| Notes |
- See Section 1, Row 14, #7. Stone says "father". It's next to the stone for Margaret Meyer w/o Henry. The stone that reads "Henry Meyer 1795-1881 on the other side of Margaret's stone is for her step-son, Henry. It is very probable that this stone marked "father" is for Henry, the father of Henry & Jacob, and husband of Margaret. However, there is also a stone for Heinrich Meyer, 15 Oct 1764 -17 May 1820 (in German) farther along in Row 14 at #30. This stone is next to stone for his son, Wilhelm. This leaves the question of who the stone marked "father" is for.
Henry Meyer 1764-1820 is also acknowledged on a cast bronze plate affixed to a marble stone "in memoriam of the Meyer family buried in this plot.
Genealogy of the Meyer Family by Henry Meyer
Henry (son of Jacob, son of Gr. Meyer), my paternal grandfather, was married first to Mary Steese, daughter of Jacob Steese of Penns township, now Snyder County, Pa., and resided with his family near Straubsburg (Freeburg) for several years. Three of the children were born there, Henry Jacob and one — the oldest — which died in infancy. Either in 1797 or 179S the family moved into Brushvalley, Centre County, Pa., upon a tract which had been partially cleared by John Meyer who was married to grandfather's oldest sister Catharine. See page 39. Mary Steese is said to have been a very stout and strong woman and that she had charge while still single, of a grist-mill, an occupation which on account of the rude and inconvenient construction of the mills of that age, required considerable physical strength. She died in August, 1801 of a malignant fever which was- contracted while visiting with her husband her brother Frederick Steese, Snyder County (now) who was low with this fever and which he had contracted while he and his father were in Philadelphia buying goods. (Note. — Their father also took the fever in Philadelphia and died there.)
Grandfather's second wife was Margaret, daughter of John Adam Harper of Pennsvalley, who was at one time one of the associate Judges of Centre County, his term beginning in 1800. The date of the marriage I have not ascertained. Grandfather was a large man, weighing over two hundred pounds, being over six feet tall and of symmetrical build. He possessed great muscular strength and activity, and was proficient in all the athletic accomplishments of his day. Although, being of a reserved and non-aggressive disposition, he was, nevertheless, a principal in many a fierce encounter in his younger days; but it is to be hoped only in self-defense or in behalf of his friends of whom there were a legion. It is said that his brother Philip in whom the quality of meekness was not overwhelming in his earlier manhood, had, on a number of occasions to be extricated out of serious difficulties. Grandfather was well known in Centre, Snyder (now), Northumberland and other of the lower counties, in all of which he had many friends; and no doubt, not a few enemies who coveted the honor of conquering him. But he was never "knocked out." In our day a reputation of that quality is not so desirable, but in his time it was considered a proof of cowardice and consequent disgrace not to resent a real or imaginary insult b} r physical force. And it was the case, too, that a man's reputation as a pugilist was a standing challenge — a chip on the shoulder as it were — of which every other aspirant for like honors would feel in duty bound to take cognizance.
Grandfather was enrolled, as already stated, in some organization when but sixteen years old for the protection of the settlement against the Indians. He must have had a touch of the martial spirit as his connection with military organizations seems to indicate. Feb. 28, 1794 he was commissioned Major of the First Battalion 3nd Northumberland Brigade: Jan. 4, 1802, he was commissioned Lieut. Colonel of the 131. Regt. Militia, First Brigade 10th Div. composed of the counties of Mifflin, Huntingdon and Centre. I do not think he held any civil office except that of Justice of the Peace, commissioned Jan. 4, 1814, to succeed John Kryder who removed to Ohio about that date. Grandfather lived, as stated in another place, at the old home near Elk Creek, Brushvalley, until sometime after 1806 when he built a house on the main Brushvalley road, some twenty rods east of his son Reuben's present dwelling house. The barn which had been erected in 1806 stood still farther east and also along the main road. He was a millwright by trade, which occupation he followed a long time, but devoted his later years to farming. Among the grist-mills for which he performed the millwright work many be mentioned John Motz's mill, Woodward, Pa., erected in 1790; Tobias Pickle's mill now owned by J. K. Meyer, Brushvalley, erected in 1801 or 1802. I do not know that grandfather enjoyed any school privileges in his youth, yet he acquired a fair education in some way. He was an assiduous reader of both German and English books and periodicals, and wrote a beautiful hand in both languages. He was a stiff Democrat and in politics had very decided opinions. He was fond of social gatherings and as a citizen he was universally respected. He belonged to the German Reformed church and contributed liberally towards its support. Grandfather was born at Mühlbach, Lancaster (now Lebanon) county. Oct. 15, 1764, where his folks resided until about the year 1768-1770, when they re- moved to Straubsburg. See page 34. He died May 17, 1820. His death was quite sudden. Returning from a trip to Jersey Shore, Pa., he caught a severe cold which resulted in Brain fever, delirium and death. He had been an affectionate husband, a kind father and had been loved with tender affection by his family, and when his wife and children, gathered round his bier to gaze upon his face for the last time, mother says, they were overwhelmed with grief and sorrow. His second wife survived him many years; she died Feb. 27, 1871, aged 83 years 7 months 27 days: both are buried in the Lutheran and Reformed cemetery at Rebersburg. Pa.
There were ten children who reached maturity; of these, it is said, Dr. Jonathan Meyer most nearly resembled his father in physical feature.
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1764 - 1820 (55 years)
[2, 3, 4] 
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