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This gentleman is known throughout Rock Grove Township as one of its most extensive and successful farmers and in connection with his boys cultivates 500 acres of land. The balance of the property comprises sixty or seventy acres of good timber. The homestead has been built up after the most approved methods and embraces a valuable set of frame buildings, with first-class farm machinery, a goodly assortment of live-stock and all the appurtenances of the modern country estate. These accumulations have been the result of diligence in business and years of industrious toil, and our subject has displayed, in a marked degree the talents of his substantial German ancestry, who, with many other offshoots from the Fatherland, have so materially assisted in the development of the great West.
Our subject was born at Kohlstead, Germany, Aug. 17, 1837, and is the son of Frederick Meinert, who emigrated from his native land in 1851, when forty-four years of age. He set sail with his family from the port of Bremen and after a voyage of about fifty-four days, landed at New Orleans. Thence they proceeded up the Mississippi to Savanna, and from there overland to Rock Grove Township, this county, where the father secured possession of thirty-one acres, and made his family as comfortable as possible with the limited conveniences at hand. This place they occupied a few years and then the elder Meinert sold out and purchased on an adjoining section, where he permanently located, added to his possessions and in due time was the owner of 400 acres. Three years previous to his death he divided the property, giving to each of his sons 106 acres, which they made good use of and have increased its value greatly.
The mother of our subject was in her girlhood Miss Mary Bertels, whose people remained in Germany. She survived her husband and died at the home of her son Frederick in 1872, when sixty-four years of age, being one year younger than her husband at the time of his death. The parental household included five children, two of whom died in Germany when quite young. Herman, the oldest, died at his home in Rock Grove Township in 1886; Conrad also died in this township about twelve years ago. The children, like their father, were industrious and frugal, and those who attained to mature years became large property-owners and were successful in life. Conrad served as a soldier in the Union army, enlisting in 1861, in the 46th Illinois Infantry. Three years later he was sent home on account of illness. He had, however, participated in some of the most important battles of the war and distinguished himself as a brave and daring soldier.
The subject of this history was a boy fourteen years of age when he came to this county, and employed himself the year following on the new farm. Becoming tired of this kind of life he sought employment with the I. C. R. R., and the year following was engaged in driving a team in the construction of the road between Freeport and Galena. He then returned home and was employed there and in the neighboring towns until about 1855, when he settled down on the old homestead and remained with his father until his marriage. This interesting event took place in the spring of 1861, and our subject brought his bride to the old homestead and continued there, assisting in the management of the farm until the division of the property, when he came into possession of 106 acres. To this he subsequently added until he now has the fine estate already described.
The wife of our subject, formerly Miss Wilhelmina Geise, is also of German birth and parentage, and came to this country with a brother and sister about 1858. Her parents came over several years later in 1880. They first crossed the Mississippi and located at Council Bluff, Iowa, whence Wilhelmina removed to Rock Grove Township a year later. She was a young lady of industrious habits and occupied her time in useful employment until her marriage. Mrs. Meinert was born Oct. 20, 1838, and was twenty-three years of age when married. Her union with our subject has resulted in the birth of ten children, two now deceased, namely: Louis, who died when quite young, and another son, George A., who was taken from the home circle when an interesting youth of sixteen years; William F, is married and located near his father; Conrad H., Adolph F., Frederick H., Mary A., Louisa H., Albert J. and Anna W., are at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Meinert, like the respected father and mother of each, are connected with the Evangelical Church, and our subject, with his boys, uniformly votes the Republican ticket.
Contributed by Carol Parrish
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