Christopher Meinert

Among the respected residents of the beautiful town of Albany, Green County, within whose borders reside so many of the successful and substantial citizens of Albany township, is Christopher Meinert, the subject of this sketch.  His birth took place in Pickaway County, Ohio on July 13, 1818, son of Garrett Henry and Catharine (Wonderly) Meinert, both of whom were natives of Germany.  A family of nine children were born to them, only two of whom survive, our subject and his sister Angeline, who is the wife of Jacob Abley, of Albany township.

The paternal grandfather died in Germany, where he was a farmer by occupation, the maternal grandfather followed teaming in a Pennsylvania hamlet where he died although he had been born in Germany.  The father of our subject was reared on a farm in his native country and engaged at work in a sugar refinery after coming to New York.  In that city he married and then moved to Ohio, renting a farm in Pickaway County, selling out later and moving to Vermilion County, Indiana, where he bought a farm of 80 acres from the government, dying at this place in 1858, in his 59th year.  His wife survived him many years, being 81 when she passed away.  In religious faith she was a Methodist while he was identified with the Lutheran Church, both being good and worthy people who possessed the respect of all.

Christopher Meinert was reared principally in Indiana, where he attended the district schools.  His occupation has always been that of a farmer, in which he has met with great success.  In 1841 he came with his wife and baby to Wisconsin, landing in Green County on October 14, and settling on a farm three miles east of Monroe, where he built a cabin and remained 20 months.  Finding more desirable land in Albany township, he moved there, purchasing 240 acres of land a short distance west of the village.  Here the family resided until 1884 when Mr. Meinert rented out his land and bought one of the best houses in the village of Albany, living there in comfort ever since.  The farm is still in his possession, and is a fine place, well cultivated and improved with excellent buildings.

Mr. Meinert was married on February 14, 1838 to Miss Elizabeth Frazier, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Cade) Frazier and five children were born to this union, one of whom died in infancy:  Martha (deceased) married Joshua Brown and had one son Floyd.*  Eli married Ida Andrews and lives in Lemhi County, Idaho with two children Ernest and Ida.  Mary married Milton McPherson and they live in Idaho with one daughter, Theo;  Sara, Mrs. Hyde who lives in Idaho and has two children.  The mother of these children died April 9, 1851, aged about 32, a worthy member of the Christian Church.

For his second wife, Mr. Meinert married November 20, 1851, Mrs. Abigail Mead, a daughter of Joseph and Charlotte (Hellenbolt) Dory, and the widow of Amos Mead.  Six children have resulted from this marriage:  Garret H. who married Emily Aulthouse, lives at West Bend, Wisconsin and has two children, Adolph and Hattie; Isaac died at age of 7; Irad married and lives in Hailey, Idaho; Frances married Dick Sherkamp and lives in Albany; Dora, deceased, married Floyd Flint and left one daughter Dora Addie, residing in Albany; Statirah lives at home.  Garret Henry and wife and also Mr. Sherkamp are mutes.  One son was born to Mrs. Meinert by her former marriage, Oscar A. Mead, who married Hattie Kenney and has two children, Hattie and Merton.

The father of Mrs. Meinert was a native of France, her mother of New York, the former taking part in the War of 1812.  Her first husband took part in the rebellion in Canada, in 1837.

Although not a politician, Mr. Meinert has settled views on public questions and belongs to the Socialist party.  For several terms he served the township as supervisor, performing his duties faithfully and well.  The family is well-known and Mr. Meinert is a shining example of industry and honesty well rewarded.  He is a member of the Christian Church.
 
 

Jacob Abley, p. 711

Born in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, in February, 1823, he attended school until 16 years of age and was then employed in farming.  In 1847 he came to America and settled in Montgomery County, New York, where he engaged in farming four years.  He then went to work at the carpenter and joiner’s trade, at which he was employed two years, then came west to Indiana and spent 18 months in Lafayette, working at carpentering.  In 1854, he came to Monticello, Green County, and worked on the mill there one winter.  He continued to work at his trade in different parts of the county until 1860 when he bought land on section 30 of the town of Albany, upon which was some slight improvement, consisting of 40 acres broken and a log house in which he lived seven years, then he built a commodious brick house.  He has since erected a frame barn and other buildings.  He owns 180 acres of land.  He was married in 1859 to Angeline Meinert and they have six children—Maria, Cassie, Lizzie, Ida, Willie and Vena.

History of Green County, Wisconsin, Springfield, Illinois, Union Publishing Co., 1884