My Genealogy Hound

VALENTINE F. NEUMAYER, a representative citizen of Normal Square, Mahoning Township, Carbon County, is engaged in the retail and wholesale butcher business, and by his well known, honorable qualities has long commanded the confidence of the entire community. In addition to his regular pursuit, he has been to some extent interested in farming and has derived a good income from the manufacturer of bone meal for fertilizing purposes.

Our subject’s birth occurred in this county May 16, 1855. His father, Valentine Neumayer, was a native of Alsace, Germany, and his mother, who before her marriage was Emma Werstine, was a native of Baden. The father emigrated to America when about twenty years of age, and finally made a settlement within the limits of Carbon County, becoming a resident of Mahoning Township, where he continued to live until his death, in the year 1879. The boyhood days of subject were passed on his father’s farm and for years he gave his time largely to assisting in running the homestead. Such education as he possesses was largely obtained in the district schools in the neighborhood of his home and in the Lehighton High School, where he was a student for a short time.

When seventeen years of age, Mr. Neumayer began learning the butcher’s business, serving an apprenticeship of over three years at Lehighton, and subsequently was employed in the green grocer’s trade at Mauch Chunk, Pa. About 1874, be commenced running on the Erie. Canal and as a sailor on Lake Ontario, following that vocation for several seasons. Returning to this county in 1881, he was engaged in the wholesale and retail butcher’s trade with J. H. Miller, under the firm name of Miller & Co. Their main place of business was at Coaldale, Schuylkill County, and the partnership continued for a number of years. Of late Mr. Neumayer has been alone in business at Normal Square, and affords employment to two men in the butchering department, and also employs other help as he finds it necessary. He owns fifty-five acres of land in Mahoning Township, on which he keeps a hired man, but personally superintends its management. He has been prospered in his business ventures, and has a regular line of customers whom he supplies.

In the year 1883 Mr. Neumayer married Savannah Eberts, the daughter of Peter and Mary Eberts, of Mahoning Township. To this union were born three children, two of whom are living, namely: Harry and Emma. Charles is deceased, Mr. and Mrs. Neumayer are members of the Reformed Church.

In his political affiliations, our subject is a Republican, having been, identified with that party since obtaining his majority: In all works of public improvement, he takes an interested part and is in favor of good educational facilities, and of everything tending toward the elevation of society. From his youth he has been obliged to make his own livelihood, and by his own industrious and persevering qualities has succeeded in his various enterprises, becoming well-to-do.