People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 27-25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1896 — Frank B. Meyer. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Frank B. Meyer.

Ia the above named individual the present generation of boys has an illustration of what can be accomplished by the determined effort of one whose only capital was a pair of willing hands guided by a forceful amount of native ability. The Old Reliable drug store, of which Mr. Meyer is now the proprietor, is the direct result of the apprenticeship that he began when 16 years old at'the lucrative wage of <£6 per month, without board. Frank B. Meyer was born in Lafayette Feb. 7, 1856; received

his first instruction in the German Catholic school at that place, where he acquired a comprehensive understanding of the German language that has been invaluable in his subsequent studies and in the conduct of his business. Later he attended the Lafayette public schools and those of Rensselaer, to which place he came in 1869. It was in 1872 that he entered the drug store of Emmet Kannal, who was, at that time, considered one of the best pharmacists in the state, a graduate of the Philadelphia college of Pharmacy. The second year of his apprenticeship he was paid sߣ per month. At the end of his second year with Mr. Kannal he accepted a position in a Lafayette drug store, more to have the advantages of a wider scope of prescription work, than for the advance of wages obtained, the opportunity here then for pre scription work being limited. After working in the Lafayette drug store for eighteen months he returned to Rensselaer and concluded a graduation in the private school of James H. Burnham, in the summer of 1874. Then he was in the service of Dr. Wm. Spencer at Monticello for awhile, after which he began a clerkship for Harding & Willey in the building now occupied by his own store. It was then considered a very fine building, being the second brick business block erected in Rensse laer. The firm moved the stock and fixtures from another room and Mr. Meyer prepared the new store for business in a most creditable manner, making it the leading place of its kind in town In about nine months he went to a more lucrative position at Dixon, 111., for a year. Returning then to Rensselaer he was made manager of the drug store by Mr. Willey, who had purchased his partner’s interest. In a short time Willis J. Imes bought the store, still retaining Mr. Meyer In 1879 he entered upon a course of study at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, reputed the best of its character in the world. He graduated in March, 1881. and accepted a partnership with his old preceptor, under the firm name of Imes & Meyer. It is fair to remark here that though he came out of college with a flat wallet, he earned every dollar that was used in his college career, and when he returned a number of good opportunities to engage in business were offered him. As soon as the balance sheet showed a credit of a couple of dollars to his account, he slipped over to the clerk’s office and purchased a license to wed Miss Alice C. Hopkins, who had been patiently waiting for him. They now have three children, two boys and a daughter, all bright and promising. Mr. Meyer’s knowledge of German is of great assistance to him and he is probably better versed in the German man pharmacopoeia than the average German druggist. He is a member of the K. P.’s and I. O. O. F. and is a Knights Templar Mason, being in good standing in all these orders. Mr. Meyer is a member of the town board, and is one of the most active workers of that body, always carefully conserving the interests intrusted to him. In saying that he is a representative citizen the fact is not statedrfor he is representative only of the thoroughly progressive spirit of the times, and his great popularity makes him a' powerful factor in city’s development.