MEYER, BENJAMIN H.

MEYER, BUSCH, RIPPENKROP, FALKERS, GROLM, JASPERS

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 12/26/2003 at 13:49:24

Biography reproduced from page 683 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Benjamin H. Meyer owns an attractive and well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres located on section 21, German township, in the cultivation of which he is meeting with success. He was born in Shiloh township, Grundy county, Iowa, on the 21st of June, 1871, and is a son of B. and Alka (Busch) Meyer, natives of Germany. The parents came to America in early life and subsequently met and were married in Illinois. The father, who was a carpenter by trade, engaged in mercantile pursuits in Illinois, which was his place of residence for fourteen years. At the expiration of that time he came to Iowa with his wife and family settling in Grundy county, where he continued in the mercantile business. Eighteen years later he came to Kossuth county, locating on a farm in German township, in the cultivation of which he engaged and also followed his trade. He was one of the foremost citizens of his community and held various township offices, giving his support to the democratic party. He helped to organize the Dutch Reformed church, of which he and his family were members, and assisted in the erection of their first house of worship in German township. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Meyer numbered nine: Charles, who is residing in the state of Washington; Sena, the wife of John K. Rippenkrop, who lives in the vicinity of Titonka; Henry, who is mentioned at greater length elsewhere in this work; Allen, a veterinary surgeon at Titonka; Ida, who married Cort Rippenkrop of Lincoln township; Mary, the wife of Falkert Falkers, of the state of Washington; Benjamin H., our subject; Dick, who is residing in German township; and Ollie, who became the wife of Dick Grolm of Lyon county, Iowa. The father passed away in 1900 and was buried in German township. The mother is still living, however, and makes her home with her son Henry, who resides in this township.

Benjamin H. Meyer passed his boyhood and youth in his native county, in the public schools of which he obtained his education. In the autumn of 1880, he preceded his people to Kossuth county, making his home with a married sister and herding cattle until his parents and the other members of the family arrived the following spring. He remained at home until he had attained his majority and then started out to win a place for himself in the world. For four years thereafter he gave his attention to various activities along the agricultural line, being identified with a threshing crew during the season. He later rented some land which he cultivated until he purchased his present farm, located on section 21. The improvements on this place have been made during the period of his ownership, and it is now numbered among the valuable properties of the community. He has built substantial fences, tiled the fields, and erected a comfortable residence, ample barns and sheds to provide shelter for his stock and grain.

In 1900, Mr. Meyer was married to Miss Tina Jaspers, and to them have been born five children, two of whom died in infancy. The three living are Dick, Tina and Albert.

The family attend the Dutch Reformed church, in which the parents hold membership. Politically Mr. Meyer is a republican and is now serving as school director. He is enterprising and progressive in his methods and is meeting with the success that invariably attends capably and intelligently directed effort.