The Meyer Families of Allamakee County, Iowa

AUGUST H. MEYER.

August H. Meyer, who for many years has been influentially associated with farming and stock-raising interests in the vicinity of Postville, owning today a fine farm of two hundred and twenty-six acres, is a native of Iowa, born in Clayton county, September 2, 1860. He is a son of Henry and Dora (Kluss) Meyer, both of whom were born in Mecklenburg, Germany, the former February 14, 1824, and the latter January 16 of the same year. The father worked as a farm laborer in early years, crossing the Atlantic about the year 1854. He located in Clayton county, Iowa, and purchased land near Giittenberg. which, however, he later sold, removing to Post township, Allamakee county. Ke afterward made his home in Grand Meadow township, Clayton county, where he resided upon rented land until his death in February, 1886. His v/ife survives hmi and makes her home in F'ost township. To them were born two children: Lena, who married Charles Thies, of Clayton county; and August H., of this review.

In the acquirement of an education August H. Meyer attended district school in Clayton county and the public schools of Guttenberg and from his childhood aided in the operation of the homestead, becoming familiar with the best agricultural methods. When he was twenty-one he hired out as a farm hand, continuing thus for four years, after which he rented land in Clayton county, one mile south of Postville. Afterward, however, he removed to Allamakee county, buying the farm he now owns, and since that time he has given practically all of his attention to its improvement and cultivation until it is now one of the finest agricultural properties in the locality. It comprises two hundred and twenty-six acres of land, under a high state of cultivation, equipped with an excellent barn and substantial outbuildings and with modern labor-saving machinery. Mr. Meyer engaged in general farming and is also extensively interested in stock-raising, keeping over one hundred head of sheep and also cattle, hogs and horses. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Shipping Company and in the Postville Canning Company.

On the 28th of September, 1886, Mr. Meyer was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Krambeer, who was born in Germany on the 6th of April, 1863. a sister of John Krambeer, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have become the parents of five children: Amanda, who was born in 1887, and is now the wife of Henry Kruse, of Monona township. Clayton county; Gustav, a farmer in South Dakota, who was born in 1888, and married Miss Elsie Fisher; Bennie, who was born October 26, 1891; Ervin, born February 21, 1893; and Walter, January 26, 1897.

Mr. Meyer is a member of the Lutheran church at Luana and he gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. He is interested in the growth of the community, especially in the cause of education, which he has aided in promoting through his two terms of service as a director of the school board. His life has been such as to give him high standing in the eyes of the community and he is generally recognized as a man whose long years of active labor in Post township have not only contributed to his own prosperity but have also been of great value to the community at large.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HENRY C. MEYER.

One of the most active, progressive and successful farmers in the vicinity of Postville is Henry C. Meyer, who since 1901 has owned and operated a fine property of one hundred and thirty-eight acres, eighty rods beyond the corporation limits. The land lies partly in Clayton and partly in Allamakee counties and is a well improved and valuable property, reflecting in its neat and attractive appearance the careful supervision and careful methods of the owner.

Mr. Meyer is a native of Iowa, born in Fayette county, November 5, 1878, a son of William and Louisa (Meyer) Meyer, natives of Hanover, Germany. As a young man the father crossed the Atlantic to America and, coming immediately to Iowa, located at Guttenberg, Clayton county, where he worked at farming in the employ of others for some time, later removing to Garnavillo in the same county and then to National. He there married, and afterward farmer as a renter for a number of years, removing eventually to Fayette county and purchasing land. I'pon that farm he still resides and is active in its cultivation, being the owner of one hundred and sixty acres, substantially improved and well equipped. He and his wife had nine children, two of whom died in infancy. The others are: Minnie, who married Fred H. Brandt, a farmer in Clayton county; William A., a farmer near Castalia; Caroline, the wife of John C. Weike, who is engaged in farming in Grand Meadows township, Clayton county; Henry C, of this review; Anna, who married Fred Kuhse. a farmer in Grand Meadows township, Clayton county: Charley, who resides with his parents; and Bertha, who married Charles H. Schroeder, a resident of Fayette county.

In the accuirement of an education Henry C. Meyer attended the old Henderson Prairie school, named in honor of David B. Henderson, who was a jnipil there, and he supplemented this by four months in the German Lutheran school. Until he was twenty-two years of age he remained upon the homestead, assisting his father in its operation, but, March 21, 1901, he purchased land of his own, upon which he has resided since that time. He bought one hundred and thirty-eight acres, eighty rods beyond the corporation limits of Postville. the land lying in Clayton and Allamakee counties, and upon this he has steadily carried forward the work of improvement, erecting modern buildings and installing fine farm machincrv. Success has attended his well directed efforts in the cultivation of his land, for his methods are always practical and modern and, therefore, productive of excellent results. The farm is today one of the finest in this part of the state and its owner is counted among Allamakee county's progressive and substantial agriculturists. He is a stockholder in the Postville Canning Company and in the Cooperative Creamery Company and his business interests are carefully managed and always profitable.

On the 2ist of March, 1901, Mr. Meyer was united in marriage to Miss Piertha Krambeer, who was born in Reed township, Clayton county, December 6, 1881, a daughter of John and Ida (Harnack) Krambeer. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer became the parents of four children: Ethel, who was born January 12, 1902, and who, on the "th of January, 1910, was killed by a train on the railroad crossing near her home; Lawrence, born March 16, 1903; Hilda, born February 17, 1905; and Amy, whose birth occurred on the 21st of November, 1909.

Mr. Meyer is a member of the German Lutheran church and, politically, gives a general allegiance to the democratic party, voting independently, however, when he deems the best interests of the community require such action. He is not active as an office seeker, but is interested in school affairs and is at present acting as secretary of his school district. He is progressive and public-spirited, never withholding his ready and hearty cooperation from movements to promote the general advancement and development and, by his industrious and upright life, has made his name honored and respected in the community where he makes his home.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRED N. MEYER.

Fred N. Meyer, who since 1890 has lived upon his present farm in Allamakee county, where he is numbered among the prominent and representative agriculturists, was born in Germany in 1853. He is a son of Fred and Hanna Meyer, both natives of Germany, where the mother died in 1886. In the following year the father came to.America and settled in Allamakee county, Iowa, where the remainder of his life was spent, his death occurring in 1908.

At the age of thirty Fred N. Meyer left Germany and crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in Allamakee county in 1883, and for two years thereafter he worked as a farm laborer, following this by three years' connection with railreading. In 1888 he again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, working in the employ of others for two years, after which he bought land of his own, the tract which he purchased constituting a portion of his present farm. It was raw and unimproved and he had to clear it of timber before beginning the work of cultivation. This, however, he has steadily carried forward through the years, and adding to his holdings as circumstances justified he owns today two hundred and twenty-two acres of the finest and best improved land in Iowa township. There are excellent buildings upon the property where Mr. Meyer carries on diversified farming, his stock-raising interests being an important source of income to him. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Bank of New Albin, the Farmers Produce Cooperative Company and the Farmers Telephone Company, and his business investments have always been made with discrimination and have therefore resulted profitably.

Mr. Meyer married in 1886 Miss Kate Krukenberg, who was born in Germany and who came to America in 1883. They have become the parents of seven children, Dora, George, Herman, Emma, Minnie, William and Laura, all at home. The family are members of the Lutheran church.

Mr. Meyer is a republican in his political beliefs and has always taken an active interest in public aft'airs, serving in various responsible official positions. He was elected township trustee in 1908 and is now in his third term and he is in addition secretary of the township school board. He is a progressive, reliable and enterprising citizen and is well known and favorably regarded in the community, to the agricultural development of which he has made substantial contributions in the past twenty-five years.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.