Age 84, pioneer merchant of Houston. President of the Houston National Bank. Son of Frank and Josephine Meyer. Widow of Rebecca Baker Meyer (d. 1915). Survived by sons Joseph F Jr, George B and Frank K Meyer.
George Baker Meyer...oldest son
Joseph F. Meyer, Sr., was prominent in business circles in Houston and Harris County and widely
known as a successful financier. He began in the business world when he was sixteen years old, as
the proprietor of an independent business. His earlier operations were on a small scale and expanded
with the passage of time, so that within a few short years he became well-known among more
established and powerful businessmen of the city.
Born in Germany in 1851, Joseph F. Meyer was the son of Frank and Josephine Meyer. Josephine
died when Joseph was three years old, and Frank brought him to America in 1855, settling first in
Memphis, Tennessee, and moving to Houston in 1867. At the age of 16 years he established the
Joseph F. Meyer Hardware Company at 802 Franklin at Milam Street. The company sold heavy
hardware, wagon makers' supplies, farm implements, railroad contractors' supplies, iron, and steel,
and was one of the largest of its kind in the city or Harris County. From then on, Meyer became
identified with the financial and commercial activities of Texas.
In 1885 Joseph F. Meyer began acquiring land in the southwest part of Houston between Buffalo and
Brays Bayous. By 1893 he owned more than 6,000 acres which were leased to rice farmers and small
cattle ranches. In 1892 he purchased 415 acres near what would become Houston Intercontinental
Airport from a New York firm for $780. In 1915 he donated a 69 acre tract of land to the Bayland
Orphan Home.
Meyer was an Independent Democrat and was twice elected alderman in the city of Houston,
representing the third ward in the City Council from 1888 to 1892. He also served one year as county
commissioner of Harris County and enjoys the distinction of having been chief of the Houston
Volunteer Fire Department as long ago as 1880. In 1892, Meyer was one of the organizers of the
Houston National Exchange Bank, of which he was vice president until 1912, when he became
president.
Rebecca and Joseph Meyer married in 1884 and had three children – George B., Joseph F. Jr. and Frank K. Joseph.
George Baker Meyer...oldest son
Joseph F. Meyer, Sr., was prominent in business circles in Houston and Harris County and widely
known as a successful financier. He began in the business world when he was sixteen years old, as
the proprietor of an independent business. His earlier operations were on a small scale and expanded
with the passage of time, so that within a few short years he became well-known among more
established and powerful businessmen of the city.
Born in Germany in 1851, Joseph F. Meyer was the son of Frank and Josephine Meyer. Josephine
died when Joseph was three years old, and Frank brought him to America in 1855, settling first in
Memphis, Tennessee, and moving to Houston in 1867. At the age of 16 years he established the
Joseph F. Meyer Hardware Company at 802 Franklin at Milam Street. The company sold heavy
hardware, wagon makers' supplies, farm implements, railroad contractors' supplies, iron, and steel,
and was one of the largest of its kind in the city or Harris County. From then on, Meyer became
identified with the financial and commercial activities of Texas.
In 1885 Joseph F. Meyer began acquiring land in the southwest part of Houston between Buffalo and
Brays Bayous. By 1893 he owned more than 6,000 acres which were leased to rice farmers and small
cattle ranches. In 1892 he purchased 415 acres near what would become Houston Intercontinental
Airport from a New York firm for $780. In 1915 he donated a 69 acre tract of land to the Bayland
Orphan Home.
Meyer was an Independent Democrat and was twice elected alderman in the city of Houston,
representing the third ward in the City Council from 1888 to 1892. He also served one year as county
commissioner of Harris County and enjoys the distinction of having been chief of the Houston
Volunteer Fire Department as long ago as 1880. In 1892, Meyer was one of the organizers of the
Houston National Exchange Bank, of which he was vice president until 1912, when he became
president.
Rebecca and Joseph Meyer married in 1884 and had three children – George B., Joseph F. Jr. and Frank K. Joseph.
Age 84, pioneer merchant of Houston. President of the Houston National Bank. Son of Frank and Josephine Meyer. Widow of Rebecca Baker Meyer (d. 1915). Survived by sons Joseph F Jr, George B and Frank K Meyer.
George Baker Meyer...oldest son
Joseph F. Meyer, Sr., was prominent in business circles in Houston and Harris County and widely
known as a successful financier. He began in the business world when he was sixteen years old, as
the proprietor of an independent business. His earlier operations were on a small scale and expanded
with the passage of time, so that within a few short years he became well-known among more
established and powerful businessmen of the city.
Born in Germany in 1851, Joseph F. Meyer was the son of Frank and Josephine Meyer. Josephine
died when Joseph was three years old, and Frank brought him to America in 1855, settling first in
Memphis, Tennessee, and moving to Houston in 1867. At the age of 16 years he established the
Joseph F. Meyer Hardware Company at 802 Franklin at Milam Street. The company sold heavy
hardware, wagon makers' supplies, farm implements, railroad contractors' supplies, iron, and steel,
and was one of the largest of its kind in the city or Harris County. From then on, Meyer became
identified with the financial and commercial activities of Texas.
In 1885 Joseph F. Meyer began acquiring land in the southwest part of Houston between Buffalo and
Brays Bayous. By 1893 he owned more than 6,000 acres which were leased to rice farmers and small
cattle ranches. In 1892 he purchased 415 acres near what would become Houston Intercontinental
Airport from a New York firm for $780. In 1915 he donated a 69 acre tract of land to the Bayland
Orphan Home.
Meyer was an Independent Democrat and was twice elected alderman in the city of Houston,
representing the third ward in the City Council from 1888 to 1892. He also served one year as county
commissioner of Harris County and enjoys the distinction of having been chief of the Houston
Volunteer Fire Department as long ago as 1880. In 1892, Meyer was one of the organizers of the
Houston National Exchange Bank, of which he was vice president until 1912, when he became
president.
Rebecca and Joseph Meyer married in 1884 and had three children – George B., Joseph F. Jr. and Frank K. Joseph.
George Baker Meyer...oldest son
Joseph F. Meyer, Sr., was prominent in business circles in Houston and Harris County and widely
known as a successful financier. He began in the business world when he was sixteen years old, as
the proprietor of an independent business. His earlier operations were on a small scale and expanded
with the passage of time, so that within a few short years he became well-known among more
established and powerful businessmen of the city.
Born in Germany in 1851, Joseph F. Meyer was the son of Frank and Josephine Meyer. Josephine
died when Joseph was three years old, and Frank brought him to America in 1855, settling first in
Memphis, Tennessee, and moving to Houston in 1867. At the age of 16 years he established the
Joseph F. Meyer Hardware Company at 802 Franklin at Milam Street. The company sold heavy
hardware, wagon makers' supplies, farm implements, railroad contractors' supplies, iron, and steel,
and was one of the largest of its kind in the city or Harris County. From then on, Meyer became
identified with the financial and commercial activities of Texas.
In 1885 Joseph F. Meyer began acquiring land in the southwest part of Houston between Buffalo and
Brays Bayous. By 1893 he owned more than 6,000 acres which were leased to rice farmers and small
cattle ranches. In 1892 he purchased 415 acres near what would become Houston Intercontinental
Airport from a New York firm for $780. In 1915 he donated a 69 acre tract of land to the Bayland
Orphan Home.
Meyer was an Independent Democrat and was twice elected alderman in the city of Houston,
representing the third ward in the City Council from 1888 to 1892. He also served one year as county
commissioner of Harris County and enjoys the distinction of having been chief of the Houston
Volunteer Fire Department as long ago as 1880. In 1892, Meyer was one of the organizers of the
Houston National Exchange Bank, of which he was vice president until 1912, when he became
president.
Rebecca and Joseph Meyer married in 1884 and had three children – George B., Joseph F. Jr. and Frank K. Joseph.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
