Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Meier, John 
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Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

John Meier, who owns and operates one hundred and fifty-three acres of land on 
section 34, Crete township, was born in Washington township, this county, June 
24, 1860. His father, John F. Meier, was born in Germany, January 1, 1827, and 
in 1848 crossed the Atlantic to the new world. He had no capital and worked by 
the month at farm labor near Chicago for a time, and later was employed in the 
woods of Michigan. He went as far west as the Mississippi river and for some 
time worked on a vessel plying north from St. Louis. Later he came to Will 
county and in the early '50s purchased one hundred and sixty acres of raw 
prairie land on section 2, Washington township. Settling on this farm he built 
the first dwelling there and began the cultivation of the fields. He afterward 
bought two hundred acres more in Crete township, a part of which is now in the 
possession of his son John. He was killed by being thrown from a load of biled 
hay and being run over by the wagon, on his way to Goodenow. This accident 
occurred on a steep hill just west of the home of our subject. The father 
lived for two days after the accident and passed away June 12, 1899. He had 
been a hard worker and was a prosperous farmer and though seventy-two years of 
age at the time of his demise, he had continued in active work on the farm up 
to the last. A believer in the Christian religion, he was one of the 
organizers of the St. John's Lutheran church, in which he held office for 
twenty-five years. He voted with the republican party. In early manhood he 
wedded Mary Hisenjager, a native of Germany, who is still living upon the old 
home farm in Washington township, and who is now seventy-three years of age. 
Her father, Christ Hasenjager, was an early settler of Washington township. In 
the family of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Meier were twelve children as follows: Mary, 
the wife of John F. Meyer, who is living in Crete; Fred, who lives in the town 
of Crete; Sophie, the wife of F. H. Wilkie, a merchant at Beecher, Illinois; 
John, of this review; Carrie, who died at the age of twenty-four years; Ellen, 
the wife of Fred Jacksish of Chicago; Henry, who is living on a farm in 
Washington township; Christ, who is on the home farm; Emma, who died in 
infancy; Annie, who is at home; Lizzie, who died in childhood; and Diedrick, 
who died at the age of ten years. John Meier has always remained upon the old 
homestead farm with the exception of one year when he was employed at farm 
labor elsewhere. At the age of thirty-three years, he began the cultivation of 
his fathers tract of land of eighty acres in Crete township and later bought 
eighty acres adjoining, from his brother. He now owns one hundred and fifty-
three acres of land, having sold seven acres to J. E. Walsh for the Southern 
Indiana Railroad. Upon his place he has a good dwelling and substantial barns 
and carries on dairying and general farming. When thirty-three years of age he 
was married to Miss Sophia Ohlendorf, who was born in Crete township, June 15, 
1868, and is the daughter of William Ohlendorf, who is mentioned elsewhere in 
this work. Mr. and Mrs. Meier have four children, all of whom are living at 
home: Hilda, William, Walter and John. The parents are members of the Lutheran 
church and contribute liberally to its support and take a very active and 
helpful part in its work, having considerable influence in molding its course 
and in the promotion of different church activities. Mr. Meier has always been 
a republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but has 
never aspired to public office. He has, however, served as school director for 
two terms and as clerk of the board of directors for one year. The cause of 
education finds in him a warm friend. While he has many of the strong, 
stalwart traits of his German ancestry, he is thoroughly loyal to American 
principles and institutions and manifests a public-spirited and progressive 
citizenship. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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