Husband Henry Meyer 1
Born: 8 Dec 1840 - near Rebersburg, Centre Co, PA 1
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Father: Henry Meyer (1795-1881) 2 3
Mother: Hannah Bierly (1800-1893) 2 3
Marriage:
Wife Martha J. Taylor 4
Born: 25 Apr 1850 - Rock Forge, Benner Twp, Centre Co, PA 1
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Father: Thomas J. Taylor (1820/1822-Aft 1898) 4
Mother: Sarah Homan (1818-1859/1861) 5
Children
1 F Hannah Jane Meyer 6
Born: 11 Jan 1872 6
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2 M Henry T. Meyer 6
Born: 3 Oct 1882 6
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3 F Mary M. Meyer 6
Born: 14 Aug 1885 6
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4 F Sarah E. Meyer 6
Born: 1 Sep 1887 6
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5 M Robert T. Meyer 6
Born: 14 Aug 1889 6
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General Notes: Husband - Henry Meyer
He was brought up on his father's farm, doing such work as usually falls to the lot of farmer boys, and during the winter season attended, two or three months in a term, the common schools of the neighborhood. He left home in the spring of 1860 to learn the millwright trade with John Todd, who then resided at Potters Mills, Pennsylvania, and his spare moments were devoted to reading, and the study of mathematics and other branches which had a bearing on mechanical pursuits. He enlisted at Rebersburg, Pennsylvania, August 19, 1862, with almost a hundred young men of the same place (Brush Valley), in the army for "three years or during the war." Became, a few days after enlistment, a member of Company A, 148th Regiment, P. V. I., at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, the regiment being placed under the command of Gen. (then Col.) James A. Beaver, and joined afterward with the Second Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. He went through the usual disciplinary stages of the volunteer soldier, and had his first practical experience in warfare in the battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia, in May, 1863; then followed Gettysburg, Auburn Mills, Mine Run, the Wilderness, and Laurel Hill, besides several skirmishes of less importance. He was slightly hurt at Chancellorsville, but more seriously at Laurel Hill, May 10, 1864, by a minie ball passing through the left hand near the wrist, necessitating amputation of the left hand, which operation was performed at Campbell Hospital, Washington, D. C., May 17, 1864. On receiving his discharge, September 12, 1864, he returned home, entered the Rebersburg Select School for a few weeks, taught school the winter following, and continued teaching a number of terms. In 1866 he attended the Union Seminary, New Berlin, Pennsylvania, for a term, and in the fall of 1868, entered the Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown, graduating therefrom with first honors of the class in the spring following. He then continued his work as an educator, and assisted Prof. Reuben M. Magee, county superintendent of common schools of Centre County, in the Centre County Normal School a number of terms. In May, 1875, he was elected county superintendent of common schools of Centre County, for a term of three years, and was re-elected without opposition in May, 1878; was elected in the fall of 1882 a member of the House of Representatives of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, and also served multiple terms as a justice of the peace, having been elected for the first time February 18, 1890.
His progress as a pupil in the district school was seriously hampered from the very beginning until a youth of sixteen by the difficulties encountered by all pupils whose mother tongue is different from the language of the books which they study in school. His parents were Pennsylvania-German; all his neighbors then spoke the dialect of those people; the sermons then were nearly all German, as were also many of the periodicals, and much of the correspondence between people was in that language. Under such circumstances the progress of pupils was slow and wearisome; they listlessly repeated the words of their reading lessons, committed definitions in grammar and geography, but the exercises were as unintelligible to them as so much Hebrew would have been. Gradually Mr. Meyer overcame these obstacles, the printed page began to disclose ideas, and a taste for reading was rapidly acquired. He subscribed for English periodicals, bought and borrowed histories, biographies, books of travel and explorations, and eagerly read, during the few spare moments which work on the farm allowed, everything that came within his reach. His books were his cherished friends. He was ever loyal to the Pennsylvania-German race, and had little respect for those shallow-pated dudes who would ignore their ancestry. He was aware that before many years the dialect which these people brought from the old country would be superseded by the English language, but the noble qualities which they brought with them, and which make for the moral and material improvement of a community and the stability of a State, would still be the heritage of their descendants. In later years he took a special interest in the early history and traditions of these people who were the early settlers of his native valley, and prepared a historical sketch of the same, with biographical sketches of almost a hundred of the old settlers. He was prominently connected with nearly all enterprises of his time which had for their object the improvement of his town and neighborhood. He took a prominent part in the work of his church and Sunday-school. While officially connected with the common schools either as teacher or county superintendent, he labored faithfully in the discharge of his duties, and his labors were crowned in these positions with a commendable degree of success. Politically he was a Democrat, but of quite liberal views. In his dealings he was ever strictly honest in his intercourse with those around him, courteous and obliging; to the poor he was charitable beyond his means. He was unostentatious and reserved in his manner. Physically he was six feet tall, but not heavy set; blue eyes; temperate in habits.
General Notes: Wife - Martha J. Taylor
While still single she taught in the public schools of Centre County, Pennsylvania, for a number of terms, and was quite successful as a teacher.