The name of Meyer is recognized as a synonym for high character and
marked business enterprise in Carlinville and Macoupin county. For seven
years Franklin Meyer has engaged in the music business in this city and
Meyer’s Music House is one of the most popular establishments in this
section of the state. Mr. Meyer is a native son of Illinois, born at
Belleville, July 21, 1852. His parents were Jacob and Josephine (Glatz)
Meyer. They were born in Baden, Germany, and lived near Muenstenthal.
They came to xMnerica in 1845 and Mr. Meyer engaged in farming near
Belleville. He died in 1854, when his son Franklin was about two years
old. Mrs. Meyer survived her husband many years and died near
Damiansville, Clinton county, at the age of eighty-six. She and her
husband were devout members of the Catholic church. They were the
parents of two children, the subject of this review being the only
survivor of the family.
Franklin Meyer was reared on the farm
near Damiansville and in the district schools secured his preliminary
education. He took private lessons and later attended Christian
Brothers’ College at St. Louis. After completing a course of study at
that well known institution he taught school and also pursued his
studies further at Normal, Illinois. In 1872 he took charge of the
parochial schools at Breese, Clinton county, a position which he
occupied to the entire satisfaction of patrons for eight years. He came
to Carlinville in 1880 and took charge of St. Joseph’s Parochial School,
being principal of this school until June, 1902, a period of nearly
twenty-three years. He then resigned on account of impaired health,
having displayed an ability as an instructor and school manager that
gained for him a wide reputation throughout the state. He traveled for
one year for a St. Louis music house and in 1904 associated with C. L.
Hamilton in the music business at Carlinville under the title of
Hamilton & Meyer. On April 24, 1905, he purchased Mr. Hamilton’s
interest and has continued the business alone under the name of Meyer’s
Music House. He maintains a general music store and handles all kinds of
musical instruments and musical goods at prices consistent with the
quality of merchandise offered.
On the 16th of April, 1872, Mr.
Meyer was married to Miss Henrietta Miller, a daughter of Colonel
Burchard and Agnes (Hafkenmeyer) Miller. Mrs. Meyer was born at Houston,
Texas. Her parents were natives of Germany and both died in Texas before
the Civil war. After the death of the mother the daughter Henrietta came
to St. Louis and lived with an uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Gerhardt
Droege. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Meyer: Eulalia, who
died when she was sixteen years of age; Frank, who died at the age of
eighteen months; Henrietta, who married Joseph Scholl, of Carlinville,
and is the mother of four children, Marsolette, Rosa Mary, Hubert and
Stanley; Rosa, who is a Sister of Mercy and is identified with the
Franciscan Order at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, Illinois; and
Alexander, who assists his father in business. He married Rosa Peek, of
Breese, Illinois, and they are the parents of two children, Raymond and
Mary Magdalene.
Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are both earnest members of
the Catholic church. Mrs. Meyer is a highly talented musician and was
organist of St. Dominic’s church at Breese while her husband was in
charge there. She has for twenty-seven years past been organist of St.
Joseph’s church at Carlinville. Mr. Meyer, as is indicated by the work
he has accomplished, is a man of great industry and perseverance. He has
made it a principle of his life to do to the best of his ability
whatever he undertakes, and as he is thoroughly conscientious, he has
won a high place in the esteem of the people of Carlinville. As a
teacher he made many personal sacrifices in behalf of his pupils, his
chief reward being the approval of his conscience. It is scarcely
necessary to say that he is revered by hundreds of young men and women
who were inspired to noble lives by his unselfish labors.
Extracted 14 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 261-262.
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