San
Joaquin County
Biographies
EMIELIE MEYERS
A widowed mother of a large and
highly respected family, Mrs. Emielie Meyers, of
Lodi, left the rigors of North Dakota to bring up her family in the delightful
climate of California. Mrs. Meyers is
the widow of Frederick Meyers, who passed away at their North Dakota farm home,
September 27, 1904.
Frederick Meyers was born at Mensguth, Prussia, January 20, 1859. While yet a very young boy he was brought by
his folks to Russia, as a result of a colonization project of German people in
the Czar’s dominions. He grew up in
Russia in the colony of German people, and was schooled in the German language
and brought up to farm work, his forebears having followed agricultural
pursuits for several generations.
Desiring to better his condition in the land of freedom, he emigrated to
Dakota Territory, settling near what is now Madison, South Dakota, where on
September 20, 1888, he married Miss Emielie Poelke, born at Wolinige, Russia,
a daughter of Carl and Amalie Poelke, who were born
and married in Germany and after their marriage went to join the German colony
at Wolinige, Russia. The Poelke
ancestors, in addition to being thrifty farmers, had for generations been
craftsmen and carpenters and joiners; they manufactured spinning wheels and
were adept in woodwork and building. Of
seven children born to Mrs. Meyers’ parents, only one brother and one sister
besides herself are now living, namely:
Mrs. Amalia Matz, of
Fressenden, North Dakota, and Rudolph Poelke, a carpenter and builder in Los Angeles. Mrs. Meyers in the youngest
of the family.
About one and a half years after
their marriage Mrs. and Mrs. Meyers moved to Wells County, North Dakota. There the young couple worked hard,
prospered, and became the owners of a large wheat farm and the parents of ten
children: Elliott E., who receives
biographical mention elsewhere in this work; Albina
L., the wife of Ed Whittleton, a farmer at Tracy;
Emma, Mrs. G. D. Smith, of Lodi; Oscar, who died at Lodi in 1921, at
twenty-five years of age; Rudolph, residing at home in Lodi; and Lydia E., Hildah, Minnie M. and Henry A. (twins), and Mertha E., all residing at home with their mother. Mrs. Meyers still owns the large wheat-farm
of 640 acres in Wells County, North Dakota.
In 1906, with her family, Mrs.
Meyers moved out to Lodi, California, and has since nobly worked to keep her
family together and to bring up her children in a Christian manner, according
to the best of American ideals. In this
she has succeeded in the highest degree.
Mrs. Meyers has built a commodious and up-to-date residence at 524 East
Locust Street in the city of Lodi. Her
home is a center of hospitality and of true domestic happiness. In religion, Mrs. Meyers is a Baptist; in
politics, a Republican.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
924. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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