Frederick Meyer Jr.
Hattie May Craven
1870-1963
1876-1946

Frederick Meyer, Jr., was born September 14, 1870, in Franciscoville, Michigan, of parents, Frederick and Caroline Meyer, who were visiting relatives there. They returned to Redding when he was six months old. Frederick attended Eureka Elementary School-New Bella Vista. The Same School his six children would later attend.

He was a farmer in the Bella Vista area where he met his future wife, Hattie May Cravens, through a neighbor, William Yank, who was married to Hattie's sister. Hattie May Cravens was born February 19, 1876, in Colusa to parents, John and Martha Catherine Cravens. She came to Shasta Co., at age six years.

Frederick and Hattie married January 6, 1895, at her parent's home on Stillwater. Frederick homesteaded land adjoining his parents' property at Cow Creek, later called Bella Vista. For a short time after Their marriage, he worked at the lumber yard in Bella Vista, riding his horse four miles to work.

They lived at the homestead for about four years where the first two children of their family of six were born. The children were:
Cleta Lorraine (Hunt) b. 1896 d. 1955
Ray Kenneth b. 1897 d. 1978
Martha Caroline (Aldridge) b. 1899
Melva May (Dersch) b. 1901 d. 1988
Edgar Daniel b. 1908 d. 1977
Donald Earl b. 1910 d. 1982

They then moved to the Rutherford Place for two years where their third child was born and later back to the homestead where their fourth child was born. In 1904, they bought a portion of the ranch which is now owned by their oldest son's two daughters, the last two children were born here.

During the years they made their living by raising hay, grain, hogs, turkeys, and beef cattle. Probably the most disastrous thing to happen during their married life was when their home burned in 1936. No one was home and everything was destroyed.

On January 5, 1945, Fred And Hattie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the Millville Grance Hall.

Hattie died at St. Caroline's Hospital in Redding in November, 1946. Frederick remained in good health until about two years before his death in 1963. They are both buried in the Millville Cemetery.

Their descendants now include 19 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and 15 great great grandchildren.

Source: Shasta Historical Society

Home
Biography Index