Biography - FRANKLIN MEYER

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.