El Dorado County
Biographies
FREDERICK LAGERSON
Was born October 12, 1830, in the city of Schleswig, Schleswig Holstein, Germany, he is a son of Frederick and Anna (Hage) Lagerson. When but a young boy he learned the blacksmith trade from his father.
In 1855 he came to the United States, and after a short time spent in New York city, removed to Grassy point on the Hudson river. Here he spent two years and then removed to Davenport, Iowa. In 1859 he left Iowa and crossed the plains to California, with an ox team. After spending a short time at Placerville he located at Kelsey, where he mined for many years. He is a practical amalgamator and machinist. He was married in February, 1873, to Henrietta Dreves, a native of Hanover, Germany, where she was born in 1830. They have four children, Frederick W., Anna H., Bertha J., and Walter E. Mr. Lagerson has a beautiful home at the junction of the roads leading from Kelsey and Georgetown to Coloma.
He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, Acazia Lodge and Georgetown Chapter, R.A.M., in both of which he has held offices, is also a member of the A.O.U.W.
Historical Souvenir of El Dorado County, California with Illustrations & Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men & Pioneers - Oakland, Cal. - Paolo Sioli, Publisher, 1883. p - 252
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
LEWIS B. MEYERS
One of the first men to reach California in 1849, was born in McConnellsville, Bedford county, Penn., Oct. 26, 1812. When 18 years of age he went to learn the cabinet maker’s trade at St. Louis, Mo. From here he went in the employ of Benton Savery, as a trapper to the Rocky Mountains, afterwards as an interpreter among the Sioux Indians. When the Mormons came along he joined in with them and went to Salt Lake city. In 1849 he left there with a company bound for California. They arrived at Sacramento about middle of July, and in a short time Meyers was keeping a place at Brighton, constructed of willow poles and canvass, in which he sold meals and drinks. After two or three months he formed a partnership with Nathan Fairbanks and Louis Lane, and opened a store at Greenwood, in El Dorado county, no doubt the first one kept in the place. John Greenwood had kept a public house, then kept by Root, and there is little doubt but that it was there in 1848. Louis Lane soon died, and the business was continued by Fairbanks and Meyers, who soon added a butchering business to the trade and took in Wm. P. Crone as a partner. Meyers sold out and bought the Penobscot House, which he kept until 1854, when it passed into the hands of Page and Lovejoy. He then purchased the property known as “Chimney Rock” ranch, on which he still resides.
Mr. Myers [sic] was married en route across the plains, at Ragtown, on Carson river, to Miss Maria Lane, the ceremony took place on the 7th of June, 1849. The family consists of Lewis L., born March 25, 1850, and the first white child born at Greenwood, Margaret Louella, born January 31, 1852, (deceased) Ann Maria , born March 25, 1854, killed by accident when 3 years old, Mary Elizabeth, born January 27, 1856, now Mrs. Godfrey Smeder, of Oakland, William H., born Aug. 14, 1858, and George Grant, born Aug. 16, 1863. Mrs. Myers [sic] died Feb. 16, ’82. She was the second white woman in Greenwood Valley. It has been Mr. Myers’ [sic] good luck to raise a family of children that are interesting, intelligent and of good habits. His sons are steady young men of temperate habits.
Historical Souvenir of El Dorado County, California with Illustrations & Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men & Pioneers - Oakland, Cal. - Paolo Sioli, Publisher, 1883. p – 252-253
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler