Meurer, Anthony (1837-1922)

MEURER, GOZELL, DIGGON, KIRVER, HAMILTON, BROADY, KREIBS, LEE, MAY, BEERS, DUVALL

Posted By: Ken Akers (email)
Date: 11/6/2014 at 21:59:04

http://www.archive.org/stream/historyofaudubon00andr/historyofaudubon00andr_djvu.txt
History of Audubon county, Iowa; its people, industries, and institutions", 1915, pages 662 & 663
ANTHONY MEURER.
It is sometimes considered that the history of great men only is worthy
of preservation and little merit exists among the masses to call forth the
praises of the historian or the appreciation of the public. However, a care-
ful study of the lives of the early settlers of the state of Iowa will teach lessons
of patience and perseverance, thrift and industry, that will be helpful to many
and are worthy of permanent record.
Among the earlier pioneer citizens of Audubon county, is Anthony
Meurer, a retired farmer of Greeley township, now living in Exira.
Anthony Meurer was born in Germany, December 6, 1837, the son of
Stephen and Barbara Meurer, both natives of Germany. The former was a
carpenter by trade and followed that trade in Germany until he came to
America in 1841 and located at Utica, New York, where he followed his trade
for four years. At the end of this time, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, and
after remaining there for four years, moved to Freeport, Illinois. He died
there in 1893 and his wife died in 1891. He was born in 1810 and she in
1821. He served three years in the German army.
Stephen and Barbara Meurer were the parents of six children, as follow :
Anthony, the subject of this sketch; Mary, who is deceased, married Joseph
Gozell; Emma married Joseph Diggon; Kate married Joseph Kirver; Ger-
trude married William Hamilton; John married Anna Broady.
Anthony Meurer attended school in Chicago, Illinois, until his parents
moved to Freeport, Illinois, where he worked in a brick-yard for six years.
He then secured a position as a farm hand and worked in that capacity until
he was married. After his marriage, Mr. Meurer rented a farm for a few
years. In 1873 he worked on a cattle ranch as a stock feeder. In 1878 he
came to Audubon county and located in Greeley township. He purchased one
hundred and sixty acres in 1875 for which he paid twelve dollars an acre for
eighty acres and twenty-two and one-half dollars for the other eighty. At
one time he had two hundred and forty acres of land. He was engaged in
general farming and raised about one hundred and twenty-five head of hogs
and fifty head of cattle each year.
Anthony Meurer was married on December 7, 1863, to Mary Kriebs,
the daughter of Joseph Kriebs. Six children were born to this marriage, as
follow : John married Delilah Lee and has four children, Lola, Thomas,
Danell and Lula; Frank married Jennie May and has three children, John,
Bernard and Albert ; Joseph is single ; Mary married Frank Beers and has six
children, Bert, George, Orville, Joseph, Margaret and Mary; Anna married
Frank Duvall and has five children, Nellie, Olive, Clark, Mildred and Martha;
Emma married Bert May and has six children, Gerald, Elwein, Franklin,
Chester, Arnold and Arlene. Mrs. Anthony Meurer was born in Germany
and came to America with her parents when three years old. They located
at Galena, Illinois, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They had
six children. Mrs. Meurer died on November 22, 1914.
Mr. Meurer and family are devout members of the Catholic church.
Mr. Meurer has served as school director and road commissioner. He is a
Republican. During the Civil War, he enlisted in the Seventh Illinois Cavalry
and served nine months. Anthony Meurer is a good citizen and has been an
enterprising farmer. By hard labor he acquired a competence for his declin-
ing years and now is able to live upon the fruits of his toil.

Audubon County Journal (IA)
Thursday, Jan. 12, 1922, pg. 5

Grandpa Anthony Meurer is ly-
ing quite low at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Frank Beers, his
illness being due to the infirmities
of old age.