Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Meier, John O 1824 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 8, 2007, 11:07 pm Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890 JOHN O. MEIER, Supervisor of Crete Township, has represented this township in the County Board of Supervisors for a period of nineteen years—a fact which sufficiently indicates his standing among the people. In former years he prosecuted farming successfully, but in 1885, retired from active labor and took up his abode in the village on the 2nd of November, that year. He is the owner of considerable town property and has three hundred and fifty acres of some of the finest farming land of Will County, besides thirty acres of timber. His land is now operated by his sons. Eighty acres of it was secured by him from the Government and through his industry and perseverance was brought to its present fertile condition and added to, until the acreage now amounts to three hundred and eighty. A settler of February, 1848, Mr. Meier purchased in Crete Township his first tract of Government land, this comprising eighty acres which he bought in 1847. He commenced without means and owes all his possessions to his industry, economy, and perseverance. He is of German birth and ancestry, his early home being in Hesse-Cassel, where he first opened his eyes to the light January 17, 1824. He emigrated to America in the summer of 1844, and for a year thereafter was a resident of Chicago. Thence he removed to DuPage Township, Will County, and worked by the month until earning sufficient money to become a landowner. The father of our subject was Conrad Meier, also a native of Hesse-Cassel, and a miller by trade. He spent his entire life in his native province, dying at the age of fifty-five years. He was a Lutheran in religion and married a lady of his own province—Miss Sophia Schweer. She survived her husband many years and died at her native place at the advanced age of eighty-two and one-half years. She, like her husband, was a member of the Lutheran Church from her youth. To the parents of our subject there was born a family of two sons and two daughters, all of whom lived to mature years, were married and had families. Of these John O., is the only survivor, and the only one who came to the United States. He attended school until fourteen years old, in the meantime also worked at his father's mill. At that age he set out for himself and when a young man of twenty years embarked on his voyage to America, from Bremerhaven on the sailing vessel '"Westphalia," a three-master, which after forty-three days landed him safely in New York City. Thence he proceeded to Albany by steamer and from there by rail to Buffalo, where he took a lake vessel to Chicago, at which he arrived after seven days' passage. Mr. Meier now began work on farm land which is now included in the city limits of the World's Fair City, remaining in that vicinity for twelve months. While crossing the Atlantic he made the acquaintance of a maiden of his own country—Miss Anna Kinne—who was accompanied by her parents. This acquaintance resulted in their marriage October 18, 1848, at Chicago, where the parents of Mrs. Meier settled. This union resulted in the birth of eleven children and after remaining the devoted helpmate and companion of her husband for a period of more than twenty years, Mrs. Meier departed this life at her home in Crete Township, April 27, 1869. Five of their children are yet living. John W. married Miss Sophia Scheiwe, who is now deceased, and he lives in Ash Grove, this State; Sophia is the wife of Henry Wassman, and they live on a farm in Crete Township; William H. married Miss Rena Tadger, and they live on Mr. Meier's farm in Crete Township; Mary is the wife of William Piepenbrink, a farmer of Crete Township; Louisa lives with her brother John, in Ash Grove. Mr. Meier, on December 23, 1869, was married to Miss Engel Scheiwe. This lady was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, November 28, 1832, and lived there until December, 1869, at which time she emigrated to America, coming alone. Of this union there have been born two children—one of whom Leo, died when ten months old; Henry E. operates one of his father's farms. Mr. Meier and his present wife, as was also the first wife, are members in good standing of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Meier has given to his church a liberal support and officiated as a Trustee for a period of thirty years. Politically, he is a pronounced Republican. He has been quite prominent in local politics and has held all the township offices, discharging the duties thereof with credit to himself and satisfaction to all concerned. He is Treasurer and Director of the Crete Farmer's Mutual Insurance Company, which was established in 1861, and which has been a great success. Additional Comments: Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/meier1397nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 5.4 Kb