Hazel Ruth Meyers Hummel (born: Nov. 18, 1895- died: April 1, 1987) [92], in the same family farmhouse in which she was born. Hazel was the daughter of Charles E. Meyers (Mar. 21, 1870- Feb. 26, 1956) and Nora Shannon Meyers. Her husband, William Jacob (known to everyone as "WJ") and Hazel were married on Christmas Day, December 25th, 1913 and lived on a Meyers farm (just a little over 1 mile west of Penrose corner) which had originally been a creamery (or milk farm). There was a spring house and the spring ran right through the basement. It was a very beautiful little farm known as, "Spring Valley Farm." They raised cattle, pigs, sheep, and farmed corn and other crops. W.J. had a slaughter house at Spring Valley Farm and slaughtered animals [beef & pork, some sheep] for the meat markets which he had opened in Sterling, Milledgeville, Ashton and Polo. All were reasonably profitable business run by the family of four boys. W.J. and Hazel were long-time members of East Jordan United Methodist Church [formerly, the Evangelical United Brethren Church] and were very active in the church. Hazel played the piano and organ and the whole family often sang together. They were also favorites at the church in singing duets. W.J. had a great tenor voice.(!) When the family was together Hazel played the piano and they all enjoyed singing hymns, and sang together beautifully. Hazel and W.J. had four children, all sons: *Osborne known as Bud (Sept. 24, 1914- July 4, 2002) married LaVera Guess June 16, 1945. He ran the Sterling meat market before taking up teaching in the Sterling School District. Bud and LaVera had 3 children; Gregory William, Marcus Guess and Jeannie Kay. *Walter Charles born Oct. 8, 1917 married Bessie Belle. He was shot down over the North Sea in World War II. They had one daughter Sharon Kay. **Leland Meyers** (Aug. 1, 1922- May 5, 2002) [80] married Lois Nadyne Stepp (July 7, 1923- Oct.7, 2000) [77] on June 9, 1940. Lois, known to everyone as Dee or Dee Dee, was the daughter of Charles and Mary Stepp {Steppenowski}. *Leland, known as Lee, worked in the Milledgeville meat market before moving to Polo to run the Polo Meat Market & Locker Plant. Later he sold insurance, mostly with the Combined Insurance Company, and was one of their top agents in his district. He and Dee moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1975, and lived there at the Holiday Spa Trailer Park in Sunnyvale, Phoenix. They had five children. *Leland Meyers, Jr. (Butch, "the Butcher") was born Jan 6. 1942. He was the apple of everyone's eye. Very bright & very talented. Growing up he worked at the meat market and set pins at the bowling alley which was right next door to the market. *Deborah Annette (Mar. 31,1946) married Steve Hunt on Aug. 13, 1966. They had two children, Suna and Ryan. Later, they were divorced and Debbie eventually moved to Surprise, Arizona. *Leonard (Lonnie or Len Charles) was born July 29, 1947. He and his wife, Lynne Suzanne-Young, are missionaries in the Philippines since 1988, working on the mission field with the poor for over 22 years. Lonnie is also a poet & writer. They also ran for many years one of the largest children's feeding programs in the central urban city of Cebu, Philippines, - mostly from 1993 to 2006. *Stephen Craig was born Feb.9, 1949. He and his wife, Anca, live in Glendale, Arizona. They have one son, Andrew. *Curt Allen was born May 6, 1952. He and his wife Margarita lived in Florida. They had 3 children, Stacy, Kerry and Mallory. Curt was killed in an automobile accident near Miami in the early 1980's. *Leonard (Lonnie) Carl, youngest son of W.J. and Hazel, was born Jan. 8, 1925. He died along with his fiancé when the plane he was flying crashed near the Hummel farm in 1946 just after the War. The first child of Lee and Dee Hummel, *Leland M. Hummel, Jr. (Butch), married Sandra Jo Abels on June 19,1965. They lived in Baileyville , Illinois and Butch worked in the computer area at MicroSwitch Division of Honeywell in Freeport . In 1967, he enlisted in the Air Force. He was stationed at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey for a year. On September 21, 1967 their first child, *Wendy Jo, was born at Fort Dix , New Jersey . Wendy was called "Little W.J." by her Great Grandmother, Hazel Hummel, who all her life was very sharp and had a great sense of humor. In 1968 Butch was transferred to Scott Air Force Base in Southern Illinois near St. Louis , Missouri . Here, their second child, *Marci Jean, was born June 13, 1970. Marci was named after her grandmother, Marcella Jeanette Abels. In 1971 they returned to civilian life in Polo, Illinois . They lived at *509 W. Mason Street until 1981 when they bought the house at *406 S. Franklin St. They lived on Franklin St. until 2008 when they built a home at *424 E. Dixon St., Polo, Illinois.Butch worked at National Manufacturing in Sterling and later returned to MicroSwitch where he worked until retiring. These jobs were all in computer operations. Both Butch and Sandy were bowlers and golfers as was Leland, Sr. who had several hole-in-ones in his lifetime. Butch was 5 times the Club Champion at Edgewood Golf Course. Sandy taught Pre-School starting the first 3 year old group in Polo. Later, she took full time work as Activity Director at the Villas of Shannon in Shannon , Illinois . She worked this job 15 years. It was at the Villas that Marci met her husband, the son of the director of nursing. After that Sandy worked at Dixon Pharmacy as cashier/clerk and purchaser for over the counter products until 2009 when the store closed and she retired.

This is just a brief history of Hazel & W.J.Hummel & the Hummel Clan. William and Hazel are buried side-by-side in the beautiful, peaceful cemetery of East Jordan United Brethren Church, near Sterling, Illinois, ~ not far from Spring Valley Farm were they lived all their long life together of 70, 80 and 90+ years. They are remembered fondly & with great affection by all who knew them.