Martha "Mattie" Leamer was the daughter of Jacob Leamer & Rebecca Stephens
Richard Potter was the son of unknown parents
Hiram Meister was the son of George William Meister & Anna Marie "Mary" German

THE FAMILIES OF MARTHA "MATTIE" LEAMER

Mattie was married twice: first to Richard Potter, and second to Hiram Meister.

First Marriage:

Richard Potter & Mattie Leamer

Mattie Leamer married Richard Potter about 1868 in IA. Richard was a Methodist preacher, and Mattie was about age 16. They had one son, Oscar, born in May 1869 in Benton Co., Iowa. Mattie's daughter Irma Pfeifer told me that Mattie said Richard Potter would tie her to the bed so that she could not leave the cabin while he was gone circuit riding to preach. I do not know when or if Mattie & Richard divorced, but Mattie is living with her married sister Henrietta Thompson on the 1870 census of Grant Twp., Caldwell Co., MO, and listed as Martha Leamer, age 18. Oscar is not listed with her in 1870; I don't know if the census taker missed him or if he was being cared for by someone else at that time. There is an Oscar Potter, born Iowa, listed with Mattie's mother Rebecca Leamer in Benton Co., IA in 1870, but both of their ages are listed as 58 - that also may be census taker error, and it may be that Oscar was with his grandmother at that time. Mattie remarried Hiram Meister on January 8, 1872. (More info on that marriage below)

Children of Richard Potter & Mattie Leamer:

Oscar Potter

Oscar Leamer Potter was born May 11, 1869 in Vinton, Benton Co., Iowa. His mother Mattie had resumed her maiden name and was living with her married sister on the 1870 census of Grant Twp., Caldwell Co., MO. Oscar is not listed with her in 1870; I don't know if the census taker missed him or if he was being cared for by someone else at that time. There is an Oscar Potter, born Iowa, listed with Mattie's mother Rebecca Leamer in Benton Co., IA in 1870, but both of their ages are listed as 58 - that also may be census taker error, and it may be that Oscar was with his grandmother at that time. Mattie remarried Hiram Meister in 1872 when Oscar was age 2. He is listed with his mother & stepfather on the 1880 census of Plymouth Pct., Jefferson Co., NE. Oscar married Detta Gay Loomis on January 01, 1891 and they had 15 children. Oscar & Detta are living in DeWitt, Saline Co., NE on the 1900 census. They moved from Nebraska to South Dakota about 1908. The family is listed on the 1910 census Kimball, Brule Co., SD and on the 1920 & 1930 censuses of Chamberlain, Brule Co., SD. Oscar Leamer Potter died on October 16, 1941, probably in Brule Co., SD. Notes for Oscar Potter

Second Marriage:

Hiram Meister & Mattie Leamer Potter

Mattie Leamer Potter married Hiram Meister on January 08, 1872 in Caldwell Co., MO. They had one daughter, Beatrice Kate Meister. The family moved from Missouri to Nebraska in 1877, when Beatrice was age 3. Hiram & Mattie are listed on the 1880 census of Plymouth Pct., Jefferson Co., NE; at that time Oscar Potter & Beatrice were both listed as children in their household. The family is on the 1900, 1910, 1920 & 1930 censuses of DeWitt, Saline Co., NE. Hiram and Mattie both died in January of 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. Hiram & Mattie are both buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery, DeWitt, Saline Co., NE. Notes for Hiram Meister Notes for Mattie Leamer Potter Meister Photos of Hiram & Mattie Meister Records for Hiram & Mattie Meister

Children of Hiram Meister & Mattie Leamer Potter:

Beatrice Kate Meister

Beatrice Kate Meister was born on May 14, 1875 in Polo, MO. She is listed with her parents on the 1880 census of Plymouth Pct., Jefferson Co., NE. Beatrice married Aaron Weibel about 1895, and they had a daughter Beatrice Aileen Weibel, known as Aileen, in 1896. Aaron died in 1897, and Beatrice is again listed with her parents & daughter on the 1900 census of DeWitt, Saline Co., NE. Beatrice married Aaron Weibel's first cousin Ervin Pfeifer on April 02, 1902 in Lincoln, Lancaster Co., NE. Aaron was the son of Jacob Weibel & Maria Margaret Schrotberger, and Ervin was the son of Frederick Pfeifer & Margaret Schrotberger - Maria Margaret & Margaret were sisters. Ervin & Beatrice had 5 children. The family is listed on the 1910 census of DeWitt, Saline Co., NE. Ervin died in 1918, and Beatrice did not remarry. She was on the 1920 & 1930 censuses of DeWitt, NE, but moved to Lincoln, Lancaster Co., NE in 1934 and remained there until her death in 1960. Beatrice Kate Meister Weibel Pfeifer died on March 05, 1960 in Lincoln, Lancaster Co., NE. She is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery at DeWitt, Saline Co., NE. The Families of Beatrice Kate Meister Photos for Beatrice Kate Meister Weibel Pfeifer Notes for Beatrice Kate Meister Weibel Pfeifer