Marguerite Schnackenberg Meyer

Clay Center's Early Days Are Recalled By Mrs. Maggie Meyer

Mrs. Maggie Meyer, who will celebrate her 90th birthday next Feb. 6, has been a resident of Clay Center ever since she was about nine and a half years old.

Born in Germany, she came to America when she was three. Memories of the early days are still vivid for the well known western Ottawa-co. woman.

Her first recollections, when she was about two and a half, were of being vaccinated in a small village church. Then she remembers going up a hill to feed porcupine which would eat from her hand.

With her parents and a sister, she boarded a boat for America.

"I remember a passenger had passed away and they placed her in what seemed to be a large canvas. Two men took hold of the ends and gently tossed her overboard. I would not have seen this, but Mother was very sick, and being the curious type, I wandered all over the boat," recalls Mrs. Meyer. She remembers seeing seahorses following the boat.

One time she climbed the stairs to the upper deck and fell all the way down to a large basin of water. The trip took about three or four months. There was a terrible storm that frightened all the passengers.

"The boat rocked and rolled. Tables and chairs, pots and pans moved all over," remembers Mrs. Meyer. "Many of the people were very sick. Mother was very ill all the way over."

The first thing she noticed when she arrived in New York was the trains "which seemed to be running on the house tops."

In two days they left New York coming directly to Oak Harbor to stay with people by the name of Gates. Two years later the family moved to Toussaint, where a sister and later a brother was born.

"On the day of my sister's birth," recollects Mrs. Meter, "I fell in the Toussaint River and nearly drowned. We lived in Toussaint four or five years, buying a farm there. Then we moved to Graytown for about two years, and then to Clay Center where I have lived ever since."

On August 21, 1890, she was married to George H. Meyer of Woodville. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1940. Mr. Meyer died in 1946 at the age of 78 years.

Originally published on April 17, 1957.

Timeframe: April, 1957. Maggie would have been 89.

Where It Fits: Marguerite Schnackenberg is the daughter of Johann Hinrich Schnackenberg & Christena Koster. Marguerite married George Meyer and they are the parents of Della Meyer-Rudes. Marguerite is the grandmother of Merrill & George Rudes and the great-grandmother of Diane, Harlow, Merrill, Terrence, Jacquelyn, De Ila, Connie and Amy Rudes.

In History: Today Marguerite "Maggie" Meyer would have turned 142

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.

Grandma & Grandpa Meyer

Today I doubt the point of interest will be the photograph. While it is a very nice photograph from Rogers Studio of Marguerite Schnackenberg & George Meyer there is something else of interest today too. It is a rather poor scan since it was rather tricky but . . .


George Herman Meyer, born November 4, 1867 was confirmed at Solomon's German Lutheran Church, Woodville, Sandusky County, Ohio on March 1, 1881.
If anybody else can translate the rest I would be interested in seeing what it says.

Timeframe: Since George died in the 1940's at 78 and he looks much younger than that to me I am guessing about 20's or 30's. Any ideas? The document is obviously from 1881 or so. I am guessing late February or early March.

Where It Fits: George Meyer & Marguerite Schnackenberg were the parents of Della Meyer Rudes. Della was the wife of Merrill Rudes and mother of Merrill Rudes & George Rudes.