Henry C. (Henry Coddington) Meyer

Born in Hamburg, Germany, on April 14, 1844, and raised in the New York and New Jersey area, he served in the Union Army during the Civil War with the 24th New York Cavalry. He was later recognized with the Medal of Honor for heroic action at Petersburg, Virginia, on June 17, 1864, when he helped save a wounded officer under heavy fire.

After the war, Meyer moved into business and civic work. Reference sources describe him not only as a manufacturer, but also as an editor and public-health reformer, which fits with his practical books on subjects such as water waste prevention and steam power plants.

For readers today, he is most closely associated with Civil War Experiences, a firsthand account of campaigning under commanders including Bayard, Gregg, Kilpatrick, and Custer. He died in Montclair, New Jersey, on March 27, 1935.