BIO: J. C. MEYER, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the 
Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical 
Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, pages 107-108

J. C. MEYER.  The reader of these memoirs will find the conviction borne in upon 
his mind that underlying all differences of training and environment there lies 
another factor from which the history of each individual takes its bias.  An 
ideal, a steady purpose, needed, and where this is found life is simplified and 
all things tend to bring about, sooner or later, the desired end.  Truly, "where 
there's a will there's a way," and fortunate is the man who early in life finds 
the right channel toward which to direct his energies.  Among those who seem to 
have solved the problem thus, is the subject of this biography, now one of 
Bellefonte's successful attorneys.
  Mr. Meyer was born January 31, 1861, on a farm called Pleasant View, lying 
south of Aaronsburg.  The family is numerously represented in this section, and 
a sketch prepared by Hon. Henry Meyer, of Centre county, the author of "the 
Genealogy of the Meyer Family," will be found elsewhere in this volume.  The 
first of the line to settle in this State was Henry Meyer, who came from the 
Palatinate, Prussia, with his wife and several children, and located in Lebanon 
county.  His son Christopher had a son George, who had a son Jacob G., the 
father of our subject.  Jacob G. Meyer was born near Campbelltown, Penn., 
October 16, 1824, and was twice married, first to Henrietta Christina Furst, our 
subject's mother, and second to Lydia A. Dutweiler (nee Strohm).  Jacob G. Meyer 
settled near Aaronsburg in early manhood, and cleared the farm now known as 
"Pleasant View," but in October, 1865, moved to the town to engage in general 
mercantile business.  At the time of his removal our subject was about four 
years old, and from his sixth to his twelfth year he attended the public schools 
of Aaronsburg.  He then entered the employ of B.F. Phillips, in a general store 
at that place, and remained two years, but his inclination for study was too 
strong to be suppressed, and he determined to prepare for college under the 
tuition of Prof. D.M. Wolfe, of Penn Hall.   To carry out this plan he walked 
five miles each Monday morning and Friday night, and in 1878 he entered the 
sophomore class of Franklin and Marshall College at Lancaster, Penn.  In June, 
1881, he was graduated with the degree of A.B., being chosen valedictorian of 
his class.  He desired to enter the legal profession, but like many others in 
like circumstances he turned temporarily to teaching.  In August of the same 
year he was elected assistant principal of the schools of Bellefonte, his duties 
beginning in September, and so successful was he in his work that when the 
Bellefonte High School was organized, in the fall of 1883, he was chosen 
principal.  The first class was graduated under his charge in June, 1884, and 
his career as an educator promised to be a most brilliant one; but he had been 
spending his spare time in preparation for his profession, reading for the 
previous year under the direction of Alexander and Bower, and wishing to give 
his entire time to this work he resigned at the close of the school year.  
Devoting his attention to his books, he soon completed his course of reading, 
and was admitted to the Bar, December 24, 1884.  He began to practice in 
partnership with Judge Adam Hoy, and secured an enviable reputation early in his 
career.
  Being an ardent Democrat, he became prominent in political circles also; in 
August, 1886, he was nominated by his party for the office of district attorney, 
being elected in November following by 666 majority.  In 1889 he was again 
chosen to the office by a majority which was just twice that of 1886.  During 
the last term he had a peculiar experience, there being five homicide trials; 
for fifty years previous, there had not been a case of that nature.  Of the five 
offenders, two received the extreme penalty of the law, and the others were 
convicted in lesser degrees.  In 1894 Mr. Meyer was given the unanimous support 
of the Democratic party in his county for the State Senate; but as Centre county 
had furnished the last representative the nomination fell to Clearfield county.  
In municipal affairs Mr. Meyer has also been active, and in 1893 he was elected 
burgess of Bellefonte, overcoming an adverse majority of 120.  He is now giving 
his attention exclusively to his legal practice, which has assumed handsome 
proportions.  
  In 1887 Mr. Meyer married Miss Lizzie S. McAlmont, who was born near 
Jacksonville, Centre County, February 14, 1865.  One daughter, Edna E., blesses 
this union.  Mr. Meyer and his accomplished wife are popular socially, and 
although he belongs to the Reformed Church they have for four years past been 
members of the choir of the Presbyterian Church.  Socially Mr. Meyer has been 
identified with the I.O.O.F. for four years, and has passed the chairs in the 
Encampment.  At present he is a member of the board of directors of the Odd 
Fellows Orphans' Home at Sunbury.