San Joaquin County
Biographies
ANDREW MEYER
ANDREW MEYER, farmer and
stock raiser, was born in the village of Andingen, Canton Aargan, Switzerland,
October 27, 1823, son of Andrew and Mary Meyer. He was five years of age when
the family removed to America, locating eight miles southwest of Marion County,
Ohio. Two years afterward they moved to Seneca County, that State, where the
father died in 1838, and the mother in 1844 or 1845. The father was killed by
the falling of a tree while he was clearing up land. At that time the subject
of this sketch was but nine years of age, and he and his brother John, twelve
years of age, continued the task of clearing up the ground. Andrew lived there
until 1849, when he came to California, a member of a small party from his
neighborhood who started with five wagons. They came by steamer from Cincinnati
to Independence, and there fitted up with teams, and came by way of Fort
Kearney, Laramie and over the South Pass by way of Sublette’s cut-off, landing
at Hangtown August 25. Mr. Meyer’s first work there was the manufacture of
shingles. He next started for the Mariposa mines, in company with friends, but
as it was raining a great deal they changed their programme and went to the
vicinity of Jimtown, in Tuolumne County, where they mined during the winter.
The next spring they came to Stockton, bought teams and engaged in hauling
between Stockton and Mariposa, Sonora, Columbia and Mokelumne Hill. His
cousins, J. K. Meyer and Samuel Meyer, were also partners in this enterprise.
In January, 1852, Mr. Andrew Meyer and one of the others returned East, by
water, and bought cattle in Daviess County, Missouri, and drove them across the
plains, starting with 200 head, and getting through with 150 to this county.
Mr. Meyer and his friend bought out a man where he (Meyer) now lives, and
engaged in stock-raising together until 1861, when they divided their stock,
Mr. Meyer taking 600 acres where he now lives. Ever since that time he has been
engaged in stock-raising and agriculture. All the improvements now witnessed
upon his place he himself has made.
He was married in Ohio, February 14, 1861,
to Miss Cynthia Cooley, a native of Seneca County, that State, born in 1837, a
daughter of Orange and Mary Cooley. Her mother is now deceased; her father is
still living in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have three children: Leland, Arthur
and Andrew C.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Page 485. Lewis Pub. Co.
Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
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