| Notes |
- COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 299
JACOB S. MEYER, a leading citizen and farmer of Penn township, Centre county, is a representative of one of the oldest and most highly respected families of central Pennsylvania. The first of the family to cross the Atlantic to America is supposed to have borne the name of Henry Meyer, who was a native of Palatinate, Prussia, and arrived here some time between the years 1721 and 1725. The spelling of the name has often been changed, and the Mayers and Moyers of Centre county belong to the same family of which our subject is a member. His father has always spelled the name Moyer, which practice had its origin in rather a peculiar way. While at school, a copy was written by his teacher, in which the name was spelled Moyer, and the pupils told that such was correct. Impressed with the knowledge of their teacher, they have retained the spelling until recent years, when the error was rectified, and the proper spelling adopted by quite a number, including our subject. An extensive genealogy of the Meyer family has been compiled by Hon. Henry Meyer, of Rebersburg, Centre county — a volume which reflects credit upon the author, as it has required 3 years of research and much travel to complete.
On coming to the New World, Henry Meyer located in the southeastern part of Lebanon (then Lancaster county), Penn., near the beautiful spring which forms the source of Mill brook. In his family were four sons and one or two daughters, but nothing is known of the latter. John lived upon the old farm in Lebanon county, where he died December 11, 1786. Jacob left Lebanon county in 1768, and with his family located in that part of Penn township. Centre county, which is now Snyder county, where he died, and he now lies buried in Freeburg, Penn.
Christopher was the great-grandfather of our subject. Michael never married. Christopher Meyer owned a large tract of land near Campbelltown, Lebanon county, where he made his home, and there died August 2, 1810. His children were Henry, John, Michael, Jacob, Christopher, George, Catharine, Christina and Mary. Of this family, Jacob Meyer was the grandfather of our subject. He was born March 25, 1774, and on reaching manhood married Anna Sheller, who was born in Lancaster county, December 25, 1775, and was a daughter of Adam Sheller. Eight children graced their union, namely: Elizabeth, born February 26, 1801, married Henry Witmer, and died in Centre Hall, Penn., in 1868; Jacob, born August 5, 1802, died September 14, 1867, at Penn Hall; Nancy, born September 14, 1804, married Samuel Kryder, and died September 23, 1886; Catharine, born January 1, 1806, died in Penn township. Centre county, in March, 1894; Mary, born December 7, 1807, married Jacob Fisher, and died in Illinois; Susan, born November 30, 1808, died in Penn township, August 13, 1873; Christopher, born in October, 1812, was a farmer of Penn township, where he died June 2, 1873; and John, the father of our subject, completes the family.
In March, 1828, the grandfather came to Penn township, locating on the pike west of Millheim, and became one of the most substantial farmers of Penn's Valley. On coming to the county he had practically laid aside active business cares, but purchased 270 acres of fine land for the benefit of his children, whom he left in comfortable circumstances. His death occurred September 25, 1853, while his wife died March 25, 1850, and both were interred in the Heckman cemetery. He was a man of fine physique, over six feet in height, of a most kindly disposition, making no enemies, and always sacrificing himself to avoid a quarrel. He was a prominent member of the Penns Creek Church, Reformed and Lutheran, to which he was a liberal contributor, and was a stanch Democrat in politics.
The birth of John Meyer occurred in Annville township, Lebanon county, September 14, 1814, and he was therefore fourteen years of age at the time of his removal with his parents to Centre county. In school he learned very rapidly, and was soon able to read and write both English and German, whilst in mathematics he surpassed most of the scholars who were several years his senior. When a young man he clerked in the store of his brother-in-law, Mr. Witmer, at Aaronsburg, but, aside from this and several terms passed in teaching, his life has been that of a farmer. He taught the Cross Road school, in Gregg township. Centre county, in 1842, when seventy-five pupils were enrolled, some studying German, the others English. Teachers were then required to pass an examination only in reading, writing, orthography and arithmetic, and never but once was he examined in geography. For four terms he engaged in teaching at $17 per month, out of which he had to board himself.
On June 16, 1853, in Penn township, John Meyer was united in marriage with Miss Eleanor Smith, who was born October i, 1827, in what was then Gregg but is now Penn township. Her parents, Francis and Anna (Koons) Smith, were natives of Dauphin county, Penn., but were married in Centre county, and had seven children: John, who died in Smithtown, Penn township; Joseph, who lives in Gregg township; Eleanor, mother of our subject; William, who died in Penn township; Mary, wife of Eli Smith, of Penn township; Robert, who died in Gregg township; and Jacob, formerly a resident of Potter township. Centre county, now deceased. The father of this family died when over eighty years of age, while his wife had passed her eighty-fifth birthday. Both were members of the Evangelical Church, and politically he was a Democrat. By- trade he was both a mason and cooper. To the parents of our subject were born but two children, the other being John F. , who was born December 12, 1856, and died December 16, 1863.
300 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
After his marriage, John Meyer located on the farm where he has since resided, it being the
homestead of his father, who left it to his three sons, John, Jacob and Christopher, while to his daughters he gave money. For many years John operated the place in partnership with Jacob, but on the latter's death purchased the entire amount, to which he has since added the farm of his father-in-law, making a valuable tract of 275 acres. His political support has always been given the Democracy, and he has been called upon to till almost every township office, being assessor for three terms, school director, tax collector, overseer of the poor, supervisor, auditor and clerk of election. On Octobor 23, 1880, he was elected elder of the Salem Reformed Church, of which he has been a prominent member for years, and he not only contributed liberally toward the erection of the house of worship, but boarded the mechanics during its construction at the lowest possible price. Previously to being made elder he served as deacon of the congregation. He is exceptionally well preserved for a man of his age, in full possession of his mental faculty, and as his tastes have always inclined him to reading and study, he is well informed on the current issues and questions of the day.
Upon the farm which is still his home, Jacob S. Meyer, the subject proper of this review, was born April 13, 1854, and in the country schools of the neighborhood he obtained his elementary education, his first teacher being Mary Stephen. After completing his literary course in the academy at Penn Hall, he was licensed to teach, and for one term had charge of the Murray school in Gregg township.
On December 20, 1874, in Aaronsburg, Mr. Meyer was married, by Rev. Cyrus H. Reiter, of the Reformed Church, to Miss Susan C. Bitner, who was born in Potter township. Centre county, September 7, 1854, and was the fourth in order of birth in the family of eight children of Jacob and Catharine (Catherman) Bitner, farming people. The Catherman family was a remarkable one, Mrs. Bitner attending a re-union when the entire family of seventeen were all present, and this being after they had reached adult age.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Meyer: (1) John F., born March 11, 1875, is a very bright and promising young man, a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College, which he entered at the age of fifteen, in September, 1890. He graduated in June, 1894, having taken first honor of his class. He then turned his attention to the profession of teaching, and in September, 1894, was elected principal of the public schools of Alexandria, Huntingdon Co., Penn. In the fall of 1 896 he resigned his position, being elected assistant principal of F. and M. Academy, where he taught one year, but resigned in June, 1897. Not being satisfied with the standard of his profession, he entered Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md., in September, 1897. (2) Harry N., born May 19, 1877, is a successful teacher with a bright future before him. Not being satisfied with what he received in the public schools at home, he entered the Millersville State Normal, Lancaster county, Penn., in September, 1897, in order to fit himself for the profession of teaching. (3) Eleanor B., born September 26, 1879, has inherited a taste for music, possessing great natural talents for the art, which are stimulated to rapid development by the atmosphere of music pervading her father's home. (4) Catherine, born January 18, 1890, and (5) Helen G., born July 20, 1892, are also at home. Being a fine vocalist, Mr. Meyer has engaged in teaching singing during the winter seasons. He is a warm supporter of the Democratic party, and has served as assessor five terms, supervisor and school director. In the Salem Reformed Church, in which he and his wife hold membership, he is at present secretary of the Consistory, and leader of the choir; is very active in all Church work, and in fact gives his earnest support to all worthy objects which are for the benefit of the community. A great reader, he is well posted on all the questions of the day, and does all in his power to advance the educational interests of the township by elevating the standard of its schools.
[5]
- 1860 census
Name: John Moyer
Age: 46
Birth Year: abt 1814
Gender: Male
Home in 1860: Penn, Centre, Pennsylvania
Post Office: Millheim
Dwelling Number: 883
Family Number: 905
Occupation: Farmer
Real Estate Value: 9000
Personal Estate Value: 1000
Household Members:
Name Age
Jacob Moyer 60
Catharine Moyer 50
Susana Moyer 40
John Moyer 46
Ellen Moyer 33
Jacob Moyer 6
John F Moyer 4
Benj Dunkle 21
Mary Brion 18
Peg Mark 54 [6]
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1854 - 1917 (62 years)
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