George
William Meister was born on September 29, 1818 in Reichelsheim, Hessen Darmstadt,
Germany. He was the son of unknown parents. The 1900 census states that he came
to the USA in 1837.
Anna Marie "Mary" German was born on January
21, 1820 in Hessen Darmstadt, Germany. She was the daughter of unknown parents
THE FAMILY OF GEORGE WILLIAM MEISTER & ANNA MARIE GERMAN
 | George William Meister & Anna Marie "Mary" German: | George
Meister came to the USA in 1837 according to the 1900 census. According to a Carroll
Co., IL history book George had worked on a canal in Maryland after coming to
America, before farming in Pennsylvania. George William Meister & Anna
Marie "Mary" German were married on August 28, 1837 in Franklin Co.,
PA and they had 11 children. They had daughters born in Pennsylvania on December
19, 1837 and July 15, 1839. The family is listed on the 1840 & 1850 census
of Guilford Twp., Franklin Co., PA. They moved from Pennsylvania to Carroll Co.,
Illinois in April 1856, and George bought 40 acres of land there. The family is
listed on the 1860 census of Carroll Twp., Carroll Co., IL. They are listed on
the 1870 & 1880 censuses of Mt. Carroll, Carroll Co., IL, and George is listed
as a farmer on the 1878 Carroll, Carroll Co., IL Directory. Mary died on May
15, 1883 in Carroll Co., IL. George is age 81 on the 1900 census of Mt. Carroll,
Carroll Co., IL, listed as widowed father-in-law in the household of John &
Catherine (Meister) Fulrath. George died on September 24, 1901 in Mt. Carroll,
Carroll Co., IL. His obit states that he had suffered with paralysis for many
years before he died, and that he died from a stroke. George & Mary are buried
in the Center Hill, United Brethren Cemetery, Carroll Co., Illinois. Notes for George William Meister Notes for Anna Marie "Mary" German Meister |
The children of George William Meister & Anna Marie "Mary" German:
| Catharine Meister | Catharine Meister was born on December 19, 1837
in Franklin Co., PA. She is listed with her parents at age 12 on the 1850
census of Guilford Twp., Franklin Co., PA. Catharine married John Fulrath
about 1855 in PA and they had 8 children. John & Catharine probably moved
from Pennsylvania to Illinois with her parents in April 1856. The family is listed
on the 1860 census of Carroll Twp., Carroll Co., IL. They are listed on the 1870,
1880 & 1900 censuses of Mt. Carroll, Carroll Co., IL. A write-up of a tornado
that hit in 1898 states that "John Fulrath’s barn was unroofed and the
house slightly damaged.". Catharine Meister Fulrath died on October 02,
1904 in Mt. Carroll, Carroll Co., IL. John is listed as widowed in the household
of his son Samuel on the 1910 census of Mt. Carroll, Carroll Co., IL. Children
of John P. Fulrath & Catharine Meister are: Amanda (1856), Margaret (1858),
Mary Elizabeth (1861), William H. (1864), Emma (1866), Samuel (1869), Dora (1872)
& Hiram (1874). Notes for Catharine Meister Fulrath |
| Anna Meister | Christianna "Anna" Meister
was born on July 15, 1839 in Franklin Co., PA. She is listed with her parents
as Christine, age 10, on the 1850 census of Guilford Twp., Franklin Co., PA. Her
family moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois in April 1856 when she was age 16.
On the Illinois marriage index there is a record for Christiana Meister and John
A. Stakemiller in Carroll Co., IL on Sept 8, 1859. John & Anna had 9 children.
John & "Ann M." are listed in the household of John's parents, Jacob
& Ann Stakemiller, on the 1860 census of Carroll, Carroll Co., IL. They are
listed with their children on the 1870 & 1880 censuses of Mt. Carroll Twp.,
Carroll Co., IL. There is a bio of John A. Stakemiller in the 1878 Carroll Co.,
IL Directory that stated that he married "Hannah Meister" and lists
7 children. At that time it stated that John "commenced teaching at the age
of 17, and has taught school 16 winters; is engaged in farming; owns 170 acres
land; has held offices of Road Commissioner and School Director many years."
Christianna "Anna" Meister Stakemiller died on July 15, 1896 in Carroll
Co., IL. After Anna's death, John was remarried to Mrs. Lydia Julian,
and they are listed on the 1900 census of Salem, Carroll Co., IL. John is listed
as widowed, age 71, in the household of his widowed daughter Rebecca Ank on the
1910 census of Salem, Carroll Co., IL. Children of John Stakemiller & Anna
Meister are: Twins Samuel & Sumner (1864), Rebecca (1866), Nancy Ellen (1868),
Mary (1870), Effie (1872), Frank (1875), Anna (1878) & Amy (1885). Notes for Christianna "Anna" Meister Stakemiller |
 | Margaret Meister | Margaretha "Margaret" Ann Meister
was born on August 02, 1841 in Chambersburg, Franklin Co., PA. She is listed
with her parents at age 8 on the 1850 census of Guilford Twp., Franklin Co., PA.
Her family moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois in April 1856 when she was age
14. Margaret married William Washington Smith on February 27, 1858 in Carroll
Co., IL and they had 8 children. A history of Carroll Co., IL states that William
bought a brick house on Water Street in Mt. Carroll, Illinois after their marriage,
and that they lived in it for 4 years. During this time, William worked as a teamster
driving teams between Mt. Carroll and Savanna. The family is listed on the 1860
census of Mt. Carroll, Carroll Co., IL. In September 1863, William traded his
home in Mt. Carroll, Illinois for 40 acres on Section 8, Mt. Carroll Township,
Carroll County, Illinois, and he added to it until he owned 308 acres. The family
is listed on the 1870 census of Mt. Carroll, Carroll Co., IL. William died on
June 5, 1877, and Margaret is listed as widowed on the 1880, 1900 & 1910 censuses
of Mt. Carroll, Carroll Co., IL. In 1900, Margaret is listed as having 10 births
with 8 surviving children, and in 1910 she is listed as having 7 births with 5
surviving children. A 1913 history of Carroll Co., IL states that Margaret was
"farming the home place" with son John W. Smith at that time. Margaretha
"Margaret" Meister Smith died on March 10, 1915 in Center Hill, Carroll
Co., IL. William & Margaret are both buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery,
Mt. Carroll, Carroll County, Illinois.Children of William Washington Smith &
Margaret Meister are: Dora Belle (1861), Mary (1863), John (1865), George (1866),
Albert (1868), Charles (1870), Katie (1874) & Gertrude (1877). Notes for Margaretha "Margaret" Ann Meister Smith |
 | John P. Meister | John P. Meister was born on October 24,
1843 in Franklin Co., PA. He is listed with his parents at age 5 on the 1850
census of Guilford Twp., Franklin Co., PA. His family moved from Pennsylvania
to Carroll Co., Illinois in April 1856 when he was age 12. John (last name misspelled
Masters) is listed as age 16, farm laborer, in the household of Caleb Walter on
the 1860 census of Caroll, Carroll Co., IL. John moved to Missouri by the time
he was age 26, and he is listed as a farmer in the household of Benjamin &
Mary (Meister) Shearer on the 1870 census of Grant Twp., Caldwell Co., MO. His
brother Hiram is also living in the same town in 1870. John married Louisa
E. Mumpower on February 9, 1871 in Caldwell Co., MO, and they had one son,
born about 1878 in MO. They are listed on the 1880 & 1900 censuses of Kingston,
Caldwell Co., MO. Louisa died sometime between 1900 to 1910, and John is listed
as a boarder, widowed, age 60, on the 1910 census of Kingston, Caldwell Co., MO.
He is listed as living in Kingston, Missouri in a 1913 history of Carroll Co.,
IL. I have not found him on the 1920 census at this time. John Meister died
on October 4, 1918 at the State Hospital #2, St. Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri.
His physician was the informant on his death certificate and he did not know John's
parents or birthdate. Cause of death was Arteriosclerosis, with Contributory condition
listed as Insanity. John had been at the State Hospital for one month when he
died. His occupation was listed as Farmer on his death certificate. He was buried
October 10, 1918 in Hamilton, Caldwell, Missouri. Child of John P. Meister and
Louisa Mumpower is Henry (1878). Notes for John Meister |
 | Hiram A. Meister | Hiram Augustus Meister was born on June
22, 1846 in Franklin Co., PA. He is listed with his parents at age 3 on the
1850 census of Guilford Twp., Franklin Co., PA. His family moved from Pennsylvania
to Illinois in April 1856 when he was age 9. He is listed with his parents on
the 1860 census of Carroll Twp., Carroll Co., IL. Hiram moved to Missouri before
he was age 21. He is listed as a farmer in the household of Peter Bosserman on
the 1870 census of Grant Twp, Caldwell Co., MO. His brother John is also living
in the same town with their married sister Mary Meister Shearer in 1870. Hiram
married Martha "Mattie" Leamer Potter on January 08, 1872 in
Caldwell Co., MO. Mattie had a young son named Oscar Potter from a previous marriage.
Hiram & Mattie had one daughter, Beatrice Kate Meister. The family moved to
Nebraska in 1877. Hiram & Mattie are listed on the 1880 census of Plymouth
Pct., Jefferson Co., NE, and on the 1900, 1910, 1920 & 1930 censuses of DeWitt,
Saline Co., NE. Hiram Augustus Meister died on January 6, 1931 in DeWitt, Saline
Co., NE. Mattie had nursed Hiram through a long illness, and then contracted
pneumonia shortly before he died and she died nine days later on January 15, 1931.
The Family of Hiram Meister & Mattie Leamer Notes for Hiram Augustus Meister Records for Hiram Meister |
 | Mary Ann Meister | Mary Ann Meister was born on September
13, 1848 in Chambersburg, Franklin Co., PA. She was possibly named Anna Maria
for her mother, but her marriage and death records both list her name as Mary
A. She is listed with her parents as Mary, age 2, on the 1850 census of Guilford
Twp., Franklin Co., PA. Her family moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois in April
1856 when she was age 7. She is listed with her parents as Ann M., age 11, on
the 1860 census of Carroll Twp., Carroll Co., IL. Mary married Benjamin Franklin
Shearer on December 31, 1867 in Carroll Co., IL, and they had 5 children.
They moved to Missouri about 1868 and they are listed on the 1870, 1880, 1900,
& 1910 censuses of Grant Twp., Caldwell Co., MO. In 1870 Mary's brother John
was living with them and her brother Hiram was in the same town. In 1900 &
1910 Mary is listed as having 5 births with 3 surviving children at that time.
Mary is listed as living in Polo, Missouri in a 1913 History of Carroll Co., Illinois.
Benjamin died on July 17, 1913 in Grant, Caldwell Co., MO. Mary Ann Meister
Shearer died on September 19, 1919 in Grant, Caldwell Co., MO. She died of
breast cancer. Benjamin & Mary are both buried in the Kingston Cemetery, Polo,
Caldwell Co., MO. Children of Benjamin Shearer & Mary Ann Meister are: Cora
(1868), Ethel (1879), Bertha (1881) & Effie Grace (1889). |
 | George F. Meister | George Franklin Meister was born on May
26, 1851 in Franklin Co., PA. His family moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois
in April 1856 when he was age 4. He is listed with his parents on the 1860 census
of Carroll Twp., Carroll Co., IL and the 1870 census of Mt. Carroll, Carroll Co.,
IL. George married Louisa Elinor Margileth on December 14, 1871 in Carroll
Co., IL and they had 7 children. George is listed as a Carpenter in the 1878 Carroll,
Carroll Co., IL Directory, but the family moved to from Illinois to Iowa about
1878 based on birthplaces of their children. (George's married sister Elizabeth
Kesslar also moved to Iowa with her husband about that same time.) George &
Louisa & family are listed on the 1880 census of Vinton, Benton Co., IA. George
Franklin Meister died on September 15, 1890 in Bruce Twp., Benton Co., IA.
He died when he was kicked by a mule over the heart. At the time of his death
he was 39 yrs 3mo 20 days. "Peace be to his ashes" states a Meister
family Bible. A spring wagon was used to take George's casket for burial in the
Fairview cemetery, in Benton Co., IA. His widow Louisa is listed as head of household
and widowed on the 1900 census of Clark Twp., Tama Co., IA. At that time she is
listed as having 7 births with 6 surviving children. Louisa died on June 24, 1944
in Oswego, Kendall Co., IL. Children of George Franklin Meister & Louisa Margileth
are: Melvin (1872), Charles (1874), Mary Etta (1876), Edward (1879), Bertha (1882),
Rosa (1885 & Della (1887). Notes for George Franklin Meister |
| Daniel Meister | Daniel Meister was born on January 01, 1854 in
Franklin Co., PA. His family moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois in April
1856 when he was age 2. He is listed with his parents on the 1860 census of Carroll
Twp., Carroll Co., and the 1870 census of Mt. Carroll, Carroll Co., IL. Daniel
married Eliza M. Croft on March 14, 1878 in Carroll Co., IL and they had
4 children. The family is listed on the 1880 & 1900 censuses of Mt. Carroll,
Carroll Co., IL. They are listed on the 1910 & 1920 censuses of Fairhaven,
Carroll Co., IL. In 1900 & 1910 Eliza is listed as having 4 births with 4
surviving children at that time. Daniel Meister died on August 8, 1925 in Chadwick,
Carroll Co., IL. Eliza is listed as widowed mother-in-law in the household
of Fred & Laura (Meister) Heth on the 1930 census of Covina, Los Angeles Co.,
CA. Eliza died on December 16, 1936 in LaJara, Conejo, Colorado, where her son
Howard was living at the time. Children of Daniel Meister & Eliza Croft are:
Howard (1879), Mamie (1882), Laura (1885) & Luva (1897). Notes for Daniel Meister |
| Elizabeth Meister | Sarah Elizabeth Meister was born on June 25, 1858
in Carroll Co., IL. She is listed with her parents on the 1860 census of Carroll
Twp., Carroll Co., IL and the 1870 census of Mt. Carroll, Carroll Co., IL. Elizabeth
married Jacob C. Kessler on Dec 20, 1877 in Carroll Co., IL and they had
at least 3 children. They moved from Illinois to Iowa about 1878, and they are
listed on the 1880 census of Bruce Twp., Benton Co., IA. Elizabeth's brother George
Franklin Meister also moved to Benton Co., IA about that same time. Based on birthplaces
of their children they were in Iowa at least through 1883, but at some point moved
back to Illinois. I have not found them on the 1900 or 1910 censuses at this time.
In 1920 Jacob & Elizabeth are listed on the census of Mt. Carroll, Carroll
Co., IL. Jacob died sometime between 1920 to 1930, and Elizabeth is listed as
widowed, age 72, on the 1930 census of Mt. Carroll, Carroll Co., IL. "Mrs.
Lizzie Kessler of Mt. Carol, Illinois" is listed as a surviving sister (and
only surviving sibling listed) in Hiram Meister's obit in January 1931. Sarah
Elizabeth Meister Kessler died sometime after 1931, probaby in Mt. Carroll, Carroll
Co., IL. Children of Jacob Kessler & Elizabeth Meister are: Dorman (1880),
Albert (1882) & Mamie (between 1900-1910) Notes for Sarah Elizabeth Meister Kessler |
| William Meister | William E. Meister was born on May 19, 1861 in
Carroll Co., IL. He is listed with his parents on the 1870 census of Mt. Carroll,
Carroll Co., IL. William married Anna Taylor on November 24, 1886 in Carroll
Co., IL and they had 4 children. The family is listed on the 1900, 1910 &
1920 censuses of Spring Creek Twp, Tama Co., IA, but on the 1905 & 1915 censuses
of Gladbrook, Tama, Iowa. Occupations for William on the census are Barber (1900),
Laobrer, odd jobs (1910) and Restaurant Proprietor (1915 & 1920). William
E. Meister died between 1920-1930, but I'm not sure where. I do not find himor
Anna in online cemetery listings in Iowa. Anna is listed as widowed in the household
of her married son George Meister on the 1930 census of York, DuPage Co., IA.
Children of William Meister & Anna Taylor are Neal (1888), Grace (1891), George
(1892) & William (1904). Notes for William E. Meister |
| Franklin Meister | Franklin Meister was born on June 19, 1864 in Carroll Co., IL. He died as an infant. Franklin Meister died in September 1864 in Carroll Co., IL. He is buried at Mt. Carroll, Carroll Co., IL. |
