Andrew Meyer

From files of Vernon A. Haberkorn: Andrew served in World War I in France. After his service he went to farming. His first wife Frances died a few weeks after their youngest child was born. He then remarried to Lucille Auderer. He farmed at Rickardsville and when he retired he moved to Dubuque, Iowa. Andy resembled his father and was short and stocky of build. He too was a more serious man than his brothers who had Mary for a mother. So, it appears that the more serious trait came from Albertina. All the boys resembled Franz a far as size and build were concerned. I knew Uncle Andy very well since we were neighbors when we live at Rickardsville and met with him nearly every Sunday after he moved to Dubuque. Andy loved to visit and tell stories about old times. Aunt Lucille was very good company to talk with and visit, too.

While we are still in the Andrew Meyer family, here is a story about Andy told by his mother. Andy, she said, was at times kind of a tease and little dickens. This took place while Franz and Albertina were visiting in Germany. They were gone for several months. So, Theresa, Frances, George and Andy were still in school. August was home taking care of the farm. They had a dog on the farm and Andy claimed the dog as his, for the most part. One morning Andy and a neighbor boy skipped school and hitched the dog up to a wagon. The dog ran away and they chased him over the ridge. Father Schillmiller caught them skipping school and took the whip to them. He went to Andy's home and the only one there was Theresa who had not gone to school either. She was home because of a sore throat and too sick to go. Father left a note, not knowing that the parents were going to be gone for a while yet. So, Andy did not get punished at home for his misdeed. But the next day at school while playing shinnyclub he broke his leg. Father Schillmiller was such a mean and bull-headed man, he would not let anyone get help for Andy. He said that was his punishment for skipping school. How inhuman could anyone be, much less a priest? Anyway, Andy begged Frances to go for help. The priest would not let her go. Andy by this time was screaming with pain and John Jaeger, who lived near the school, went to see what the screaming was about. When he saw what was going on, he really lit into Schillmiller, and finally this mean man began to feel a little sheepish. Mr. Jaeger then took care of Andy, got his leg set and took him home. It is not known what Franz said or did to Andy when he got back from Europe, but I imagine he got some punishment as Franz was a strict disciplinarian. At any rate, Andy never skipped school again nor did he play shinnyclub, either.