Charles Meyer, 1859

Posted4U@Charter.net on Sun, 11 Feb 2001

Surname: MEYER, SWITZER

Source: 1918 History of Clark Co., WI, by Franklyn, Curtiss-Wedge

CHARLES MEYER, a well-known and successful farmer of York Township, was born in Jefferson County, Wis., Jan. 12, 1859, son of George and Mary (Switzer) Meyer. The father was a native of Bavaria, who came to America with his mother, brother and sister. They settled in Jefferson County, Wis., in 1851, where Mr. Meyer bought eighty acres of wild land on which a log shanty was standing. With a team of oxen he set to work to clear the land, and about three months later married Mary Switzer, whose father was a cabinet-maker in Germany, where he died. Mary had come over on the same ship with George, it being a sailing vessel; the voyage lasted six weeks. They had come to this country to get married, there being a law in Germany at that time which prevented the marriage of people who could not show ownership of a certain amount of property, enough to enable them to support a family. After marriage they settled in Jefferson County, where they reared six children-John, George, Joe, Charles, Theresa and Mary.

Charles Meyer grew to manhood on the farm in Jefferson County, attending both English and German schools until he was about 15 years old, though his attendance was somewhat intermittent, as he had to make himself useful to his parents. After laying aside his school books he worked on the home farm for three years, subsequently being employed for one year in a wagon shop. Then for two years he worked on farms in that locality until the age of 21 years. He then went to Colorado, prospecting and working in the mines about twenty-five miles from Bueno Vista. After remaining there three years, he returned to Jefferson County, where he stayed one year, and then came to Clark County with his brother, George. Here they bought eighty acres of wild land and built a log house in which they lived for two years. At the end of that time Charles Meyer put up a frame house for himself, and a year later his brother sold his forty acres and went to Oregon. Charles remained in Clark County and cleared his forty acres. Later, he purchased the house that Mr. Heine, the sawmill proprietor, had used for a boarding house, and this he moved onto his place and united it with his old house so as to make a dwelling of seven rooms. He then built a barn 34 by 54 feet in size.

Three years after coming to Clark County, Mr. Meyer was married to Annie Shakhnan. Her father was formerly postmaster of the Heinetown post office, Mr. Meyer working as his assistant. Since his marriage, Mr. Meyer has continued to improve his place and now has a good farm, raising Holstein cattle and other stock with profitable results. He has served as school director two years and eight years as treasurer. In religion he is a Catholic. He and his wife have eight children-Leo, Matilda, Alvin, Albert, George, Elizabeth and Judith.