MEGGERS, H. William

MEGGERS, SEAVIS

Posted By: Nettie Mae
Date: 1/18/2003 at 23:43:04

Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

H. WILLIAM MEGGERS.

H. W. Meggers, who is spending the closing years of a useful and well-spent life free from business cares at his pleasant home in Clinton, Iowa, was born in Hostein, Germany, October 20, 1841, and received his early education in a gymnasium of his native land. In 1868, he came to the United States on the Saxony, and on landing in New York proceeded at once to Clinton, Iowa, where he has since made his home.

Mr. Meggers was first engaged in engaged in sorting lumber for Ira Stockwell, and in 1874 entered the employ of Wadleigh, Wells & Company, as foreman of their lumber yard. Later the firm was changed to Gardner, Batchelder & Wells, and he remained with them as foreman until January 1, 1894, never losing any time during the entire twenty years, his pay going on if he was not able to be at the mills. He was then appointed bailiff of the district court, and filled that position until there was a change of administration. In 1899 he entered the employ of the W. T. Joyce Lumber Company as car-foreman, which position he held until September 3, 1900, when he retired from active labor. For several years he has been considerably interested in buying and selling real estate, and on the street where he now lives has erected and sold three good residences, and sold other property, still owning a good home. He has also been interested in business property, and is one of the successful men of Clinton.

April 21, 1965, Mr. Meggers married Miss Louise Seavis before leaving Germany, she being a native of that country. Unto them were born the following children: Frederick, who was in the employ of Gardner, Batchelder & Wells for about twelve years, and is now manager of the W. T. Joyce lumber yards at Galva, Iowa; Henry, who died in childhood before the family left Germany; Herman, a barber, of Clinton, Iowa; William, who works as a buffer in the lock factory in Lyons; and Emma, deceased.

The Republican party has always found in Mr. Meggers a stanch supporter of its principles, but at local elections he votes independent of party lines. He was elected alderman, and acceptably filled that office for nearly four years. In 1881 he joined the Masons, and has since risen to the thirty-second degree. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is highly esteemed by his fraternal brethren in both orders, as well as by the citizens of Clinton in general. In 1894 he visited his native land, sailing from New York to Southampton, England, on the City of Paris, then by rail to London and by steamer to Hamburg. Shortly afterward he arrived at Bussum, the town of his birth and the home of his father, who was then living. He was born in 1816 and died in 1895, while the mother was born in 1818 and died in 1893. On leaving Bussum our subject went to the seacoast by way of Wesselburen, and from there to Jeide, where he remained until the 7th of August, when he returned to Hamburg and spent three days in that city. On the 16th of August he left Hamburg and returned to the United States by the same route as he had gone to Germany, being a passenger this time, however, on the City of New York, having a most enjoyable trip.