HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.



half acres, a beautiful spot and favorite resort. His residence is at
the park, and there, too, he carries on a nice grocery trade. When
Mr. Held came to Henderson, it was only a village with one
dilapidated church-the old Union Church-that stood on the Square
and in which Rev. Thomas Evans preached ; one dray and one
delivery wagon-James Rouse was the owner of the dray, Nathaniel
Terryowned the wagon -;nd furnished the village with its winter's supplv
of wood. Mr. Held, all of his life, has been extremely liberal with
his friends and patrons, and has contributed largely to the building
up and improvement of the city.  His wife has been a hard working,
self-denying, faithful helpmate, and, in their old age, the two enjoy
life with a loving confidence that has never been diminished.
    GEORGE A. MAYER.-The old gentleman of whom this is but
an imperfect sketch, was born in the City of Mosbach, Germany, Jan-
uary 1st, 1797. He received what may be termed a liberal educa-
tion in his native country, and, on the twenty-ninth day of February,
1824, married Miss Margaretta Strohauer, unto whom there were
born nine children, only three of whom attained to their majority,
Louisa, Jacob F. and Virginius M., the latter being born on the high
sea during his mother's coming to this country. Mr. Mayer, before
leaving Germany, became a member of the Milhausen Immigration
Society, whose agent in this country was John Roebling, the great Mas-
ter Engineer, who was latterly chief in charge of the building
of the Brooklyn bridge, the grandest iron and steel structure
known to inventive genius. Mr. Roebling, by accident lost his life
before the completion of the work, and was succeeded by his son.
    Mr. Mayer arrived at New York in August, 1832, and settled at
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he remained until the early part of
1834, when he removed to Evansville, Indiana. He had learned the
trade of gunsmithing in the old country, and, from this, determined
to earn his livelihood in this new land. He remained in Evansville
but a short time, but while there, built, on the corner of Main and
Second Streets, the first two-story frame building, and the first build-
ing erected in L-masco by a German in that town. While he resided
in Evansville, there were only four or five hundred inhabitants, and
not exceeding eighty houses, all told. In February, 1835, he removed
to Henderson, and was among the first occupants of the present resi-
dence of F. W. Reutlinger, corner of Fourth and Elm Streets. He
immediately embarked in gunsmithing in an old frame shanty situated
on the northeast side of Mill or Second Street, between Main and
Water. He continued in this building for several years, when he re-



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