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Meyer, Friedrich Heinrich (Frederick), Sr.
"Baumeister" of the Schoolhouse
"Father Meyer acted as architect, while others furnished building materials. The entire building had but two rooms, the one serving as a classroom, the other as a teacherage..." - Pastor Roehrs, translated by his son, Walter Roehrs
According to a translation of the Immanuel Lutheran Church records, a Father Meyer was the "baumeister" (German for architect or builder), of the little two room schoolhouse of 1853. It is interesting to note that an "F". Meyer originally owned property in the Franzosenbusch area in section 33 near Wilhelm Mandel. There is a also Heinrich Meyer buried in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, (1820-1887). Personal records of the Henry G. Meyer family of LaGrange Park, also show a "Heinrich" Meyer who was born in 1820 and who was buried at Immanuel Lutheran cemetery in 1887. After studying the Henry G. Meyer family of LaGrange Park and the "Father" Meyer of Immanuel Lutheran records, we believe that these two men, although having different first names, are one in the same. It was a common practice in those days to prefer being called by a second or third name, especially, since many children in the same family were often christened with the same first names. (A genealogists nightmare)!
Friedrich Meyer's immigration to the U.S. may have taken place sometime during 1851, as there is no one named Meyer listed on the 1850 Census. According to the 1860 Census for Proviso Township, there was a "Fred Meyer", age 45, whose 80 acres of land in section 33 were valued at $2,300.00. This would indicate that an F. Meyer lived in the far southern end of Proviso Township, eventually becoming part of LaGrange Park. The 1860 Census also lists a "Weseman" near F. Meyer and a map of 1861 indicates that an "F. Meyer" had 80 acres of land kitty-cornered and southwest of Weseman.
Friedrich Meyer's wife was very likely named Louise or Dorothea. She would have been bom ca. 1810 in Hanover. We believe Frederich was from a small town called Brasen, in Hanover Germany. Furthermore, information for Frederick Meyer correlates with information concerning the obituary of Mr. Henry G. Meyer of LaGrange Park. Here it is stated that Henry G. Meyer came over with his family from Hanover, Germany in 1851 as a boy of nine or ten. Again, apparent evidence that this Henry G. Meyer's father appears to be the same Friedrich Meyer who was listed as one of the nine founding fathers of the Immanuel Lutheran school district in the old church records.
We believe that Friedrich Meyer was survived by at least two children, one of whom was a girl, named Louise or Louisa, bom in Hanover in 1844 and a son, Henry G., born in Brasen, Hanover Germany in January of 1842.
A "fact sheet" is available at Friedrich Meyer Sr.
Meyer, Heinrich (Henry) G.
Heinrich G. (Henry) Meyer (whom we believe to be the son of Friedrich Meyer) is celebrated as one of the fathers of LaGrange Park, having lived there since the early 1850's. He married Henrietta Schramm, on January 10, 1871. Henry and Henrietta had ten children. They lived at 710 North Brainard which is now known as the Meyer homestead house. One of their children, Henry Jr. married Rebecca Bockop in 1916. Henry Jr., expecting the birth of his first child, decided to build on the family farm at 750 North Brainard. He dug a foundation and moved, by a team of mules, a two-room structure across the cow path and placed it over the foundation. Little is known about this "shack" but 750 North Brainard was always considered to be the oldest house in the LaGrange Park area. The foot bridge to the Meyer picnic grove was at 800 North Brainard.
Last Modified: 10/15/2002