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1907 Past and Present Biographies

Frederick J . Meyer

Frederick J. Meyer is the owner of an excellent tract of land of eighty acres on section 7, Dawson township, and all that he now possesses has been acquired through his own labors, for he started out in life empty-handed. He is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Cook county on the 15th of May, 1856. His father, Henry Meyer, was born in Germany, and having arrived at years of maturity, he was there married to Miss Mary Bresher, also a native of that country. Becoming convinced that better opportunities were offered in the new world than could be secured in the European countries, he made preparations for crossing the Atlantic, and with his family took up his abode in Cook county, Illinois, where he turned his attention to farming. There he carried on the business up to the time of his death, which occurred a few years ago. His widow still survives, and for two years she inade her home with her sons Frederick and Philip in Dawson township. In the spring of 1907 she went to Chicago, where she is now living with a son-in-law.

Frederick J. Meyer was reared on the home farm in Cook county and in his boyhood attended the public schools near his family home. After he had reached adult age he worked at farm labor in Ida county, Iowa, for a short period and afterward returned to Illinois and for two years followed the carpenter’s trade. On the expiration of that period he came to Greene county, where he has since lived. About eighteen years ago he purchased eighty acres of prairie land on section 7, Dawson township, where he has since made his home. His farm is now well improved, with all the equipments and accessories to a model farm, and he carries on general agricultural pursuits with good results. All that he possesses he has made by hard work. He never had a dollar given him and by a life of thrift and diligence he has become the owner of the valuable property that returns to him a good financial income.

In 1887, in Cook county, Mr. Meyer was married to Miss Annie Walter, a native of Germany, who was taken to Illinois by her parents during her infancy. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have been born a family of five children, four daughters and a son, namely: Minnie, Clara, Lizzie, Eddie and Edna. The parents are members of the Lutheran church and are much respected throughout the community, their many excellent traits of character having won for them a large number of friends. Mr. Meyer is a republican in his political views and for a number of years he served as school director, doing effective work in behalf of the cause of education. He has always been interested in the welfare of the community and his labors have been of direct benefit in promoting public progress.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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