Faatumu le fuaiupu lenei: Na fanau Benjamin F. Meyers e lata i New Centerville, i Pennsylvania. Na auai o ia i le Somerset Academy ma le Jefferson College i Canonsburg, Pennsylvania (lea ua avea nei ma Washington ma le Jefferson College i Washington, Pennsylvania). Na ia aʻoaʻoina le tulafono, ma taliaina i le lōia ma amata ona galue i le 1855. Na avea o ia ma sui o le Pennsylvania State House of Representatives i le 1864. Sa avea o ia ma sui o le Democratic National Convention i le 1864,
I le 1880, 1884, 1888, 1892, 1896, ma le 1900. Na avea o ia ma faatonu o le "Bedford Gazette" ma i le 1868 o le "Harrisburg Daily Patriot".