Henry Meer
Henry Meer, Sheriff of Shelby County, was born in Hanover, Germany, April
1, 1847, and is the son of Harman and Effamia (Wesling) Meer, natives of
Germany. The first twelve years
of his life were passed in his native country, at the end of which
time, in 1859, he accompanied his parents to the United States, and
settled in Franklin County, Ind., where, at the age of thirteen, he
began life upon his own responsibility. Two years later he took
up the shoemaker's trade, which he continued with success and
financial profit for a period of fifteen years, moving to Shelby
County in the meantime (1867), locating at the village of Prescott,
about five miles east of Shelbyville. He subsequently embarked
in the general mercantile business at this place, which he carried on
in connection with the grain trade, having had charge of the railroad and express offices at the same time.
He early took an active
interest in political affairs, and while a resident of Prescott held the
office of Justice of the Peace for four years, besides making an unsuccessful race for the office of County Treasurer, in which he was
defeated by a very small majority. In 1885, he disposed of his interests in Prescott, and moved to Shelbyville, and the
following year
was elected Sheriff of Shelby County, defeating his competitor,
the Republican nominee, by a majority of over 400 votes. Mr.
Meer is a noted example of what energy and determination can
accomplish in the face of adverse circumstances. Beginning life in
an humble sphere, he has by diligent application and persevering industry, succeeded in winning for himself an honored place in the
estimation of the people of his adopted county. He cast his first
presidential vote for Horatio Seymour, since which time he has
been an earnest supporter of the Democratic party, hi 1868, he
was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca J. Newton, daughter of
John H. and Mary Newton. Mrs. Meer was born in Shelby
County, November 17, 1849, [?] mother of six living children, whose names are as follows, to-wit.:
John H., Annie A., George L., Arthur F., Frederick O.,
and Mary. Mr. and Mrs.
Meer are leading members of the Shelbyville Catholic Church.
History of Shelby County, Indiana, "Shelbyville
Sketches," page 514-15, Chicago: Brant & Fuller, 1887.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
Arthur Meer
Picture from Boetcker's
Picturesque Shelbyville, 1909
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