Louis Meyer was born in New York City to John Henry and Florentine (Goldig) Meyer. After his mother died, his father was unable to care for the children, and Dorothea and William were turned over to the Episcopalian Orphanage while Amelia helped care for Louis. After his father suffered a stroke, Louis also was sent to the Episcopalian Orphanage. In 1887, the Children's Aid Society of New York sent him to Valley Falls, Kansas, where he first lived with David Glenn, a widower, and his four grown children. After Glenn died only months later, Louis was placed with David Schreffler in Clay Center, Kansas. The Schreffler family and Louis moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma in 1880, but Louis was not treated well there. He ran away and found safety with his friend Marion Leak. In 1894 he moved to Cloud County near Jamestown and worked for Robert Hanson, whose family treated him like a son. In 1898 Louis enlisted for service in the Spanish-American War and served four years. He married Anna Elniff on September 30, 1903, and they had six children: Mabel, Henry, Fred, Udeen, Virginia, and Louise. Louis operated a dairy farm and delivered fresh milk to the residents of Jamestown for many years. He loved bees and made sure Anna always had fresh honey. The couple remained married for 60 years and were buried together at Jamestown Cemetery in Cloud County, Kansas.