MS-213-B
LAUG – MEINDERS FAMILY COLLECTION ADDITIONAL
INTRODUCTION
The Laug – Meinders Family Collection Additional was accessioned into the Piqua Public Library Archives and Special Collections in July 2020 as the result of a donation by Ms. Kristi Laug, daughter of George and Lucy Laug and granddaughter of John and Anna (Meinders) Laug. The collection was processed by Gary D. Meek in August 2020 and is housed in two Hollinger boxes containing 41 files. The collection is available without restriction for genealogical or other research.
John H. Laug was a 1913 immigrant to the United States from Nordhorn, Benthein, Lower Saxony, Germany. He married Anna Meinders of Piqua, Ohio and they had one son, George Herman Laug. John Laug became a long time agent of the Prudential Insurance Company. George married Lucy Dee Comer and they had two children, Kristi Karen Laug and Kirk Douglas Laug. George was a World War II Army veteran, a mechanical engineering graduate of the University of Cincinnati and an engineer with the French Oil Mill Machinery Company. Lucy worked for the City of Piqua as a secretary and ultimately became the secretary to the City Manager and the Clerk of the Piqua City Commission.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The Laug – Meinders Family Collection Additional is divided into two series and seven sub-series as follows:
SERIES I: JOHN and ANNA MEINDERS LAUG
SUB-SERIES I-A: PHOTOGRAPHS – either totally or partially identified – Box 1, Files 1-4
SUB-SERIES I-B: DOCUMENTS – Box 1, Files 5-17
SERIES II: GEORGE H. LAUG AND LUCY D. LAUG
SUB-SERIES II-A: PHOTOGRAPHS – either totally or partially identified – Box 1, Files 18-21
SUB-SERIES II-B: DOCUMENTS – Box 1, Files 22-31
SUB-SERIES II-C: LETTERS TO GEORGE H. LAUG FROM FAMILY IN GERMANY –
Box 2, Files 1-4
SUB-SERIES II-D: CHRISTMAS CARDS TO GEORGE LAUG FROM FAMILY IN
GERMANY – Box 2, Files 5-8
SUB-SERIES II-E: LETTERS TO GEORGE AND LUCY LAUG FROM U.S. FRIENDS AND
FAMILY – Box 2, Files 9-10
CONTAINER LIST
SERIES I: JOHN and ANNA MEINDERS LAUG
SUB-SERIES I-A: PHOTOGRAPHS – either totally or partially identified
BOX 1
File 1 Male members of the Laug Family in Nordhorn Germany – [1] 2 ½” x 4” colorized
photo of John Laug’s older brother in a German Army dress uniform of the 78th Regiment Infantry, c. 1910. [2] Jan Laug – 2 ½” x 4” cabinet card. [3] Harm Laug – 2 ½” x 4” photo. [4] George Laug – 1 ½” x 2” glossy photo.
2 [1] 3 ½”x 2 ½” b/w photo of 3 ladies and a child: Uhrahne (died June 1942, 89 years);
Grandmother Harmiene Sohoo (died 23 February 1946, 57 years); Frau Ale Laug wife of Gert Laug; Child Wilhelm Johan Laug (son of Gert and Ale). [2] 3 ½” x 5 ½” b/w photo of daughter and son of Gerit Raben, Jan Kleine Logte’s daughter’s children, daughter age 12, son age 6. [3] 3 ½ x 5 ½ b/w photo of Fritz Hoesmann and wife, wedding picture. [4] 3 ½ x 2 ½ b/w family on the farm: Wasse Baal; Harmiene Sohoo (Baal); Ale Laug (Baal); Gert Laug and child Wilhelm Johan Laug. [5] Laug farm in Nordhorn, Germany. [6] 3 ½ x 2 ½ b/w/ photo of nine men on a hunting trip with their kill (identified on the back in German cursive script. [7] 3 ½ x 2 ½ b/w photo of Kleine Logte on hunting trip with kill. [8] 3 ½ x 2 ½ b/w photo of 8 men and 1 boy at a banquet table – photo identified on the back in German and labeled “image 1.” . [9] 3 ½ x 2 ½ b/w photo of 11 men and 3 boys at a banquet table – photo identified on the back in German and labeled “image 2.”
3 [1-4] One 7 ¼” x 4” brown tone photograph (printed reversed) and three 4” x 3”
brown tone photographs (two of the three are printed reversed). The photos are of John H. Laug, George H. Laug and a third man standing and talking on a street in Piqua. [5] 3” x 4” brown tone photo of the same man, not identified, as in the previous photos. [6-7] Two 4” x 3” brown tone photos of George Laug talking to the same not identified man possibly on Spring St., in Piqua. [8-10] Three brown tone photos of George Laug – various sizes. [11-12] two 3” x 4” brown tone photographs of an Indian chief photographed in front of a trading post, location not determined. [13] 7 ¼” x 4” brown tone photo of a birthday dinner for George Laug – Anna Laug, Lucy Laug (back to camera), and another lady in the picture. Photo probably taken by John Laug. All photos in this file are dated c. 1952.
4 [1] 4 ½” x 3 ¼” b/w photograph of John Laug and 15 other men standing in the steps
in front of the Piqua YMCA – possible insurance salesmen for Prudential Insurance. [2] 5” x 4” b/w photo of John and Anna Laug with George in his graduation robes at the time of his graduation from University of Cincinnati. [3] Back yard of the John Laug home at 8600 Piqua-Lockington Rd., Piqua. [4] 4 ¼” x 3 ¼” b/w photo of John Laug with a string of 5 very nice fish.
SUB-SERIES I-B: DOCUMENTS
File 5 German Maps: [1] Map of Germany, c. 1930. [2] Map of Germany, c. 1936. [3] City
Map of Nordhorn, produced on behalf of the city administration of Nordhorn.
6 Address book steno pad – Anna Laug’s 1969 list of 60 family and friends addresses,
possibly a Christmas card list.
7 Deeds: [1] Deed for the sale of Lot 4004 and 25 feet off the west side of Lot 4005,
also known as 835 Manier Street, Piqua, Ohio. By this deed, Gordon D. Gigandet and Margret M. Gigandet sold 835 Manier St., to Floyd Whitman, dated February 10, 1951. [2] Deed for the sale of Lot 4004 and 25 feet off the west side of Lot 4005, also known as 835 Manier Street, Piqua, Ohio. By this deed, Floyd Whitman and Blanche Whitman, his wife, sold 835 Manier St., to John H. Laug and Anna H. Laug, dated October 13, 1951. [3] Mortgage Agreement by which John and Anna Laug borrowed $8,500.00 from the Third Savings and Loan Co., Piqua to purchase 1.94 acres on Piqua-Lockington Rd. (8600 Piqua-Lockington Rd.) and to purchase a house at 835 Manier Ave. [4] Summary page of fees and loan amounts issued by The Third Savings and Loan Co. to go along with the above mortgage. [5]Agreement to Buy and Sell – Buyer is George H. Laug, Seller is John H. Laug, the property involved is 835 Manier Ave., Piqua, the price listed is $8,500.00 with a down payment of $850.00. The date of this agreement is October 27, 1951. [6] Deed for the sale of Lot 4004 and 25 feet off the west side of Lot 4005, also known as 835 Manier Street, Piqua, Ohio. By this deed, John H. Laug and Anna H. Laug, husband and wife, sold 835 Manier St., to George H. Laug and Lucy D. Laug, dated December 1, 1951.
8 John Laug retirement records: [1-2] Social Security account card and address check,
1947, and Social Security Statement of Wages for 1945 and 1946. [3] Retirement Plan Benefits and Social Security Benefits statement from Prudential Insurance Co. [4-8] Prudential Insurance Co. retirement plan documents showing normal retirement date of August 1, 1953 and yearly retirement payments. [9-12] two copies of John H. Laug’s Medicare cards and two copies of Anna H. Laug’s Medicare cards. [13] John Laug’s Permanent Ohio Fishing License.
9 Documents relating to the property at 8600 Piqua-Lockington Road: [1] Deed by
which Laura E. Walker sold the property to Barbara Skeggs and Luther P. Skeggs, dated December 5, 1918. [2] Mortgage on the property in which Barbara and Luther Skeggs borrowed $300.00 from The Third Savings and Loan Co., dated August 30, 1927. [3-4] Mortgage and payment schedule on the property in which John and Anna Laug borrowed $1,750.00 from The Citizens National Bank & Trust Co., Piqua.
10 Birth certificates: [1] Anna Meinders, August 7, 1884, City of Piqua, Miami County,
Ohio. [2] John H. Laug, July 31, 1888, Nnordhorn, Germany – this certificate is in German and was issued on 1 February 1911 at the approximate time that John Laug was preparing to immigrate to the United States.
11 Last Will and Testament of John H. Laug, dated June 7, 1946.
12 Bill of Sale for crypts numbered 13 and 14 in Section L, Quarter 4 in the Mausoleum
in Forest Hill Cemetery, Piqua. Estate of John F. Beachler sold the crypts to John H. Laug.
13 The Piqua Granite & Marble Company receipts for the purchase of bronze plaques for
crypts #13 & 14 for John and Anna Laug in the Forest Hill Mausoleum.
14 Newspaper clippings in German: [1] Frau Gertin Laug’a 90 birthday; [2] September
1962 article about farmer Albert Wassink; [3] Funeral notice for Geert Laug, 19 October 1961; [4] Funeral notice for Harm Wassink, October 9, 1962; [5] Harm Hindrik Balder’s 50th anniversary in the Nordhorn veterans group.
15 Translations of two letters written by John Laug to his family at the time he was
sailing to America to live. April 16, 1913 and April 20, 1913.
16 Newspaper clippings found in the collection: [1] Obituaries of John H. Laug
(December 30, 1971) and Anna H. Laug (February 9, 1972); [2] Probate of the will of John Laug, January 21, 1972; [3] An Unknown Genius Beat Edison to Bulb; [4] The Awesome Story of the Raid on Schweinfurt.
17 Miscellaneous documents: [1] Florida Retail Installment Contract dated January 17,
1956 by which John Laug purchased as used 1954 Hudson Sedan. [2] Inventory of gifts to Jass Ale Deiters Allegeerts. [3] Letter to Anna Laug from Carl B. Felger of McCulloch, Felger, Fite & Gutmann concerning the Estate of Anita M. VanHise. [4] Letter to John Laug from his cousin Julia L. Nelson (July 2, 1950) and on the back is a newspaper article about Julia Nelson’s handmade dolls which are referenced in the letter. [5] Loan of $1575.00 to John and Anna Laug by H. H. Meinders. [6] Receipt for payment of $5.00 by John Laug, October 20, 1933. [7] Loan of $1700.00 to John and Anna Laug using 9 shares of Border City Building and Loan Association stock as collateral, September 24, 1941. [8] Post Card advertising for Prudential Life Insurance Co. [9] Receipt from Miami County Travel Bureau issued to John H. Laug for payment of $524.70 for a round trip airplane ticket to Amsterdam, Holland, February 9, 1949.
SERIES II: GEORGE H. LAUG AND LUCY D. LAUG
SUB-SERIES II-A: PHOTOGRAPHS – either totally or partially identified
BOX 1
File 18 Photographs sent to George and Lucy Laug from the family in Germany: [1] 1 ¾” x 2
½” b/w photo of Gese Schievink. [2] 3 ½” x 3 ½” color photo of the home of Geert Laug in Nordhorn. [3] 5” x 3 ½” color photo of Geert Laug at his home 1982. [4] 5 x 3 ½ color of interior of Geert Laug’s home with Geert’s wife. [5] Same size color of Hermann & Gerda Geshwister. [6] Same size color of cousin Gerda Schievink (age 62). [7] Same size color of Gerda Schievink, Hermann Schievink, Mrs. Hermann Schievink, son Alfred Schievink carrying his child. [8-13] Geert Laug and his wife in their garden area 1986-1987. [14] 3 ½ x 3 ½ color of Anna Voelkeriaak and man not identified. [15] Three ladies in white aprons at Christmas 1965: Anna Logte, daughter of Ale Logte; Ann daughter of Luioe; Mina. [16-17] Man and woman not identified.
19 Photographs of the George H. Laug family: [1] photograph of the wedding of George
Laug and Lucy Dee Comer – Roy and Bertha Comer, George and Lucy, John H. and Anna Laug. [2] George Laug in the back yard of the home at 835 Manier Ave., c. 1955. [3] George in his sail boat with his dog, c. 1970. [4] Christmas card c. 1968, George, Lucy, Kirk Douglas, Kristi Karen and the family dog. [5] Family photograph January 2, 1994 – L-R: Kirk D. Laug (34), George H. Laug (67); Lucy D. Laug (69), Kirk N. Laug (5), Kristi K. Laug (36). [6] Polaroid photo of George, Lucy, Kristi and the dog. [7] Forman portrait of George and Lucy, c. 1990. [8] Photograph of a wreath made and displayed in a home in German at the time of George’s death in 2001.
20 Photographs of George H. Laug: [1] Colorized 5 x 7 portrait of George H. Laug, c.
1935 at age approximately 9 years. [2] Schine Theatre Circuit Junior Identification Card, photo identification, c. 1940. [3] School portrait of George Laug, possibly a senior photograph, 1943. [4] George Laug in his Piqua High School band uniform – 1943. [5] 8 x 10 color portrait of George Laug taken at the end of his army basic training, 1944. [6] Photograph of PFC George Laug in his uniform as an Air Cadet in the U.S. Army Air Force. [7] 14” x 11” composite photograph of the University of Cincinnati Mechanical Engineers graduates in the Class of 1951. George Laug is in the lower right corner area. [8] 8 x 10 b/w photograph of 7 men in the Engineering Department of French Oil Mill Machinery Company. The two on the left are not identified and the two on the right are not identified, in the middle front are Joe Goetz, Jerry Fisher, and in back is George Laug. [9-10] Two photos of sailboats that were owned and sailed by George H. Laug. [11] Copy of a photograph of the
drafting room at French Oil Mill Machinery Co.
21 Post cards sent to George and Lucy Laug: [1] Nordhorn, I. H. Kloster Frenswegen
(Monastry). [2] Nordhorn, Neues Wehr (New Weir or channel to direct water into a mill). [3] Berlin, Germany – view on the Kaiser-Wilhelm Remembrance Church. [4] Hong Kong – Traditional fishing methods off Lantau Island. [5] a spring time post card by W. N. Sharpe, Ltd., 1981. [6] Christmas card from family members in Florida.
SUB-SERIES II-B: DOCUMENTS
File 22 Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates: [1-3] 3 copies of George’s birth certificate;
[4] one copy of George and Lucy’s certificate of marriage; [5] one copy of George’s death certificate;[6] letter from Lucy Laug to the Department of Veterans Affairs informing them of George’s death; [7] one copy of the “computation of attorney fees” for settling George’s estate.
23 George Laug education documents: [1] Piqua Public Schools Pupil’s Report card for
1942-1943 (George’s senior year); [2] Piqua Public Schools, 1945-46 report card for George (post graduate taking Solid Geometry and Typing and earning 1 ½ additional credits). [3] Transcript of credits earned by George Laug at Piqua High School; [4] George’s hand written statement entitled “My Life, Experience, Hopes and Ambitions for the Future” (written after he was discharged from the Army but before he entered the University of Cincinnati). [5] Graduation announcement from U. of Cincinnati in 1951 for George Laug. [6] Transcript of credits George earned at the University of Cincinnati toward his degree in Mechanical Engineering. [7] Certificate of Aeronautical Knowledge from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Civil Aeronautics Administration – this certificate was issued May 11, 1943 by Piqua Central High School.
24 Documents relating to the enlistment of George H. Laug in the U.S. Army Air Force:
[1] Reception Center card issued to George Laug stating that he has attained a rating on the joint Army-Navy pre-induction test high enough to qualify him for the Army Specialized Training Program. The card is dated April 2, 1943. [2] Letter from the Adjutant General’s Office dated April 30, 1943, informing George of his success on the pre-induction qualifying test. George was instructed to present this letter and the card [1] at the time he was inducted into the Army. [3-5] three letters of recommendation for George dated January 12, 1944 – F. Beuscher, Pastor, Wayne St. Methodist Church; Alex Ellerman of Ohio Bottle Cap Co.; C. M. Simms, Principal of Piqua High School. [6] Army Service Forces Special Orders No. 60 assigning a listed group of men to report to Fort Benjamin Harrison by 18 March 1944 and then to AAFBTC No. 2, Keesler Field, Mississippi to arrive by 27 March 1944. George H. Laug is on this list. [7] Identification Card – Enlisted Reserve Corps for George Herman Laug, Private showing he enlisted in the Army Reserve Corps on January 25, 1944. [8] Air Forces U.S. Army Identification Card for George Laug who enlisted at Patterson Field, January 25, 1944.
25 Documents relating to the Honorable Discharge of George H. Laug: [1] Certificate of
Honorable Discharge. [2-4] Army of the United States, Separation Qualification Record for George Laug. [5-7] Army of the United States Honorable Discharge and Enlisted Record and Report of Separation. George separated at Patterson Field Ohio on November 8, 1945 with rank of Corporal. [8] Army Air Forces Certificate of Appreciation for War Service issued to George H. Laug, 15313925 CPL. [9] Letter to George Laug informing of his rights to reenlist in the United States Air Force and the accompanying provisions of AR 150-5. [10] Letter written by George to the Veterans Administration to correct a mistake in the date of entry into active service on the Separation Qualification Record. The letter is dated April 7, 1989.
26 Documents connecting George Laug to the Veterans Administration: [1] Veterans
Administration Certificate of Eligibility showing that George is eligible for the Benefits of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944. [2-3] Two separate National Service Life Insurance policies for $5000.00 each. [4] Beneficiary designations. [5] reports of the earnings on the life insurance policies. [6] Pamphlet on new changes in the life insurance programs especially on the “Total Disability Income Provision.” [7-8] Two applications to convert the life insurance policies into Total Disability Income Provisions.
27 Letters between George H. Laug and the State of Ohio Board of Registration For
Professional Engineers & Surveyors concerning George Laug’s certificate of Engineer in Training and later his Professional Engineers Certificate.
28 Prudential Insurance Company Annuity Policy and supporting documents for George Laug.
29 Mortgage documents relating to the loan by George and Lucy Laug from The Third
Savings and Loan Co. to purchase the house at 835 Manier Ave.
30 Documents concerning the application by Murray C. Tribbett and George H. Laug for
a patent for an Injection Molding Apparatus – Serial No. 455,621.
31 Miscellaneous Documents: [1] Design drawing by George Laug, January 16, 1953, -
Schematic Diagram of Hi & Low Pressure Hydro-Pneumatic Accumulator System. [2] Sketch of Wiring Diagram for Hydro-Pneumatic Accumulator System by George Laug, January 28, 1953. [3] George Laug form W-2 Withholding Receipt-1944 issued by Lear Avia, Inc. showing $39.50 withheld from George Laug’s pay. [4] Receipt from Cincinnati Air Activities Inc. for 30 gal. of 91 octane aviation fuel, total $9.90. [5-6] two sailboat note cards. [7] [Pencil drawing of a sailboat. [8] Capsulated obituary of George H. Laug. [9-10] Two George Laug business cards. [11] A George Laug business card encapsulated inside a clear plastic cup coaster. [12] A set of two George Laug dog tags.
SUB-SERIES II-C: LETTERS TO GEORGE H. LAUG FROM FAMILY IN GERMANY
BOX 2
File 1 Two letters from Heinrich Roters; two letters from Geert Laug and one letter from Anna Borrink.
2 Eight letters from Anna Völkerink and the Family Völkerink.
3 Six letters from Gerda Schievink and three letters from Gertin and Albert Műlstegen.
4 Eight German funeral notices for the following: [1] Hermann Schievink; [2] Anna
Völkerink; [3] Fenna Laug; [4] Gese Schievink; [5] Jan Laug; [6] Wilhelm Laug; [7] Jennigje Laug; [8] Geert Laug.
SUB-SERIES II-D: CHRISTMAS CARDS TO GEORGE LAUG FROM FAMILY IN
GERMANY
File 5 One card from Heinrich Roters and one from Gertin and Albert Műlstegen.
6 Four Christmas Cards from Gerda Schievink.
7 Six Christmas cards from Anna Völkerink and the Family Völkerink.
8 Ten Christmas cards from Geert Laug.
SUB-SERIES II-E: LETTERS TO GEORGE AND LUCY LAUG FROM U.S. FRIENDS AND
FAMILY
File 9 Letter to “All the Laug’s” from Charlotte, mailed from Cincinnati. Letter from
Hildreth and Dick Wilson in Madison, Indiana.
10 Letter from Mrs. Wilson Kruger, Metropolis, Illinois, seeking information from
George on the Meinders family, specifically the family of George Meinders in order to update a book on the descendants of George Meinders.