Edward Meyer
The name of Meyer is well known in Crawford county, representing as it does remarkable success in farming and unquestioned financial integrity. The founder of the family here has passed to his reward, but Edward Meyer of this review is a worthy representative as is clearly shown by the record he has made although he is still a young man and is just fairly started in his chosen vocation.
He was born on the farm where he now lives on section 3, Charter Oak township, November 27, 1883, a son of Adolph and Katrina (Vogelpohl) Meyer, both of whom were natives of Hanover, Germany. They came to America when young and were married in Cook county, Illinois, where Mr. Meyer engaged in farming for eleven years after his marriage. He then came to Crawford county, Iowa, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. He was a remarkably clear-minded business man and was highly successful, becoming one of the leading farmers of the county. He added to his possessions until he owned seventeen hundred acres. He passed away June 3, 1907, after having met with a measure of success accorded to few men starting out in limited circumstances.
There were seven children in his family, namely: Minnie, now the wife of Otto Stegemann; August; William; Dora, the wife of Henry Weddenmeyer; Adolph; Henry, who died at the age of eighteen years; and Edward, our subject. All of the family now living make their home in Crawford county.
Edward Meyer was educated in the district schools and continued at home, assisting in cultivating the farm until after the death of his father. Upon the division of the estate he came into possession of his interest in the homestead and is now the owner of seven hundred and twenty-three acres, his place being known as one of the most highly improved farms in that part of the county. He is an extensive stock-feeder and by good management is meeting with a handsome recompense for time and labor employed. He makes a specialty of high grade Angus cattle and Poland China hogs, which he fattens for market.
On the 26th of October, 1904, Mr. Meyer was united in marriage to Miss Emma Maas, woo was born in Crawford county, February 15, 1886, a daughter of Charley and Christina (Krueger) Maas. The parents were born in Germany and came to America in 1874, spending the first six years after their arrival in Chicago. They then settled in Crawford county, Iowa, where the father engaged in farming. The mother died in 1906, but the father is still living on the family homestead and is now sixty-four years of age. Their family included thirteen children, of whom the following are now living and make their homes in Crawford county: William, Martha, Gusta, Elizabeth, Herman, Emma, Alvena and Max.
Four children came to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Meyer; Edwin, who was born March 26, 1905; Willie, born April 23, 1907; Louis, born June 27, 1909; and Elmer, born November 2, 1910.
Mr. Meyer and his wife are identified with the Lutheran church and are in full sympathy with all worthy enterprises seeking to promote the general welfare. He has possessed every desirable advantage of training, early having become acquainted with the practical details of agriculture and stock-raising, and has few superiors of his age in those lines. Although he is in charge of a large farm which involves many responsibilities he perforrns his duties promptly and efficiently and has acquitted himself in a way that gives assurance of still greater success in years to come.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.