August Meyer
Enterprise and thrift have been prominent characteristics in the career of August Meyer, the neat and orderly appearance of his farm in Soldier township indicating that his reputation as a first-class farmer is well deserved.
His birth occurred in Du Page county, Illinois, November 3, 1867, a son of Adolph and Katrina (Vogelpohl) Meyer, both of whom were born in Gennany. The father came to America prior to the Civil war and lived in Illinois, Missouri and Kansas, then again taking up his residence in Illinois, where he was married. In 1876 they settled on a farm which Mr. Meyer had previously purchased in Charter Oak township, Crawford county, and here he continued during the remainder of his life. He died in 1907, his wife passing away in 1900.
By their union seven children were born, five boys and two girls, namely: Minnie, now the wife of Otto Stegemann, of Crawford county; August, of this review; William, also of Crawford county; Dora, who is now Mrs. Henry Neddermeyer, of Crawford county; Adolph, of Crawford county; Henry, who died at the age of twenty; and Edward, who is also living in this county.
August Meyer received his education in the public schools and remained with his parents until 1895, when he took charge of one of his father's farms which he now owns. He has prospered in his work and as opportunity presented purchased more land until he has accumulated four hundred acres. His farm is located on section 26, Soldier township, and is under an excellent state of cultivation, the neat and attractive appearance of the place indicating that its owner is a first-class farmer and is acquainted with the most progressive methods.
He engages extensively as a stock-raiser and feeder and is a fancier of polled Angus cattle, being the owner of some of the best specimens of this breed that are to be seen in the county. Mr. Meyer is a director of the German Savings Bank at Ricketts, Iowa, and is also serving as secretary of the Crawford County Mutual Telephone Company.
On the 8th of March, 1895, Mr. Meyer was united in marriage to Miss Dora Hammann, who was born in Crawford county, April 19, 1876, a daughter of Carl and Therese (Seils) Hammann. Her parents were both born in Germany and came to America in the '70s. They were married in Iowa and later Mr. Hammann purchased a farm in Hanover township, Crawford county, where he lived for a number of years, when he retired and resided in Dow City and later in Charter Oak. He subsequently sold his place and now lives near Baltimore, Maryland, having reached the age of sixty-six years.
Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have become the parents of seven children, namely: Anna, born April 20, 1898; Ida, April 25, 1900; Dora, November 27, 1901; Henry, January 12, 1903; Martha, February 23, 1906; Minnie, August 5, 1908; and Herman, April 28, 1910.
Mr. Meyer and his family are members of the German Lutheran church, and he is an earnest worker for all movements seeking to promote the welfare of the community. Politically he gives his support to the democratic party and is now serving as township clerk, having filled the office to the general satisfaction of the people for five terms consecutively. He is interested in the cause of education and also in the promotion of good roads and efficiency in all departments of township, county and state government. By reason of his many good qualities, Mr. Meyer is greatly respected by his neighbors and acquaintances, and the valuable property he has acquired is evidence of his sound business ability.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.