My interest in genealogy started when I wandered upon a software copy of "Family Tree Maker" in a computer store. I thought about the family tree my Uncle Hank did many years earlier. I thought genealogy would be a great hobby to occupy my time during my retirement years, so I bought it. That was in 1997.
I was curious who my ancestors were. Where did they come from? When did they arrive in the United States? How did they get here? Why did they immigrate to the United States? Why did they settle in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio? Where did they live? What were their occupations? Where were they buried?
It's unbelievable I never talked to my grandmother, father or aunts and uncles about their early lives. I was to young or to busy living my life until it was to late. In hindsight I wished I had asked them a thousand questions. In one way I was very fortunate all my ancestors either settled or were born in Toledo, Lucas County Ohio. Our family records were all available within the State. My greatest satisfaction was finding one more family record in the most unusual place. My only disappointment was not finding more family photos.
I wrote this book because I wanted to share our history with all descendants for years to come. I tried to be as factual as possible. My purpose was to tell our story as it was without being judgmental or emotional. My father said" if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all". I'm sure I slipped up at least once or twice.
South German: habitational name for someone who lived at a farm named Meyerhof (from Middle High German meier ‘steward’, ‘bailiff’, ‘tenant farmer’ + hof ‘manor farm’). Somewhere, sometime in our roots (in the 12th century, Weinach, Kanton/Region, Zürich Switzerland) there surely must have been a farmer who owned his own farm and took the surname "Meierhofer". Hence the Meyerhofer family begins.
I hope you enjoy the fruits of my hobby and it inspires some family member to continue on when I'm not able to.
