In the direction of home-seeking population and disposition of capital for permanent investment, various agencies have played a large part and brought about a tremendous development of Texas' material resources in recent years, but no one factor has been more important than the real estate operator, whose specialty has consisted in promoting the sale and colonization of the vast tract of land, hitherto either left waste or imperfectly employed for grazing. The lower Brazos and Colorado Valleys have been a notable field for this work in recent years and one of the men who may properly claim a good share of the credit for results obtained is Mr. H. A. Meyer, who is head of the Meyer-Forster Land & Loan Company of Rosenberg. Mr. Meyer is also prominent as the present mayor of his home city. Only a few men are privileged to achieve such success as Mr. Meyer has attained to so early in life. Not yet much beyond thirty-five he has gained a fortune and true friends and is regarded as a prominent and reliable citizen by all who know him and one of great value to the community in which he lives. Coming of hardy German parentage he has been honest and industrious and these qualities have won for him the enviable position he occupies. H. A. Meyer was born in Austin county, Texas, August 27. 1875, and is a son of Benjamin and Louise (Shultz) Meyer. His father was born in Minden, Westphalia, Germany, and came alone to Austin county, Texas, at the age of fourteen years. The mother and her parents were born in Austin County, Texas, but her grandparents were all natives of Germany. They were part of Austin's colony. Only one of the old line, John Stern of Austin county, is now living. Landing in Texas without money, Benjamin Meyer, the father, at once began working for wages of forty-five dollars per year and his board. In spite of this meager compensation his untiring industry and frugality finally produced sufficient capital for him to buy a farm, to which he added until he was one of the large and prosperous land owners in Austin county. He was well known as a raiser of fine blooded driving horses. In that vicinity he lived and labored until four years ago, when he moved into Rosenberg, where he and his good wife live a life of ease and comfort. He is the owner of considerable land over the county of Fort Bend and his position is an exceedingly creditable one, especially in view of his having come to this state a young foreigner without money and having begun entirely on the labor of his hands. Although he had but few educational chances he has lived a very successful and useful life. In the mother's family her father and all her uncles were soldiers of the Confederate army. The present mayor of Rosenberg is one of ten living children, being the oldest in the line, and the others being mentioned as follows: L. H., who is postmaster of Rosenberg; O. C., auditor of the Bond Lumber Company at Eagle Pass; Mrs. F. A. Shawe and Mrs. Clara Kiekee, both of Rosenberg; Mrs. Laura Nippling of Granada, and Mrs. Henrietta Havla of Cost, Texas; Norma, Selma and Louise at home in Rosenberg and Emma and Benjamin, both deceased. H. A. Meyer as a boy attended the country schools in Austin county., after which he took a literary course in the Lutheran College at Benham, and finally completed his preparation for his business career in Toby's Business College of Waco. He continued at home working on the farm until he was twenty-three years of age and then moved to Fort Bend county, where he was engaged in farming for one year. In the fall of 1897 he bought a farm of his own and has since been one of the big land owners of the county and also possesses much valuable city property. In 1899, with a partner named Brown, he opened a general store in Rosenberg. A year later he sold out his interests and was appointed postmaster, a position in which he did capable service for seven years. In the meantime he had been engaged in the insurance and real estate business and in 1904 became associated with Mr. A. E. Pleak, a relationship which was maintained until 1910. In that year Mr. Pleak sold out to Mr. Forster, thus making the present firm of Meyer-Forster Land & Loan Company. This company specializes on land for colonization and has peopled a number of large tracts with industrious and thrifty homeseekers. The company also loan a large amount of money on real estate. They have been one of the most successful firms in this line in south Texas. Up to March 24, 1913, their books indicate transactions covering Fort Bend and adjoining counties to an aggregate volume of fifteen million dollars' worth of land. In February, 1912, the partners organized the Meyer-Forster Realty Company of Ganado, Jackson county. This firm has also prospered. Mr. Meyer has made a thorough study of Texas soil and products and his judgment has come to be accepted as thoroughly reliable and has been a big factor in promoting the success of his business organization. His company was the agent for the disposal of the lands of the Houston & Texas Central Railroad and has represented several other large interests in the state.. In September, 1898, Mr. Meyer married Miss Emma Windell of Texas, a daughter of Captain C. W. F. Windell of Caldwell, Texas, and a veteran of the Confederate war. The one child born to Mr. and Mrs. Meyer died in infancy. While Mr. Meyer has never aspired to office he has been selected out of the body of Rosenberg citizens to the office of mayor and is giving a very efficient administration. Fraternally he is affiliated with the local lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is a Royal Arch Mason, also a member of the Eastern Star and belongs to the Woodmen of the World. Mrs. Meyer has membership in the Order of Eastern Star and is a member of the Methodist church of Rosenberg. [A History of Texas and Texans, Vol 4 , By Francis White Johnson, Ernest William Winkler, 1914 -- Submitted by Brenda Wiesner] |
