Albert J. Meyers

ALBERT J. MEYERS. - One of the leading representatives of the plumbing business in Kansas City, Kansas, is Mr. Meyers, whose well equipped establishment is located at 810 Minnesota avenue. He has gained definite success through his own well directed energies and as a citizen and business man he has a secure place in the confidence and esteem of those who know him.

Mr. Meyers was born in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, on the 16th of September, 1864, and is a son of Michael and Anna (Thomas) Meyers, both of whom were born in the province of Alsace, France, which is now a part of the great empire of Germany. The mother was forty-seven years of age at the time of her death and the father lived to attain the age of sixty-two years. Michael Meyers was a youth at the time of his immigration to America, in 1830, and the voyage was made on a sailing vessel of the type common to that period. He landed in the city of New Orleans, and finally proceeded to St. Louis, Missouri, where his marriage was solemnized. His wife was ninety days on the ocean at the time when she came to America, and the primitive vessel on which she had taken passage was severely buffeted and delayed by storms ere it reached its destination, in New Orleans. Of the four children three are living: Adeline, who is the wife of Victor Hugg, residing in St. Louis; Albert J., who is the subject of this sketch; and William, of St. Louis. Emil is deceased.

Michael Meyers was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Missouri until the outbreak of the Civil war, and he responded to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers by enlisting for the ninety-days service. After the expiration of his term he re-enlisted in another Missouri regiment, and he continued in active service as a gallant soldier of the Union until the close of the war. Soon afterward he engaged in the general merchandise business at Carondelet, in the locality now known as South St. Louis, where he passed the remainder of his life. In the meanwhile he had been one of the adventurous spirits who joined the ever memorable exodus of argonauts to California, in 1849, and he continued to be identified with gold-mining in that state until 1855, when he returned to Missouri. He was a Republican in politics, was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and both he and his wife were devout communicants of the Catholic church.

Albert J. Meyers gained his early educational training in the schools of Carondelet, St. Louis county, Missouri, and as a youth, in compliance with the wishes of his father, he served an apprenticeship to the barber's trade. He had no liking for the business, however, and did not follow the trade after he had become a skillful workman. For a time he was employed in the steel mills in St. Louis, as was he later in those at Bridgeport, near the city of Chicago. He then drifted into Wisconsin, where he was employed on a farm near Geneva lake for a period of about three years. Thereafter he held a position in the steel mills at Joliet, Illinois, for a time, and in 1884 he established his home in Kansas City, Missouri, where he was identified with various lines of occupation, including the plumbing business, in which he gained a practical knowledge of all details. In 1894 he came to Kansas City, Kansas, and established himself in the plumbing business, with which he has here been identified since that time, save for a period of a few months passed in Alaska, in 1896, he has built up a prosperous business and gained reputation as a reliable and progressive buiness[sic] man and loyal citizen. In politics he maintains an independent attitude and he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and other social organizations.

October 16, 1894, stands on record as the date of the marriage of Mr. Meyers to Miss Edith B. Gordon, who was born at Augusta, Kennebec county, Maine, and who is a representative of stanch old New England stock. Mr. and Mrs. Meyers have one daughter, Helen Leora.