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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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John F. Meyer There is no better man nor truer gentleman in all the great County of Jasper than John F. Meyer, the subject of this brief review. Quiet and unassuming, he has the respect of his fellow men wherever he is known and his acquaintance is as broad as the County. Then, too, he is a product of the County, having been born in Palo Alto Township, November 17, 1861, being the son of John Meyer, Sr., and Louisa (Klopping) Meyer, both of whom were natives of Germany. Mr. Meyer's father was a Prussian and came here when but fourteen years of age, coming in an old sailing vessel and being eight weeks on the way. His mother was sixteen When she came over, being eleven weeks on the way. Upon landing in New York, the father stayed there two years, working at whatever he could find to do and having a very up-hill time of it, as he could not speak a word of English when he landed. In 1857 he came to Newton, Iowa, then but a small settlement of log huts, and worked at odd jobs until the summer of 1861, when he enlisted in the Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, serving all through the war. He was under both Grant and Sherman and participated in nearly all the principal battles of the war, serving with signal bravery. Among the many engagements in which he took part were Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, assault on and siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Mississippi, Winchester, where Sheridan made his famous ride, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek and Shiloh Twice he was wounded, once in the thigh, at the battle of Shiloh, and once in the back, escaping death from the last wound only because the ball struck a knapsack which contained writing paper. Upon one occasion he narrowly escaped capture, three of his companions being captured. He was honorably discharged at Savannah, Georgia, July 25, 1865, as fifth sergeant of his company. After the close of the war he returned to Newton and settled upon eighty acres of land which he continued to farm until 1890, when he retired and moved to Newton, at which place he died February 28, 1906, at the age of seventy-two. Mr. Meyer's mother is still living in Newton. On February 24, 1896, the subject of this sketch was married to Mary E. DeHaven, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Russell) DeHaven, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Meyer is one of twelve children, ten of whom are living as follows: Lewis F., the subject of this review; Frederick, a mail carrier residing in Carroll County, Iowa; Lena Scheel, wife of Fred Scheel, Stuttgart, Arkansas, a farmer of that vicinity; Anna Lorimer, wife of John Lorimer, a merchant, resides in Newton; George, superintendent of Jasper County water works plant; Henry, a farmer near Newton; Ella Carson, wife of Hans Carson, a farmer in Carroll County, Iowa; Louie, a drayman in Newton; Valeria Couch, wife of Bert Couch, lives in Camera, Iowa; Elizabeth Frith, wife of John Frith, who works for the Newton Lumber Company. To Mr. and Mrs. Meyer has been born one child, a daughter, born June 2, 1888, who is the wife of William Howard, a hotel man at Denver, Colorado. Mr. Meyer began working for himself when twenty-one years old at farming and stock raising and has continued at this business ever since, making a specialty of thoroughbred Poland China hogs and good horses. He is at this writing serving as trustee of Palo Alto Township and has been director of the district schools. He is a Republican and has at all times taken an active interest in politics. He is also a member of Central Lodge No. 73 Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having taken the subordinate and encampment degrees. Mrs. Meyer is a member of the Rebekahs at Newton and is a most excellent woman. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. 840. |
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