Dr. Louis Henry Mayer was one of the well known and highly respected citizens of Johnstown, where he was a leading physician for over thirty years. He was born in Johnstown, March 8, 1862, the son of William Frederick and Christina (Leitenberger) Mayer, natives of Germany.
William Frederick Mayer was born in Brackenheim Konigreich Wurtenberg, Germany, August 22, 1830. He came to the United States about 1853, and in 1854 removed from New York to Johnstown, where he became engaged in the furniture business, later working for the Cambria Iron Company. He was married in 1857 and died August 21, 1896.
Dr. Louis Henry Mayer attended primary and grammar schools until 16 years of age, when he entered the office of the Tribune as an apprentice and worked at a “case” until he began to study medicine in the office of Dr. W. B. Lowman, later going to Philadelphia, where he entered Jefferson Medical College and graduated in 1887. He then began practice in Johnstown, where he met with decided success.
Doctor Mayer was married May 21, 1889, to Olive Frances Stephens, who was born in Dilltown, Indiana County, the daughter of William S. and Sara Ann (Skiles) Stephens. She is a sister of Attorney John H. Stephens and of the late Judge M. B. Stephens of Johnstown. Mrs. Mayer now resides at the Mayer Apartments, on Locust Street. To Doctor and Mrs. Mayer were born the following children:
Dr. Louis Henry Mayer, Jr., was graduated from the public schools of Johnstown and from the Jefferson medical college in the class of 1913, after which he engaged in the practice of his profession in his home city. He was commissioned as first lieutenant. M. R. C., U. S. A., and served in Camp Dix, N. J., and Camp Meade, Md., and later was promoted to captain and served in Porto Rica, receiving his discharge June 21, 1919. In 1916 he married Grace Sefton of Pittsburgh, and is now living in the Borough of Westmont, Johnstown, and is engaged in the practice of his profession, specializing in the diseases of the children.
Olive Frances Mayer was graduated from the Johnstown public schools and Chevy Chase Seminary, Washington, D. C., in 1913. she was married in 1914 to Dr. Robert M. Palmer, of Pottsville, Pa., who is engaged in the general practice of medicine in Johnstown. They have two children, Robert M., Jr., and Frank C. Palmer.
Dr. Frederick Mayer was graduated from the public schools of Johnstown, from Princeton University in 1914, and from the Medical School of Johns Hopkins University in 1918. He enlisted in May, 1917, as a private in the Medical Corps of the army, going to France in June, 1917, serving with the Johns Hopkins Base Hospital. Commissioned as a first lieutenant in the Medical Corps in 1918, he served with the Second Division through five major engagements and in the Army of Occupation in Germany. He was discharged in May, 1919, after 22 months' service overseas. In 1919 he married Leone Raab, of Johnstown, and is now living in the Borough of Southmont, Johnstown, and is actively engaged in the practice of his profession, specializing in the diseases of children.
W. Stephens Mayer was graduated from the public schools of Johnstown and from Princeton University in 1918. He attended Harvard Law School from 1919-1921 and finished his law course at the University of Pennsylvania in 1922. In October of that year, he was admitted to the bar of Cambria County and has since engaged in the practice of law with offices in the U. S. Bank Building, Johnstown. During the World War he enlisted from Princeton University and was sent to the Officers Training School, Camp Grant, Ill. He received his commission at Camp Taylor, Kentucky, August 31, 1918, and at the time of his discharge, December 5, 1918, was stationed at Camp Jackson, S. C.
On December 31, 1921, Mr. Mayer was married to Miss Hilda Anderson Ellis, born in Johnstown January 4, 1901. They have a son, William Stephens, Jr., born in 1922.
Dr. and Mrs. Mayer were married ten days when the Johnstown Flood occurred and made them homeless. During the flood, Dr. Mayer used his best efforts in helping those who were less fortunate than he and later became one of the organizers of the Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital Association, in which he was a prominent figure for many years. He served on the medical staff at the Eighth Ward institution and was a lecturer in the Nurses' Training School for a number of years. He served as president of the Cambria County Medical Society in 1896.
Dr. Mayer was prominent in Masonic circles. He was admitted to membership in Cambria Lodge No. 278, F. & A. M., in 1890; to Portage Royal Arch Chapter No. 195 in 1902; to Cambria Council No. 32 R. & S. M. M. and Oriental Commandery No. 61, Knights Templar, in 1903. He belonged to the Pennsylvania consistory, Scottish Rite Masons, Pittsburgh, and Syria Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine, also of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Mayer was also connected with several financial institutions, being one of the organizers of and an officer in the old Dollar Deposit Bank and was a member of the board of directors of the National Bank of Johnstown from the time that it began business in 1914 until his death. During 1914 Dr. Mayer erected the Mayer Apartments, an all modern eight story structure, in which he took pride, always looking to the comfort of his tenants. He was a devout member of the First Lutheran Church, which he liberally supported. His death occurred May 22, 1920. He is buried in Grandview Cemetery.
~ History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume II, 1926, Pages 673-675
You can visit the memorial page for Dr Louis Henry Mayer Sr.
