Photograph by John Sipos Debbie Runge Meder is shown giving a history of the Runge farm south of the village of Cassadaga to the Chautauqua County Genealogical Society.

CASSADAGA — During a Chautauqua County Genealogical Society meeting at the Cassadaga American Legion hall, the history of the Runge family dating back to 1883 was presented to the members and guests by Debbie Runge Meder of Bemus Point.

Meder said that the original family of Ernest and Anna Runge emigrated to the U.S. to Wisconsin and Minnesota. Here they felt safe for religious worship, and later moved to Cassadaga where there was rich farm land in 1920. Meder said her relative Dale Runge had begun the family genealogy and it was continued by her daughter Kelly Labby. Meder said her talk was full of memories of the Richard G. and Iola K. Runge dairy farm which was one mile south of the Cassadaga Village. Her father died at an early age due to a car accident in a snow storm, and her mother died also at an early age due to an illness.

Runge was proud of the farm and would ride her bicycle to the top of a hill to overlook the farm. Eventually the farm was auctioned after the deaths of her parents and the children were sent to live with family friends and relatives. In the year 2016, the farm with four acres of land was purchased by the family and is being restored, and with a new barn. Mrs. Meder put all of her memories of the family in a book entitled “The Front Porch Promise. A History of the Runge Family.” This was a very informative and emotional presentation.

The genealogical society meets monthly on the third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Cassadaga American Legion hall. Ruth Nichols, town of Arkwright historian is the president and welcomed all. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by John Sipos, Cassadaga Village Historian and town of Stockton Historian. Gail Dash is the vice president. Maureen Davis is the secretary and Debbie Kotar is the treasurer.

Trustees are Andrew Kolstee, Barbara Wise and Walter Sedlmayer. Wayne Leamer is the newsletter editor and the membership chairman.

The society always welcomes new members. For more information on the Chautauqua County Genealogical Society, write to P.O. Box 404, Fredonia, NY 14063.