March 7th was the third and last day of my trip. Today I was to visit with Bill Schleede. I had contacted Bill the week before about getting together and I had called him Wednesday evening to set up a time to meet. He graciously invited me to have breakfast with him at his home. William Rudolph Schleede #3 is my first cousin once removed. His grandmother and my great-grandmother is Maria Theresia (Eigel) (Meixner) Schleede. Theresia's first husband, Frank Meixner, died in 1890 and she married William Rudolph Schleede #1. Their only child was William Rudolph Schleede #2 and he is Bill's father. I used #1 etc. because I do not know if they actually had the designation of I, II, and III or first, second, third. I'll have to ask Bill the next time I talk to him.
Bill is in his late 80s and still lives on and runs his farm, which is located near the old home place where he grew up. He lived next door to his grandmother Theresia until he was eight. The old home place was passed down to his father and then to him.
Bill Schleede in front of his home March 7, 2013. Photographs property of Moody Meixner and are to be shared only by family.
I arrived at Bill's farm at 8:00 am as he had suggested. His home is a very nice brick home he and his wife built. Unfortunately his wife passed away several years ago. Bill welcomed me and invited me inside. Bill is slight in build, not as stocky as I remember my dad and granddad Meixner but about the same height. When I shook Bill's hand I could feel the strength in his handshake that only comes from a life filled with long days of hard work. Also, I must say I was surprised when I met Bill because he does not look or act anywhere close to his age.
We drove by his old home place, but we were not able to drive out to it in my car. You can see where his old house was located by the windmill right in the center of the photo, just above the tree line.
I expected that I would stay a couple hours at Bill's home but I ended up staying nearly six hours. Bill busily worked at frying eggs and bacon and making toast while I sipped coffee. Bill had many stories I had not heard before. He is the only living person I know that knew great-grandmother Theresia personally. Theresia died many years before I was born. I had always had the impression great-grandmother Theresia did not speak English, but Bill said she communicated with him in English quite well. He had many fond memories of his grandmother. (I know it is confusing referring to my great-grandmother and his grandmother but hopefully you understand that I am referring to the same person, Theresia.
I have to say, Bill makes a great breakfast. We ate and talked some more. He talked about his grandparents and his parents. Bill said his grandfather, William Rudolph Schleede #1, worked for my great-granddad Frank Meixner at Three Forks in Bell County. He said Frank had been a butcher in the old country and he taught Rudolph how to butcher. From this story it makes sense to me that Rudolph was close to the family and it is easy to see why, when Frank died, Rudolph and Theresia married. He was someone she knew and at this time in history a women's only avenue, after her husband died, was to get re-married as soon as possible. Rudolph bought a farm soon after their marriage near Salado and the family moved there. Theresia and Rudolph only had one child together, Rudolph. There were four Meixner children still at home.
In the coming years one daughter passed away in 1899. As for the remaining children, Bill said, "The Schleede farm was small." and "There were few opportunities..." [there in Bell County]. Consequently, Frank (Jr.) had already left and moved to Elm Mott, sister Minnie married and moved to Levelland with her husband. In Bill's words, "It was often in those days for young men to head for West Texas." So Harmon went west to Concho County and Henry followed a few years later. Bill also stated that it was not long before Harmon and Henry had a falling out and Henry moved away from Concho County. All the Meixner children had left home by 1911 when Rudolph #1 died. Rudolph #2 , only 17 years old, was the only child left at home. Theresia was left with a farm with a mortgage and a 17 year old son to help her make ends meet. Rudolph #2 married five years later and lived, with his family, next door to his mother the rest of his life and took care of the farm.
As I stated earlier, Bill lived next door to Theresia and was present when she died in 1932. Bill was only eight but still remembers it vividly. Theresia had been working that day. He said she shucked a whole tub of corn and was peeling pears. She was standing at the door of her home with a bowl of pears in her hands. Suddenly she yelled and threw the bowl in the air. Bill's dad ran to her and helped her to her chair and sent for the doctor. Of course it took at least 45 minutes to notify the doctor and for him to get to the house out in the country. Bill said, however, that she died in her chair long before the doctor arrived. She apparently suffered a heart attack. Theresia's funeral was held at the local Methodist Church. A friend held the service and she was buried in the Salado Cemetery.
In 1934 Bill's dad used the lumber in Theresia's old house and built a new one for him and his family there at the same location. This was the house Bill would grow up in. He remembered it had no electricity and only cold water in the tub and sink.
Theresia Schleede's Family Bible. Photographs property of Moody Meixner and are to be shared only by family.
Old tin match box. Photographs property of Moody Meixner and are to be shared only by family.
Old lock. Photographs property of Moody Meixner and are to be shared only by family.
Beaded piece with Rudolph Schleede's initials dated 1875. Photographs property of Moody Meixner and are to be shared only by family.
Pair of old glasses. Photographs property of Moody Meixner and are to be shared only by family.
Along with the great stories and conversation, Bill brought out his grandmother's old family bible. It was so fragile I did not attempt to even touch it but it was very interesting to see. He did however, have several pages from the bible with information about the family that Theresia had written. The pages were laminated and I was able to capture the pages with my portable scanner. He brought out letters Theresia had kept that she received from her grandchildren. He very generously said for me to keep the Meixner grandchildren letters. I am extremely proud to have them and I have shared some with my cousin Claudia.
Copy of pages from Theresia Schleede's family bible. Photographs property of Moody Meixner and are to be shared only by family.
This is a sample of the letters written by Theresia's grandchildren that she saved. Photographs property of Moody Meixner and are to be shared only by family.
I wish I had taken a tape recorder with me on my visit. I know I did not get everything written down that Bill and I talked about. I had a fantastic day with Bill and I hope to get by to see him again soon. We ended our visit by driving to the Salado Cemetery and visiting the graves of his grandfather, Rudolph, and his grandmother Theresia (our common ancestor).
The old step stone from Bill's old home where he grew up. Photographs property of Moody Meixner and are to be shared only by family.
William Rudolph Schleede on March 7, 2013. Photographs property of Moody Meixner and are to be shared only by family.
I dropped Bill back by his house and he invited me in for a sandwich but I really needed to get going. He showed me a rock on his front walkway that had been a stepping stone at his old home place. I think it makes a nice reminder of his early life and I am sure it brings back many fond memories. I took Bill's picture and shook his hand and headed out toward home. I left with a great feeling. What a wonderful day! So much great information, but most of all I had discovered a new relative and a new friend.
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