BIOGRAPHIES:  Otto MEYER, Elk Mound, Dunn Co., WI

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Submitted by:  Laura Abood <wabood@msn.com>  02 September 2003
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Otto Meyer, now living retired in the village of Elk Mound is one of that 
army of early settlers who with brave hearts and steady hands fought and 
won the hard battle with nature in transforming the primitive wilderness 
of Dunn County into the rich and fertile agricultural region which it is 
today.  Some of them fell during the battle, others have since passed away, 
while still others, like Mr. Meyer, having won the fight, have laid down 
their arms and are now enjoying a well earned rest, leaving the younger 
generation to do what still remains to be done in the never ending progress 
of civilization.  Mr. Meyer is a native of this country, having been born 
in Washington County, Wisconsin, Sept. 27, 1858, son of Ludwig and Anna 
Catherine (Todter) Meyer.  The parents were born in Hanover, Germany and 
spent their early years there.  The failure of the German revolution of 
1848, whereby the hopes of many for a more liberal form of government were 
blasted, and the stern measures taken by the government to punish those in 
revolt, caused large numbers to emigrate to foreign countries, the greater 
part of them coming to the United States.  There is nothing to show that 
Ludwig Meyer or Anna Catherine Todter had taken any part in the revolution 
or were in any danger from the authorities, but it is evident that their 
minds partook of the general unrest, and that they realized that their 
opportunities for self advancement were practically non-exsistent under 
the despotic monarchical government of their native land, which was enacting 
still severer laws to hold the masses in check.  They therefore said goodbye 
to their friends who could not, or did not want to leave the fatherland, and 
like thousands of others, took passage for the United States.  As yet they 
were single, but on board the sailing vessel which brought them to this 
country they were united in marriage and set foot on Columbia's shores as 
man and wife.  The Northwest was then attracting many European immigrants, 
and Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Weyer, following the main tide of travel, made their 
way to Washington County, Wisconsin, where, not having the means to buy an 
improved farm, they settled on 40 acres of timber land.  Making a clearing, 
they built a log cabin having only a dirt floor, and set to work to better 
their condition.  There they lived for ten years, or until 1858, in which 
year they moved to Chippewa County, locating in the town of Sigel.  After 
eight years' stay there they took up their residence in Chippewa Falls, spent 
a year there and then moved to the town of Eagle Point (now the town of Tilden) 
in Chippewa County, where Mr. Meyer bought 140 acres of land, all wild, and 
once more took up primitive farm work.  Of this land in time he cleared and 
improved all but 40 acres, building up a fine farm with a splendid set of 
buildings.  On March 27, 1896, death deprived him of his loving wife and 
helpmate, but he continued to live on the farm and operate it until his own 
death, which occurred March 28, 1915.  They had nine children, Herman, Louis, 
Anna, Otto, Gustave, Adolph, Caroline, Michael and William, all of whom are 
now living save Gustave.  Otto Meyer acquired his education in the schools of 
Chippewa County, and remained at home with his parents until he was about 24 
years old.  Then in 1883 he started in for himself, buying a farm of 131 acres 
in Section 1, town of Grant, Dunn County.   Forty acres of the land had been 
broken and there was an old log cabin on the place in which he and his wife-
for he was now married-made their home. 

-Transcribed from the "History of Dunn County, Wisconsin, 1925", page 740 

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