Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1890 edition. Excerpt:... old power of attorney in my possession, given by Jacob Meyer, Sr., to his son Michael, dated 1801, mention is made of Jacob's wife as being Susanna Ream, daughter of Peter Ream, Dauphin County, Pa. The instrument was given to secure the wife's legacy, and seems to be positive evidence as to her maiden name. The paper alludes to her as being then deceased. In a sketch of Michael Meyer in a history of Summit County, Ohio, her maiden name is also given as Susan Ream. One of the Greningers of Sugar Valley, Clinton County, Pa., an early settler there, was married to her sister. Great-grandmother Meyer (Jacob's wife) was not a large woman, but what she lacked in stature was fully compensated for in grit and temper. She used to whip her boys after they were full grown! Some of them were almost giants, and no doubt they could stand up and meekly take a whipping without suffering much pain. The boys, of whom there were six, viz.: --Philip, John Jacob, John George, Henry, Michael and Christopher, were not allowed to grow up in idleness, but were early put to work. One of their occupations was weaving, --probably during bad weather, when out-door work could not be done, and as they were rather fond of constructing things with carpenters' tools, they sometimes neglected their work at the loom; then if their mother would discover the objects on which they were exercising their ingenuity and wasting their time, she would smash them, and pitch the fragments into the fire. The boys were careful not needlessly to expose their handicraft. Father used to say the boys were of a rather hilarious disposition, and attended all the parties and balls within reasonable distance; they made their own violins, which some could play with considerable skill, and as.