Lassen County Biographies

Gurdon W. Meylert

Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Nov. 2004

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


 
He is the son of Secku and Abigal (Nichols) Meylert, and was born at Montrose, 
Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1837. He had the benefit of a good 
education, having attended the Lewisburg University and the Polytechnic 
Institute of Troy, New York. At the age of fifteen he taught school at La Porte, 
Pennsylvania. He commenced traveling at an early age, visiting the South Sea 
Islands, and spending a number of months in China. In November, 1855 he landed 
in San Francisco, and adopted the profession of teacher. Taught for several 
years in Napa county. In the winter of 1861 he located to Sacramento, but the 
floods of 1861-62 destroyed all his accumulations. In 1862 he was engaged in 
business in San Francisco, traveling over the state for a portion of the time. 
He settled in Plumas county in March, 1863, tried mining for a time, but being 
unsuccessful, went to teaching, and followed it four years, during which time he 
held the office of county superintendent of public instruction. Since his 
residence here he has been identified with and largely instrumental in bringing 
to successful completion every public improvement in the county. He has held 
many positions of trust in the county. Mr. Meylert has recently removed to 
Janesville, Lassen county, where he purchased the beautiful home formerly 
belonging to L. N. Breed, together with other large interests, including a 
general merchandise store here, and another in Susanville. He is receiver of the 
United States land office at Susanville. His father, Secku Meylert, was a man of 
those sterling qualities which make men, and which he has transmitted to his 
sons, Gurdon W., General A. N., Michael, and Dr. A. P. �all of whom are men of 
high moral character, great energy, and strict integrity, and enjoy the 
confidence and respect of all who know them. Gurdon W. was married in January, 
1864, to Miss H. E. Madden, daughter of G. W. and Eliza Madden of Taylorsville. 
His portrait and view of his residence may be seen elsewhere in this work. 
 
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 
1513 to 1850. � Fariss and Smith, San Francisco,  1882. p 506-507