Henry Meyer, whose home is in Elkader, is a well known and leading citizen, who at the present time occupies the position of Cashier of the First National Bank. A native of the Empire State, he was born August 3, 1854, and passed his boyhood until his sixth year in New York City.

Herman Meyer, the father of the subject of this record, was born in Hanover, Germany and in 1848 set sail for America. On his arrival he located in New York City, where he continued to reside until death, June 27, 1885. Our subject's mother, who was before her marriage Elizabeth Schwartz, was, like her husband, born in Leeste, Hanover, September 27, 1832, and now resides with her son at Elkader.

Henry Meyer in 1860 went with his grandmother to Germany, where he lived until fourteen years of age, in the meantime receiving a good education in the schools of the Fatherland. In 1868 he once more crossed the Atlantic and in New York City began his active business life as an errand boy for Fred A. Lane, with whom he was employed for about two years. In 1872 he became acquainted with Hon. E.H. Williams, who was at that time President of the Iowa Eastern Railroad, and acting upon his suggestion Mr. Meyer came to Clayton County. He accepted a position in the engineer corps of the Iowa Eastern Railroad and finally became clerk for W.D. Crook.

In 1877, after five years of faithful service with the company, our subject was made Superintendent of the road between Beulah and Elkader, and as such acted for five years. July 18, 1883, he accepted the position of Cashier of the First National Bank of Elkader, which position he has held for eleven years, discharging the duties pertaining thereto with efficiency and promptness. The President of this well known banking insitution is ex-Gov. William Larabee, of Fayette County.

In January, 1889, Henry Meyer was made Secretary of the Clayton County Farmers' Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Company, organized by E. Corlett, February 15, 1870, of which S.H.F. Schoulte is President and John H. Welch Vice-President. Mr. Meyer is connected with several secret societies of Elkader, being Worthy Master of Elkader Lodge No. 72, A.F.&A.M.; he is also a member of Harmony Chapter No. 44, R.A.M., and Honorious Commandery No. 8, K.T. In politics he votes in favor of Republican nominees, and is now for the second time Chairman of the Fourth Congressional District.

October 31, 1877, our subject married Miss Lucy S. Appleman, who passed her girlhood in Fayette County, Iowa, and there received her education. Her father, Gustavus Appleman, was born in the Nutmeg State and was one of the early settlers of Fayette County. Mrs. Lucy Meyer was called from this life March 25, 1889, leaving one son and two daughters, Amie E., Frank A. and Lucy.

Mr. Meyer married his present wife, formerly Miss Mineerva Leach, April 19, 1892. John M. Leach, the father of Mrs. Meyer, settled at an early day in this county, from where he enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Iowa Volunteers, and was County Auditor for two terms. At the time of his death, September 29, 1893, he was Postmaster at Elkader. Our subject bears an enviable reputation for uprightness and sterling worth, and has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances who hold him in favorable regard.

~source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties; Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894; pg 418-421
-transcribed by Sandi Coobs