Margaret May Myers was born on May 31, 1871, in Nora, Jo Daviess County, Illinois. Margaret married Robert Edward Bressem on December 12, 1894, in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas. Margaret Myers Bressem died on February 12, 1937, in Elmhurst, DuPage County, Illinois.
Margaret May Myers was born on May 31, 1871, in Nora, Illinois, the youngest of seven children of Rudolph Myers and Harriet E Musser. Margaret had a sister who died before Margaret was born. Her father was a farmer. Around 1774, the family moved west to Franklin county, Iowa, where Margaret's father purchased an 80 acre farm.
Margaret, also known as Maggie, grew up on her father's farm in Iowa and attended school, likely in a one room schoolhouse. When Margaret was 18 years old, her father sold his farm and moved to the nearby town of Hampton, Iowa.
Margaret became a school teacher. Sometime after 1888, she left home to teach school. In 1892 she taught school in South Dakota. In 1893 Margaret visited her parents who had moved to Sabetha, Kansas, where Margaret's older sister lived with her family. She decided to stay and taught school in Sabetha. In Sabetha Margaret met Robert Bressem.
Margaret Myers and Robert Edward Bressem were married on the evening of December 12, 1894, in Sabetha, Kansas, at the home of her father and mother.
Robert and Margaret Bressem had the following known children:
- Paul Edward Bressem
- Carl Robert Bressem
- Ruth Margaret Bressem
- Wilhelmina Bressem
Margaret and Robert raised their family in Sabetha. She lived next to her parents who she attended to until their deaths, Rudolph in 1907 and Harriet in 1920. After Robert retired, they moved to Los Angeles in 1926, and lived with their daughter Ruth and Ruth's family. They spent their time traveling and visiting with friends and family. Margaret's grandchildren called her “Bonner”.
In the fall of 1936, Margaret and Robert drove from Los Angeles to Chicago for an extended visit with their daughter Wilhelmina and her family who lived in Villa Park, Illinois. On the way, they stopped in Sabetha, Kansas, to visit with old friends. By February of 1937, Margaret was gravely ill. It is not known whether the illness was sudden.
On February 12, 1937, Margaret Myers Bressem died in the hospital in Elmhurst, Illinois, near her daughter's home. She was 65 years old. Margaret was buried in the Sabetha Cemetery in Sabetha, Kansas.
An article in the Sabetha newspaper said that “her friends were not aware of her illness”. Her obituary read “Mrs. Bressem was an ideal mother, wife and daughter. Her home held first place in her life yet she found time for church and social activities and was a valuable asset in the various groups to which she gave her time and effort. In their declining years, her parents found happiness and comfort in the daily attention of the devoted daughter, who lived next door. Her husband found her wise counsel and understanding sympathy a bulwark of strength. Her children enjoyed her companionship and guidance in the formative years of their lives as well as the years when youth had passed. Her neighbors and friends cherish the memory of her cheerful helpfulness and kind thoughtfulness. The beauty of her life emanated from a perfect faith that gave to her wisdom and understanding. Her presence brought a benediction to all who came in contact with her. The memory of her
kindness, her ability to make others happy and inspire them to do their best will remain in the hearts of all who knew her.”
Genealogical Research and Life Sketch Completed: June 2022
Sources:
"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch, Margaret Myers in household of Rodoph Myers, Grant Township, Franklin, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
"Iowa State Census, 1885," database with images, FamilySearch, Maggie Meyers in household of Rudolph Meyers, Grant, Franklin, Iowa; citing p. 31, 1885, State Historical Society, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,021,468.
"Kansas Marriages, 1840-1935", database, FamilySearch, Marguerite Meyers in entry for Robt. Bressem, 1894.
"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch, Margarruite B* in household of Robert B*, Rock Creek Township Sabetha City, Nemaha, Kansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 127, sheet 10A, family 220, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,492.
"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch, Marguerita Bressem in household of Robert Bressem, Sabetha Ward 4, Nemaha, Kansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 129, sheet 16B, family 395, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 450; FHL microfilm 1,374,463.
"United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch, Margratt Bressem in entry for Robert Bressem, 1920.
"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch, Margarete M Bressen in household of Alexander A Payette, Los Angeles (Districts 0001-0250), Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 19, sheet 2A, line 5, family 24, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 132; FHL microfilm 2,339,867.
"Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947", database, FamilySearch, Margaret May Bressem, 1937.
“Maggie Myers”. New Item. Sabetha Republican Herald (Sabetha, KS). May 19, 1893.
“Bressem, Mrs. Robert”. Obituary. Sabetha Herald (Sabetha, KS). February 17, 1937.
