The Patriarch of Our Family

 

Michael Sievers was born on 2 September 1909 in Gonzales County, Texas to Henry Sievers Jr. and Mary Ann Englert Sievers. Both the Sievers (1884) and Englert (1886) families emigrated to the United States through the Port of Galveston, Texas from Bremen, Germany. Michael’s mother died shortly after he was born, and his aunt Minna Sievers Meyer took him in and raised him as her own. When he was nine years old, Minna and her second husband, Reinhardt Meyer, adopted him on 27 September 1918 in San Patricio County, Texas and changed his name to Herbert Meyer.

My aunt, Kathryn Meyer Coe Aguras wrote in her family memoir, titled "BlueBonnet Blue," about this photograph.  "Minna showed Henry a picture they had made of Herbert [referring to Michael Sievers] by a traveling photographer who had come by their place.  He wore a little white christening gown and Wilhemina's [his grandmother, Wilhemine Schwekendick Sievers] necklace that she brought from Germany. It has a blue background and a white dove." [Note: The copy of the original monochrome photograph was taken circa 1910 and the enhanced color version was created on Ancestry.com].

My grandfather became the catalyst for my adoption. When his youngest daughter became pregnant with me, out of wedlock in 1966, she made a brave and moral decision to continue with her pregnancy. There was no question in my grandfather’s mind that one of his other six children would adopt me at birth. My grandfather and I would have a unique bond that still carries with me today. He lived life to the fullest and left this world in peace on 21 May 2002 in Pleasanton, Atascosa County, Texas. His love of family, family traditions and family history preservation now shine through in me and my son, Jarred Popham, in hopes his legacy will be carried forward to our future generations. 

Our German heritage is rich with the love of God and Family and the determination and perseverance to live life to the fullest. These values were instilled in my grandfather from childhood and through his adult experiences. He personally took time to pass them to his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren born during his lifetime.

Written with nothing but love and respect!!                  

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All primary source information referenced was gathered from historic newspapers, U.S. census schedules, vital records, probate files, and land documents, accessed through leading genealogical platforms such as Newspapers.com, Ancestry, FamilySearch, Find a Grave, and federal archival repositories. Interpretive narrative may also include Carol Anna Meyer Brooks' personal experiences or family stories shared with her throughout her lifetime.

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