GEORGE J. MEYER.
George J. Meyer, of Audubon township, Audubon county, Iowa, who
first came to this county in 1885, and who has been prominent in the business,
civic and fraternal life of the township for many years, was born
January 17, i860, in Rock Island county, Illinois. He is the son of John
J. and Magdalena (Bamholt) Meyer, natives of Holstein, Germany, who
were married in their native land and who came to this country about 1854.
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Meyer, after landing in New York, journeyed to
Chicago, where they lived for a time. From Chicago they moved to Moline,
in Rock Island county, Illinois, and here the father lived as a farmer
until his death, following which the mother moved to Des Moines. They
were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living, as follow:
Mrs. Eliza Ash, Mrs. Mary Mason, George J., Robert and Henry. George
J. is the only member of the family living in Audubon county.
George J. Meyer attended the common schools in Illinois until fifteen
years old, being unable to obtain a thorough education. When twenty-one
years old he started in life for himself, working out for a time by the month.
Later, he rented the home farm and operated that until 1891, when he came
to Audubon county, where he purchased a hundred and twenty acres of
land in section 9, Audubon township. This farm was only slightly improved
and Mr. Meyer has since erected a large house, barn, cribs and
other buildings, making it one of the most highly-improved farms of the
township.
On February 10, 1885, Mr. Meyer was married to Anna Jacobsen, who
was born in Schleswig, Germany, and who is the daughter of Carl and
Ida (Volck) Jacobsen, natives of Germany, born near Kiel.- They, after
coming to the United States, first lived in Rock Island county, Illinois,
and in 1885 they moved to Audubon county, Iowa.
After Mr. Meyer's marriage, he and his wife returned to Illinois, and
lived there until 1891. Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Meyer, only seven are now living. Charles, George and Nora died during an
epidemic of diphtheria in the fall of 1892. The living children are, Walter,
who was born March 10, 1887, and married Nettie Tibben; John, June i,
1892; Nellie, December 25, 1894; Ida, September 12, 1896; Robert, May
13' 1899; Magdalena, March 10, 1901, and Earl, June 21, 1904.
A member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Brotherhood
of America, Mr. Meyer is considered prominent in fraternal circles
in this vicinity. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are also members of the Eastern Star,
the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Masonic lodge. Both are members at Exira.
Although Air. Meyer was formerly a Democrat, he has been an independent
voter during late years. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer were baptized in the Lutheran
church, of which denomination their parents were members. Mr. and Mrs.
Meyer's children are members of the Audubon township Christian church,
and Mr. Meyer was one of ihe substantial contributors to the fund raised
in connection with the organization of this church.
George J. Meyer believes in keeping only the best stock obtainable and
was one of the leading organizers of the Audubon Township Creamery
Company, of which he has been treasurer for more than twelve years. Mr.
Meyer is a prominent citizen; is a man of strong convictions, and being aggressive
in his attitude, is a natural leader of men. The ]\Ieyer family are
popular in Audubon township.
|
Transcribed from History of Audubon County, Iowa Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by H. F. Andrews, editor, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915, pp. 749-750.
|
|
