REV. JOHN MAYER.
Audubon county has been the home and the scene of labors of many men, who have not only led lives which should serve as a lesson and an inspiration to those who follow them on the stage of life's activities, but who have also rendered important service in the civic and religious life of the community. The honored and highly esteemed Rev. John Mayer, pastor of the Holy Trinity Catholic church at Exira, is a man well rounded in character, sincere, devoted and loyal. He has been pastor of the Holy Trinity church since September 18, 1913, and during the intervening period has gained many warm and ardent friends in this part of Audubon county.
Rev. John Mayer, pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic church, of Exira, Iowa, was born at Goldshoefe, Germany, March 18, 1883, and is a son of Michael and Rosena (Klopfer) Mayer, both of whom were native-born Germans. Michael Mayer was a German farmer and is still living in his native land on a farm of eighty acres, and is engaged in general farming.
Michael and Rosena (Klopfer) Mayer were the parents of eight children, John, George, Joseph, Kasper, Anthony, Michael, Ottilia and Mary. Michael is a soldier in the German army at the present time, and is attached to the German cavalry. Kasper is also a German soldier, and is serving in the infantry. All of the Mayer children are unmarried and are still living at home. Rev. John Mayer is the only member of the family who has come to America.
Rev. John Mayer received his early education in the state parochial school of Hofen, Germany. After leaving the parochial school, he attended the state college of Ewangen for five years, and then returned to his home, after which for four years he worked as a railroad clerk.
In 1905, when the Rev. John Mayer was twenty-two years of age, he came to America and located in New York City with an uncle. Rev. John Mayer, who was pastor of the St. Nicholas church, of that city. Subsequently, the subject of this sketch attended Vincent College at Lathrop, Pennsylvania, for one year, and from Lathrop College he went to the Holy Ghost College, and was graduated from this last institution in 1908. Following his graduation from Holy Ghost College, he entered St. Meinard's College, Indiana, where he remained for one year, after which he entered Mount St. Mary's College, at Emmettsburg, Maryland, where he remained for two years.
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On July 17, 1911, Rev. John Mayer was ordained at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport, Iowa, and subsequently, celebrated his first mass at the Sts. Peter and Paul church, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After this he was appointed assistant pastor at the St. Ambrose church, of Des Moines, Iowa. He remained at Des Moines, however, but a brief time, when he was appointed to the parish at Rosemount, Iowa, where he remained for two years. On September 18, 1913, Rev. John Mayer was assigned to the Holy Trinity parish of Exira, Iowa, which he has served as pastor for nearly two years. He is well versed in several foreign languages, and is a profound student of history. He has enjoyed a large measure of success in the ministry and altogether has made rapid progress in his work. He is not yet thirty-five years of age, and judging from his past work, he bids fair to become one of the leaders in his church in this part of the state.
Rev. Mayer is identified with the Democratic party, but his calling has prevented him from taking an active part in political affairs, although he is deeply interested in all public-spirited movements which have for their object the advancement of his community, and the welfare of his fellow citizens.
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Transcribed from History of Audubon County, Iowa Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by H. F. Andrews, editor, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915, pp. 704-505.
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