My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE HENRY MEYER, president of the German-American Insurance company, of Pittsburgh, was born near Osnabruck, Hanover, Prussia, Sept. 5, 1829, and is a son of Christian and Katrina (Schumacher) Meyer. He was reared on a farm, and received an ordinary German education. When seventeen years old he came to Pittsburgh, and immediately commenced work, in order to earn a livelihood. After a time he learned the builder’s trade, and meantime attended night school for four years. For twenty-five years he was engaged in contracting and building, and was ten years a partner, with six others, in the manufacture of glass. He also invested some of his means in an iron-manufacturing concern. Mr. Meyer was one of the original incorporators of the German-American Insurance company, in 1873, taking the position of president from the start, and to his efforts is largely due the success the Fifth avenue and Duquesne banks and the German Insurance company. He has represented the Sixth ward three times in the city council, and in the school board, and was several years a trustee in the G. L. Church, with which his family is associated. He is a republican. Mr. Meyer was married, in 1852, to Eliza Gustvogel, who was born in the same locality as himself, and they have five living children: George, a builder; Frederick F., a glass-presser; Elizabeth; William F., member of a wholesale grocery firm, and Margaret M.