Second Generation

4. Augusta Ernestine BOETTCHER¹ was born in June 1862 in Preussen (Prussia).¹⁰ She died on 30 July 1951 at the age of 89 in Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁰ Obituary Notes: "Gustave and Augusta Meyer Family.

Many Germans left Germany to seek a better standard of living for themselves and their families. Many also wished to escape the political and religious oppression in Germany. Immigration from Germany increased greatly after 1847 because of the poor harvest in Europe and the tyrannical rule of the Kings of Central Europe, which included Germany.

German immigrants brought their customs with them to America. The women wore long full gathered skirts and white blouses. Their dresses were almost completely covered by cotton aprons, which they always wore.

The Germans are thrifty, hard-working people and the women were noted for their cooking of special dishes and their love of cleanliness. Girls were taught at an early age to cook and sew.

Gustave Meyer immigrated to the United States from Hamburg, Germany around 9 May 1889 at the age of 22 aboard the vessel "Carry". This is stated on his naturalization papers. He wanted to avoid being drafted in the German army and paid ship's captain to help him.

The first information of his employment was at McDonald's Sawmill in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He worked as a boiler fireman on the night shift. He stayed there until the business blew up. He traded two houses in La Crosse, Wisconsin for a farm in Monroe County near the glass church on Highway 27 in the town of Little Falls. This farm was later sold to his son Otto Albert
Meyer. Gustave took over his brother Herman's farm in West Beaver Creek.

The older children could speak German, but were encouraged to speak English because they were proud to be Americans. The children attended up to the eighth grade. Tillie Leila Meyer went on for more education to Normal School at La Crosse, Wisconsin. Tillie Leila Meyer taught school two years in La Crosse County. Gustave and Augusta Meyer moved to 602 Central Avenue, Sparta, Wisconsin in March 1914. They were members of the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Gustave had a brother named Herman and both Meyer men married Bottcher sisters. Gustave Meyer and Augusta Bottcher Meyer, Herman Meyer and Pauline Bottcher Meyer. Both couples had sons named Herman Meyer and their father's name was Herman. Gustave and Herman Meyer had
two sisters that stayed behind in Germany. One letter received from a cousin who worked at a bank in Berlin. Tillie wrote to cousins in Germany. Each had four sons and four daughters.

Gardening was an important source of food. Hundreds of jars of vegetables, fruits, jams, and their own meat were canned each year. Augusta Bottcher Meyer made hundreds of loaves of bread and churned many pounds of butter for their family of eight children." She was buried in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁰ in the Woodlawn Cemetery.

Augusta Ernestine BOETTCHER and Gustave H. "Gust" MEYER were married on 13 September 1883 in La Crosse County, WI.^1,10 Gustave H. "Gust" MEYER was born on 8 November 1861 in Preussen (Prussia).¹⁰ He died in 1938 at the age of 77 in Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁰ He was buried in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁰ in the Woodlawn Cemetery.

Augusta Ernestine BOETTCHER and Gustave H. "Gust" MEYER had the following children: