one of those water damaged pictures but I believe I can make everybody out. This appears to be Della Meyer-Rudes, Mary Cary Leutz-Rudes, Diane & baby Merrill.

Timeframe: Looks like the Spring/Summer of 1946 to me.

Where It Fits: Della Meyer married Merrill Rudes. They had Merrill Rudes & George Rudes. Their son Merrill married Mary Caroline Leutz and they had four children. The oldest two children are in this picture, Diane & Merrill.

Mom & Her Boys

This is one of the pictures from the basement and is in very pitiful shape. If anybody has any ideas on how I could repair some of the damage I would be very grateful. As far as I can make out you have George Rudes, Della Meyer Rudes & Merrill Rudes.

Timeframe: Since Merrill is in uniform that would make it during World War II or later.

Where It Fits: Della is the daughter of George H. Meyer & Marguerite Schnackenberg. Della married Merrill Rudes and is the mother of both George & Merrill. Merrill married Mary Cary Leutz and they had Diane, Merrill, Terry and De Ila. George married Marion Bringe and they had Randolph, Jacquelyn, Connie & Amy.

It was all started by a mouse

I have just recently returned from my 14th trip to Disney. Some of you might know that, some of you might have been there with me and some of you might not have even noticed I was gone. I didn't even miss a single day of posting. :-) How about that for skill/dedication/insanity? Anywho, it got me thinking. How about a nice, warm weather post? (No, I didn't have any warm weather on my trip, hence the idea of getting some digitally.) From the photograph album of Velma Taylor & Lorenz/Lawrence Johannsen we have some nice Disney pictures.

Goofy, I am 100% sure he is more related then most people let on. In the background you can see Dumbo, Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Chip & Dale.
"It was all started by a mouse." -- Walt Disney


The Magic Kingdom castle

Apparently I not only get my Disney blood from my mom's side of the family but dad has his fair share of Disney fans too. Grandma Mary Cary, Aunt Diane, Uncle Merrill and Aunt De Ila have all been to Disney World also.

Mary Cary with Tigger at the Crystal Palace

Not only do I have a bunch of nuts in my family tree but I have Disney nuts too! It wasn't just the mouse that called various family members south. Velma, Lorenz, Gladys and Shoney not only went to Disney World but Busch Gardens. Joyce & Rich Allen have even made the haul a couple times but haven't been talked into Disney yet. (We are still trying.) There is a letter from Della Meyer Rudes enjoying a trip to Florida but it doesn't mention where she visited. I am sure Grandma Mary Cary went to Florida several times, if not for Disney for cruises and other various trips. My family has also hit Fort Clinch (Amelia Island), WonderWorks, Disney World, etc.

Timeframe: Velma & Lawrence/Lorenz Johannsen and Gladys & Harold Schoenfeld went to Florida and Disney World in 1973, give or take. Mary Cary went to Disney World several times. The image above was taken in February, 2008.

Where It Fits: Velma & Lorenz are the parents of Joyce Johannsen Allen & James Johannsen. Velma is the daughter of Walter Taylor and Martha McMurray. Lorenz is the son of Julius Johannsen and Caroline Japsen. Mary Cary is the daughter of Leon Leutz & Merle Fritsche. Mary Cary is the mother of Diane, Merrill, Terry & De Ila Rudes.

George, Maggie, Della & Baby

I know this picture isn't in the best of condition but I think you can see all the important parts. This is a picture of George & Maggie Meyer, Della Rudes and the baby is believed to be Diane Rudes.

Timeframe: If the baby is in fact Diane then this picture was taken in 1944. Della's husband was already dead so that would explain him not being in the picture. George didn't die until 1946 so it is very possible for this picture to be taken in the Summer of 1944.

Where It Fits: George Meyer & Marguerite Schnackenberg are the parents of Della. Della married Merrill and had a son Merrill. Merrill is the father of Diane.

In The Cemetery

This picture is in rather sad shape but I believe all the important parts are intact. I do not know who the woman on the left is but the woman in the middle is Della Meyer Rudes and the woman on the right is Marguerite "Maggie" Schnackenberg Meyer. As far as I can tell they are standing by/near the Meyer's headstone in Clay Township Cemetery. What they are doing or why is unclear.

Timeframe: Since the husband of Maggie died in 1946 and I do believe that is his headstone on the right side of the image it would be after 1946. Since Della and Maggie are both alive and appear to be in good shape and Della went in the nursing home about August of 1961, I assume it was taken between August, 1946 & August, 1961.

Where It Fits: Marguerite is the daughter of Johann Schnackenberg & Christina Koster. Della is the daughter of Marguerite Schnackenberg & George Meyer. Marguerite is the grandmother and Della is the mother of Merrill & George Rudes.

Generations

The "Rudes" Women. Three generations of them to be exact. Actually, only the baby was born a Rudes but that doesn't count does it? On the left we have Mary Cary Leutz, she married Merrill Rudes. Merrill is the son of the woman on the right, Della Meyer. In the middle is Merrill & Mary's daughter, Diane.

Timeframe: Judging by Diane's age I would say somewhere in the winter of 1944/1945.

Where it Fits: Della Meyer is the daughter of George Meyer and Marguerite Schnackenberg. Mary Caroline is the daughter of Leon Leutz & Merle Fritsche. As I said above, Diane is the daugher of Merrill Rudes & Mary Caroline Leutz.

**UPDATE** The Little Brown Box

UPDATE: Picture #5 in this post has been identified by Laurie Dangler. Clarence Frederick & Lillian Bringe are on the left side of the picture. Della (Meyer) Rudes is the woman on the right. Thank you Laurie.



Today the post comes from a little brown box. On the top of what feels like glorified cardboard is a pewter image. There are three pictures tied together with a ribbon that says "Nurnboro". The images appear to be a church, a crest and a castle. Inside you'll find some photographs and news paper clippings. Of the eight photographs I do believe six are from George Rudes' wedding to Marian Bringe. At least that was my guess from the one picture of a woman getting riced within an inch of her life.

The rest of the pictures strike me as the classic wedding poses.

I am assuming the couple on the left are Marian's parents and the woman on the right is Della (Meyer) Rudes. Can anybody confirm Mr. & Mrs. Bringe? Or maybe have names for the maid/matron of honor & best man?
The couple on the left is Frederick & Lillian Bringe.

Now, for the mystery part. There were two pictures in the box that I couldn't identify. One was another wedding photograph. On the back I can't make out the first word but the rest is:

Jean
---------------------
Bristol England
--------------------
15/6/45

The second is a picture of a house. The back says "The Haar House formerly The Druyer Home We just bought." There is a stamp on the back that says it is a Gross Process print from The Gross Photo Supply Co. in Toledo, Ohio.


I assume this box belonged to a member of the Meyer family because the clippings in the box include four obituaries for Augusta R. Meyer, an obituary for George H. Meyer, an obituary for Carole Ann Elwell (age four), a notice in The Ottawa County Exponent announcing Della Rudes selling something to Gailen R. Drummond and a clip announcing Clay Center is dedicating their new street lights. (Maggie Meyer was being honored at the dedication as one of the oldest citizens at 81.)

Timeframe: 1944 and 1945 for the weddings. I assume the house was purchased in the same general time frame.

Where It Fits: George Rudes is the son of Merrill Sr. & Della (Meyer) Rudes. He is the brother of Merrill B. Rudes. Clarence & Lillian Bringe are the parents of Marian (Bringe) Rudes.

Merrill & Della

This picture is very large, I couldn't manage to get all of the image on my scanner. It was taken by Livingston in 1919 according to the autograph on the bottom corner.

Timeframe: Since it is dated 1919 that would make Merrill roughly 29 and Della 28.

Where it Fits: Merrill Rudes & Della Meyer are the parents of Merrill B. Rudes & George H. Rudes.

The Little Brown Box

Today the post comes from a little brown box. On the top of what feels like glorified cardboard is a pewter image. There are three pictures tied together with a ribbon that says "Nurnboro". The images appear to be a church, a crest and a castle. Inside you'll find some photographs and news paper clippings. Of the eight photographs I do believe six are from George Rudes' wedding to Marian Bringe. At least that was my guess from the one picture of a woman getting riced within an inch of her life.

The rest of the pictures strike me as the classic wedding poses.

I am assuming the couple on the left are Marian's parents and the woman on the right is Della (Meyer) Rudes. Can anybody confirm Mr. & Mrs. Bringe? Or maybe have names for the maid/matron of honor & best man?

Now, for the mystery part. There were two pictures in the box that I couldn't identify. One was another wedding photograph. On the back I can't make out the first word but the rest is:

Jean
---------------------
Bristol England
--------------------
15/6/45

The second is a picture of a house. The back says "The Haar House formerly The Druyer Home We just bought." There is a stamp on the back that says it is a Gross Process print from The Gross Photo Supply Co. in Toledo, Ohio.


I assume this box belonged to a member of the Meyer family because the clippings in the box include four obituaries for Augusta R. Meyer, an obituary for George H. Meyer, an obituary for Carole Ann Elwell (age four), a notice in The Ottawa County Exponent announcing Della Rudes selling something to Gailen R. Drummond and a clip announcing Clay Center is dedicating their new street lights. (Maggie Meyer was being honored at the dedication as one of the oldest citizens at 81.)

Timeframe: 1944 and 1945 for the weddings. I assume the house was purchased in the same general time frame.

Where It Fits: George Rudes is the son of Merrill Sr. & Della (Meyer) Rudes. He is the brother of Merrill B. Rudes.