Mary Meier: Where Are You?

. . . I don't know why it is, but somehow in every man and in every normal woman, the Master and Maker of us all has implanted in us all passions that ought to be the most sacred of anything on earth, but somehow in this day and world, somehow or other, these passions where they ought to be sacred so often are the means of downfall of men and women . . . 

                                          the Honorable W.L. Eaton, April, 1899

                                                 (taken from newspaper account of trial)




It was 1996 when an area farmer began tilling the ground with intentions to build a small playground in the area next to the David Community Church, Mitchell County, Iowa.  What he found had more to do with the past than a future play area for children attending Bible School at the church.  Concrete remains of the foundations of buildings which used to line the main street of the little village of David were unveiled--along with a story that was the "talk of the town" for decades.

David Community Church

David's official plat was filed in January of 1893.  Soon after, Mary and Henry Meier opened the Meier Hotel to accommodate those coming and going on the Great Western Railroad and seasonal workers. 

Mary Meier attended the community church along with a man of the name DeForest Fairbanks.  A man who also boarded at the Meier Hotel.  Due to circumstances in their lives, Mary and DeForest began a relationship which ended with dire consequences. 
I
After reading, studying, and taking notes on dozens of pages of news copy from this time, Thou Shalt Not has been written--but not published.

Historical fiction tells a story

set in the past

with characters 

tending to be fictional.

Thou Shalt Not*

is the exception.

The characters existed,

 the setting was real, 

and many of the incidents 

written in the book

 are authentic.

Mary Meier left for Milwaukee in 1899.

She was married to Henry.

She had three children:  Ella, Eddie, and another boy.

If you have information on Mary Meier,

 please email me at kathystauffer@hotmail.com  

with Mary Meier typed on the subject line.  

*
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house. . . thy neighbor's wife. . .
Thou shalt not bear false witness. . .
Thou shalt not steal . . .
Thou shalt not commit adultery. . .

Thou shalt not kill . . .

Thou shalt honor thy father and mother . . .

Remember the Sabbath Day . . .

Thou shalt not take the name of the lord, thy God in vain . . .

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

The law is like a picture

One line drawn through it

spoils the picture.

Catechetical Helps, pg 60

Heavenly Father, you have instructed us to seek truth and to live righteously.  Help us always to live according to Your commandments.  May we give You the glory with our thoughts and behavior. 
              Amen