Henry Meyer

Henry Meyer was born in Hanover, Germany, on October 30, 1838. He is a son of Dietrich and Dorothea Ottens, both natives of Germany. Dietrich was a butcher by trade and a Lutheran. Dietrich died in Germany and most of his children and his widow came to the United States. Henry, William, Sophia, and Dietrich all came to this country before their mother, who followed them with their other children, Fred, Christ, George, Catherine, Anna, and Dora.

Henry Meyer Family. Left to right, top row: Henry T., Charles; middle row: Anna (Gathman), Wilhemina (Korte), Christ, Emma (Lange), Harmon; bottom row: Mrs. Christina (Bindeman) Meyer, Martha Mehring (daughter of Mary), Otto, Caroline (Gerken) and Henry.

Henry came to America in the spring of 1859, taking passage on a vessel that was thirty days in crossing from Bremerhaven to New York City. He thence journeyed by railroad and lake to Napoleon. He found employment in Henry County and in 1861 went to Kelleys Island and then to Sandusky. There he enlisted in a three months regiment which was never called out, and in June of 1861 he enlisted in Company C of the Twenty- fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry for three years. He became a corporal and at the expiration of his term he was assigned to a reorganization of three regiments under the title Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He became second lieutenant of Company F and remained in the Army until October, 1865 when he was mustered out at Augusta, Georgia, and discharged at Columbus. After the War Mr. Meyer returned to Freedom Township, Henry County, Ohio, and purchased a large amount of land. His land was later divided by the building of the railroad. Mr. Meyer platted a part of his land as the townsite of Gerald. His land was entirely covered with timber and not a road was laid out. His first house was built of logs, but in 1880 he built a frame house and in 1882 he built a barn. In 1891, he built his present home.

Mr. Meyer was married twice. In the fall of 1866 he married Elizabeth Meyer, a native of Hanover. She died in 1898 leaving the following children: Harmon, Charles, Henry, Christ, Otto, Wilhemina, Mary, Emma, Anna, and Caroline. In 1899 Mr. Meyer married Mrs. Christina Bindeman, a native of Hanover. Mr. Meyer was a life-long Lutheran, and is buried in the church cemetery.

Submitted by Marlene Patterson