George Meyer (1860 - 1930)
Here is an extract about my great-grandfather, George Meyer, taken from an Audubon County (Iowa) Book, date unfortunately unknown, but I estimate it to be from around 1910:
George J. Meyer first came to this county (Audubon) in 1885. He was born January 17, 1860, at Rock Island County, Illinois, the son of John J. (sic) and Magdalena (Barnholdt) Meyer, who are natives of Holstein, Germany and were married in their native land (sic?) and came to this country about 1854. They landed in New York and journeyed to Chicago, where they lived for a time. From Chicago they moved to Moline in Rock Island County, Illinois, and here John J. lived until his death. The mother (Magdalena) then moved to Des Moines.
George J. Meyer attended the common schools in Illinois until 15 years of age, being unable to obtain a thorough education. At age 21, he started in life for himself, working out for a time by the month. Later he rented the home farm (in Illinois) and operated that until 1891, when he came to Audubon County, where he purchased 120 acres of land in section 9, Audubon Township. This farm was only slightly improved, and Mr. Meyer has since erected a large house, barn, cribs and other buildings, making it one of the most highly-improved farms of the township.
He was married February 10, 1885 to Anna Jacobsen, who was born in Schleswig, Germany on April 10, 1862, the daughter of Carl and Ida (Volck) Jacobsen, natives of Germany and born near Kiel. They, after coming to the United States, first lived in Rock Island County, Illinois, and in 1885 moved to Audubon County, Iowa.
Mr. Meyer and his wife, Anna, returned to Illinois after their marriage and lived there until 1891. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Meyer. Three died of diphtheria in an epidemic in 1892.
George is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Brotherhood of America. He is considered prominent in the fraternal circles in this vicinity. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are also members of the Eastern Star, the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Masonic Lodge. They were baptized in the Lutheran Church, of which their parents were members. Their children are members of the Audubon Township Christian Church, and Mr. Meyer was one of the substantial contributors to the fund raised in connection with the organization of this church. George was one of the leading organizers of the Audubon Township Creamery Co., of which he has been Treasurer for more than 12 years. Mr. Meyer is a prominent citizen, is a man of strong convictions, and being aggressive in his attitude, is a natural leader of men.
The three children that died in the 1892 diphtheria epidemic were:
Meyer, Charles H.--born September 30, 1886, died October 30, 1892
Meyer, George Jacob Jr.--born 1888, died October 24, 1892
Meyer, Nora M.--born August 31, 1890, died October 27, 1892
Walter and the father also had the disease but recovered. John was a baby still nursing and that is thought the reason he did not get the disease, nor did the mother. (Lucky for the existence of me! - CM)
The other seven children are listed below:
Meyer, Walter Robert--born March 10, 1887, died October 29, 1974
Meyer, John Jacob--born June 1, 1892, died December 15, 1966
Meyer, Nellie May--born December 25, 1894, died December 8, 1980
Meyer, Ida Ruth--born September 12, 1896, died April 12, 1983
Meyer, Robert Rudolph--born May 13, 1899, died July 5, 1958
Meyer, Madge Katherine--born March 10, 1901, died February 7, 1985
Meyer, Earl Russell--born June 21, 1904, died September 5, 1984
My grandfather was John Jacob Meyer.
George J. Meyer died on June 18, 1930 at Exira, Iowa at the age of 70.
George J. Meyer first came to this county (Audubon) in 1885. He was born January 17, 1860, at Rock Island County, Illinois, the son of John J. (sic) and Magdalena (Barnholdt) Meyer, who are natives of Holstein, Germany and were married in their native land (sic?) and came to this country about 1854. They landed in New York and journeyed to Chicago, where they lived for a time. From Chicago they moved to Moline in Rock Island County, Illinois, and here John J. lived until his death. The mother (Magdalena) then moved to Des Moines.
George J. Meyer attended the common schools in Illinois until 15 years of age, being unable to obtain a thorough education. At age 21, he started in life for himself, working out for a time by the month. Later he rented the home farm (in Illinois) and operated that until 1891, when he came to Audubon County, where he purchased 120 acres of land in section 9, Audubon Township. This farm was only slightly improved, and Mr. Meyer has since erected a large house, barn, cribs and other buildings, making it one of the most highly-improved farms of the township.
He was married February 10, 1885 to Anna Jacobsen, who was born in Schleswig, Germany on April 10, 1862, the daughter of Carl and Ida (Volck) Jacobsen, natives of Germany and born near Kiel. They, after coming to the United States, first lived in Rock Island County, Illinois, and in 1885 moved to Audubon County, Iowa.
Mr. Meyer and his wife, Anna, returned to Illinois after their marriage and lived there until 1891. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Meyer. Three died of diphtheria in an epidemic in 1892.
George is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Brotherhood of America. He is considered prominent in the fraternal circles in this vicinity. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are also members of the Eastern Star, the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Masonic Lodge. They were baptized in the Lutheran Church, of which their parents were members. Their children are members of the Audubon Township Christian Church, and Mr. Meyer was one of the substantial contributors to the fund raised in connection with the organization of this church. George was one of the leading organizers of the Audubon Township Creamery Co., of which he has been Treasurer for more than 12 years. Mr. Meyer is a prominent citizen, is a man of strong convictions, and being aggressive in his attitude, is a natural leader of men.
The three children that died in the 1892 diphtheria epidemic were:
Meyer, Charles H.--born September 30, 1886, died October 30, 1892
Meyer, George Jacob Jr.--born 1888, died October 24, 1892
Meyer, Nora M.--born August 31, 1890, died October 27, 1892
Walter and the father also had the disease but recovered. John was a baby still nursing and that is thought the reason he did not get the disease, nor did the mother. (Lucky for the existence of me! - CM)
The other seven children are listed below:
Meyer, Walter Robert--born March 10, 1887, died October 29, 1974
Meyer, John Jacob--born June 1, 1892, died December 15, 1966
Meyer, Nellie May--born December 25, 1894, died December 8, 1980
Meyer, Ida Ruth--born September 12, 1896, died April 12, 1983
Meyer, Robert Rudolph--born May 13, 1899, died July 5, 1958
Meyer, Madge Katherine--born March 10, 1901, died February 7, 1985
Meyer, Earl Russell--born June 21, 1904, died September 5, 1984
My grandfather was John Jacob Meyer.
George J. Meyer died on June 18, 1930 at Exira, Iowa at the age of 70.
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