Portrait and Biographical Record ~ Pages 845-846
Kindly submitted: Bill Schmitz
PETER G. MEYER, a representative farmer and well known
citizen of Plainfield, is a native of Washington Township,
Northampton County, and was born October 2, 1833. He is of
German descent, and the son of George and Susanna (Kessler)
Meyer, natives of the same place. The Meyer family were among
the early settlers of this county, and it is said that the
great-grandfather of our subject was the founder of the Meyer
family in Pennsylvania. He emigrated from Germany to the United
States, making his home in Northampton County when there were
but few white men in the state.
George Meyer, the father of our subject, who was born in
Lower Saucon, and reared in what is now known as Washington
Township, was a wheelwright by occupation. He departed this life
November 23, 1876, at the age of eighty-three years. Of his
children four survive. Isaac now resides in Dane County, Wis.;
Ann E. is the wife of Abram Cressman of Bangor, this state;
Peter, of Plainfield, and Thomas, of Washington Township, are
farmers. At various times the father held different offices of
the township, and was a highly respected and valued member of
the Lutheran Church.
Peter Meyer, the subject of this sketch, was reared to
manhood in Northampton County, and from his youth has always
been engaged in agricultural pursuits. In his boyhood days he
attended the district schools in the vicinity of his home when
he could be spared from the duties on the farm, but the
advantages offered the youth in those days were not so good as
at the present, and
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, P. 846
therefore his education was limited. He studied and read a
great deal in after years, and is practically self-made. Our
subject is the possessor one hundred and twenty-nine acres of
fine farming land, all of which bears first-class improvements.
A large and beautiful residence stands on the estate, with
commodious barns and outbuildings, and a number of fine cattle
and horses are also to be found on the place, the whole
appearance of which shows him to be a progressive farmer.
Mr. Meyer and Miss Margaret Stocker were married February 26,
1860; and to them eight children have been born, namely: Ervin
J., Mary S., Elmer, Andrew J., George A., Laura S., Agnes E.,
and Annie M. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are valued members of the
Lutheran Church, and give liberally of their means to the
support of the same. They are among the first in all good works,
and ever ready to help the sick and needy. He is public-spirited
and enterprising, and his prosperity and the position which he
occupies are mainly due to his own efforts and honesty. The
community in which he lives has for a long time looked upon him
as one of their leading citizens. He is highly respected and
enjoys the confidence of the neighbors and a host of friends.
Source: Portrait and
Biographical Record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon Counties,
Pennsylvania. Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and
Representative Citizens of the Counties, Together with
Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States. Chicago, Chapman Publishing Co., 1894;