I would guess that E.H. Meyers is in this picture and from Manning.
At this point in time I have not found an E.H. Meyers.
I also can't compete with collectors (with deep pockets) who basically just want an item for their collection and generally don't concern themselves about the actual history of that item.
But I keep watching for old Manning stuff with the hopes that I can bring it "back home" to preserve this history here, and hopefully with some background about them.
The person who had this photograph never responded to my inquiries about any more background information he may have. The only thing provided is it was from the collection of
Stan Mailer, railroad photographer and historian and was a Chicago & Northwestern train.
On back of the picture was written "Manning, Iowa 1907," along with the name "E.H. Meyers."
The other item I'm going to feature is a receipt by Moershell Brothers from 1888.
While MOST of our history has been thrown away, there are still some very old and historically important items "out there - somewhere" if I can only find them.
This document was recently purchased along with many others connected to Amana, that were sold at a Johnson County Fair flea market on the Fourth of July.
The seller at the flea market said he grabbed them right before they were headed to a dumpster.
Fortunately I have some details about Moershell.
Ferdinand Moershell was born in Erie County, New York, August 4, 1845, died in Lawrence, Kansas, October 10, 1914, aged 69 years, 2 months and 6 days. His parents were of German birth and emigrated to America after their marriage and settled in Ebenezer, New York, where the two youngest of their children were born. Mr. Moershell was the youngest of three children, of whom only one, Mrs. Henrietta Gefaeller, of Homestead, Iowa, survives. The only brother, William, died May 1900, at Homestead, Iowa. Mr. Moershell's parents removed from New York to Homestead, Iowa, in 1861. They were members of the Amana Society, which is one of the old German societies of Christians. This society holds its prosperity in common.
Mr. Moershell began his business career at the age of 18, when he took employment in a store at Stevens Point, Wisconsin. He was employed by Marshall Field & Company, in Chicago, from 1872 to 1874. He then removed to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was employed as state agent of the Victor Sewing Machine Company. It was there that Mr. Moershell met his first wife, Annie Beard, to whom he was married in 1876. To this union were born two sons, Robert, who died December 8th, 1893, and Floyd. Mr. Moershell brought his wife to Walnut, Iowa, in 1876, where he had established himself in the mercantile business. Afterwards associating his brother with him under the name of Moershell Brothers. The firm continued thus until 1882 when Mr. Moershell came to Manning where he entered into business for himself and continued until 1892 when he went to San Diego, California, on account of failing health.
There he was interested in a lemon orchard. It was in San Diego that Mr. Moershell was bereaved of his wife who died August 5th, 1893. She was buried in Indianapolis, Indiana, her old home. Mr. Moershell came to Logan, Iowa, in 1898, where he had the management of a department store. Mr. Moershell was married to Cora Belle Coffman at Fairbury, Nebraska, July 10, 1900, who with his son, Floyd, one sister, three nephews: William Gefaeller, Fred and Raymond Moershell and one niece, Henrietta Gefaeller survive him.
Mr. Moershell returned to Manning in the fall of 1901 and re-engaged in the mercantile business. In the summer of 1904, he took his son, Floyd, into business with him under the firm name of F. Moershell and Son. The firm continued until July 1913. In 1902, Mr. Moershell became slightly afflicted physically and this trouble was accentuated by the suddenness of the news in February 1905 that the store was afire. This fire destroyed his entire business. The business was opened up again in the following May. On account of increasing bodily infirmity, Mr. Moershell was obliged to retire from active participation in the business of the firm in the summer of 1909. He continued to live in Manning until March 1914, when he went with his faithful wife to spend the last months of his earthly life with her parents, the Rev. and Mrs. J.P. Coffman, at Lawrence, Kansas.
The remains were brought to Manning, and buried Wednesday in the Manning Cemetery. Services were held at the M.E. Church and the grave. Rev. E.B. Scoggan, former pastor of the Manning church, but now of Grand River, Iowa, and a beloved friend and pastor of the deceased, preached a masterful oration over the body. He spoke of the deceased as one man among men, highly respected by all, and a man heading the confidence of all who knew him. His words of praise respecting the saddened widow were indeed complimentary. For a number of years she did all that a true and faithful wife could do to comfort, cheer, and assist her beloved husband. Rev. Tillmanns also spoke in German over the body.
At the grave the Masonic Lodge conducted the service was according to the ritual, of their order. The services here were touching and beautiful. The white leather apron, the evergreen, the last fond adieu was left with the departed brother until the time when there would be a reuniting in the home beyond the grave.
Mr. Moershell is gone. His good deeds still live. The world is better by his living in it. He fulfilled his mission on the earth, although his last years were filled with pain of a physical nature, he faithfully sought the Truth and now is one of God's chosen children, in the realm of peace.
A touching tribute to the departed one was the wreaths of flowers profusely scattered on his coffin and at the grave. They were the silent tokens of deep grief for one long to be remembered.