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- COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Page 530
WILLIAM H. MEYER, the leading merchant of Coburn, Centre county, is a representative of a prominent and well known family of central Pennsylvania, who trace their ancestry back to a gentleman of German birth who came to the New World at an early day in its history. His fourth son, Christopher Meyer, was born in Muhlbach, Lancaster Co., Penn., in 1744, from which place he removed to Campbelltown, Lebanon county, this State, where he owned a large tract of land. There his death occurred August 2, 1801. He wedded Anna Maria Schaeffer, who was born in Heidelberg township, Lancaster county, February 19, 1744, a daughter of Alexander Schaeffer, who came from Palatinate, Prussia, to the United States in 1740. She died January 1, 1823. In their family were nine children, namely: Henry, John, Michael, Jacob, Christopher, George, Catharine, Christina and Mary.
George Meyer was the first of the family to come to Haines township, Centre county. He was born in Campbelltown, March 25, 1782, and in 1827 came to Centre county, buying a farm and millsite on Pine creek, where he erected a mill. He was a giant in strength, yet inferior to his brothers, Henry, John and Michael. He married Catharine Meyer, who was born December 2, 1788, a daughter of John Jacob Meyer, and died March 13, 1858. He passed away January 1, 1854, and was buried with his wife at Aaronsburg, Centre county. Their family constituted the following children: George, born January 13, 1806, was the grandfather of our subject; John, a farmer by occupation, died in Penn's Valley, January 28, 1878; Catharine married Andrew Harter, and died in Penn's Valley, October 3, 1S72; Henry died in Haines township. Centre county, March 9, 1877; Mary wedded Andrew Stover, and lives in Penn's Valley; Philip died in Haines township, June 25, 1876; and Jacob G., a resident of Aaronsburg, at one time represented his district in the State Legislature.
The grandfather of our subject was reared upon a farm, and was married in Haines township to Miss Lydia Harter, who was there born May 16, 1807, a daughter of Andrew Harter, and they became the parents of six children: George J. is the father of our subject; Julia A., born December 20, 1831, is the wife of John Weaver, of Penn township, Centre county; Maria, born January 26, 1837, is the wife of Jacob Ketner, of Haines township; Samuel, born July 13, 1839, was a miller by trade, and died in Millheim, Centre county; Sarah, born April 12, 1842, is the widow of Daniel Miller, of Haines township; and Andrew, born January 17, 1848, is a miller of the same township. The father of these children taught two terms of school after his marriage. He began housekeeping upon a rented farm in Haines township, and to agricultural pursuits mainly devoted his attention until his death at the age of forty-seven years. He was never a robust man, and catching cold, it developed into consumption, which caused his death. Politically he was a Democrat, and religiously he was a member of the German Re- formed Church. His wife survived him only about two and one-half years.
George J. Meyer, the father of our subject, was born in Haines township, January 17, 1830, and acquired his education in the primitive school of early times. At the age of eighteen he began learning the miller's trade with his uncle, John Meyer, of Pine Creek, serving a two-years' apprenticeship, during which time he received $60 for his services. He then worked as a journeyman at the Pine Creek Mill for one year, and then returned and conducted it on his own account for the same length of time. Removing to Lewis township, Union county, Penn., he operated a rented mill there for a time, and later worked for the owner. On leaving his employ he conducted a rented mill in Haines township. Centre county, for eight years, after which he removed to Penn township, where his family resided, while he was at Oil City, Penn., a part of one summer. For a period of two years and a half he then engaged in farming, later operated a grist and saw mill at Pine Creek eleven years, and for nine years was in the milling business at Linden Hall, Centre county. In the spring of 1889 he came to Coburn, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits for a time, but later sold out to his son William, and is now living a retired life, making his home with his children. He is a highly respected and honored citizen, an earnest supporter of Democratic principles, and a faithful member of the Reformed Church.
In Haines township, in June, in 1852, George J. Meyer was wedded to Miss Mary S. Arbogast, who was born in 1832, in Freeburg, Snyder Co., Penn. (then Union county), a daughter of Jacob Arbogast, a potter by trade. Six children bless this union: Emma J., wife of Nicodemus Lose, of Haines township; Agnes, wife of Daniel Krader, of Gregg township. Centre county; William H., whose name introduces this sketch; Austin E., a miller of Linden Hall; Thomas F., a merchant of Coburn; and Temmie E. . wife of John H. Rishel, a merchant of Farmers Mills, Penn. The mother was called to her final rest March 26, 1894, and her remains were interred in the cemetery of Aaronsburg. Like her husband, she was an earnest member of the Reformed Church.
In Hartle township. Union county, William H. Meyer was born July 31, 1855, whence, when a child, he was brought by his parents to Woodward, Centre county, of which county he has since been a resident. He was educated in its common schools, first attending school at Woodward, where his teacher was "Old Hill." At the age of fifteen he began learning the miller's trade with his father at Pine Creek, and later worked at that business in various places in Centre county, and also at York, Penn. , for a time. In 1890 he embarked in merchandising at Coburn, first occupying a building opposite the depot, and later succeeded E. L. Auman in business at his present stand. He had never stood behind a counter previous to starting in business for himself, but seemed naturally adapted to the pursuit, and has met with a wel'- deserved success, having now one of the leading general stores in Penn's Valley, and by far the most complete one in Coburn.
At the age of nineteen Mr. Meyer was married in Bellefonte to Miss Hulda Lee, a native of Tusseyville, Penn., and a daughter of Robert Lee, a farmer. They have one child, Verna, born in November, 1875. The parents are both consistent members of the Reformed Church, while in politics Mr. Meyer is a stalwart Democrat, and fraternally is a member of Blanchard Lodge, I. O. O. F. , of Eagleville, Penn. He is a prosperous, obliging merchant, one who has made his own way in the world, and deserves no little credit for the wonderful success he has achieved. As a business man he enjoys the confidence of a wide circle of patrons, and he and his wife hold an equally high position in social circles. [1]
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1855 - 1919 (63 years)
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