William H. Meyer, a prominent farmer and a very
successful raiser of fine stock, owns and occupies a well cultivated and
improved farm of 293 acres situated in sections 22 and 23, Cahokia township,
Macoupin County. Mr. Meyer was born in Westphalia, Germany, December 31,
1853, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Lafman) Meyer.
The father of
our subject was born in Westphalia where he grew to manhood and served three
years in the German Army. He married Mary Lafman and in 1858 came to America
and located first in Morgan County, in 1864 coming to Macoupin County, where
he died in 1874, aged 51 years. He was an honest, upright man and was
respected by all who knew him. His widow survived until 1883, dying at the
age of 73 years. Both parents were consistent members of the Lutheran
Church. In politics Henry Meyer, was a Democrat. The seven children born to
Henry and Mary (Lafman) Meyer were: Frank, who died in Germany; August, a
retired farmer of Sangamon County, Illinois; Mrs. Mary Waltman, a widow, of
Morgan County, Illinois; Mrs. Minnie Niehaus, deceased, of Morgan County,
Illinois; Mrs. Lottie Sathoff, deceased, of Montgomery County, Illinois;
Henry, a farmer and stockman of Oregon; and William H.
William H.
Meyer was four years of age when his parents came to America and can
scarcely recall what must have been a long and tiresome voyage. He resided
with the family near Jacksonville, in Morgan County, until 1864, when his
father removed to what is now our subject's farm, which has been his home
ever since. Mr. Meyer is a very practical man and exercises most excellent
judgment in his management of the large estate. He grows the grains which he
has found best adapted to his land and pays great attention to the raising
of high grade stock, being interested only in the best. He has herds of
Durham cattle which compare favorably with any in the county, and raises
also fine Cotswold sheep and Poland-China hogs. On account of a number of
magnificent oaks on the place, it is locally known as "Oak Grove Farm." It
is well situated and abundantly watered and a fine lawn gives a beautiful
getting for a handsome residence and the two great barns which testify to
the abundance of the crops. An excellent orchard of four acres provides all
the apples, peaches and plums the family can use. All these improvements and
many others have been made by Mr. Meyer and he is in the enjoyment of one of
the best homes of his section of the county.
On June 12, 1879, Mr.
Meyer was married to Minnie Gehner, who was born in Washington, Missouri,
October 25, 1860, and is a daughter of Casper and Minnie (Shultz) Gehner,
both natives of Germany. Nine children have been born to them: Mrs. Lottie
Grosenhider of Montgomery County; and August, Minnie, William, Emma, Lydia,
Lena, Annie and Ella, who live at home. In politics Mr. Meyer is a
Republican. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 390-391.
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