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I am doing research on J.P. Meder (John P. Meder). He was born Sept. 17, 1848,
in Brunswick, Maine, and died March 1, 1908, in Carson City,
Nev. He came to Carson City along with with his parents and other relatives
in 1864 (1863?) when Nevada was still a territory. According to two of his
obituaries in 1908, he was an accomplished musician, was involved in the
theater in the Carson City, and served as organist of St. Peter's Episcopal
Church in Carson City. It appears his primary business was as Freight Agent
of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad in Carson City, but he also served as
manager of the Carson City Opera House and directed amateur theater
productions. He also served on the school board for 16 years and served as
president of that body at the time of his death. As a composer he is most
famous for writing the "Hank Monk Schottische," a pianistic tribute
to the Carson City stagecoach driver Hank Monk, made famous in Mark Twain's
"Roughing It." Three other Schottishes and a waltz were known to
have been written by him and published. It is likely other piano works were
also published. Four of his works are available online from the Library of
Congress
"American Memory" website: "My own" waltz,"
"The Pearl" schottisch, "Pretty blue eyes" Schottische,
and "Sweetest yet" Schottische. (Enter "Meder" in the search
box.) |
Photo of J.P. Meder,
courtesy of Elinor Berger
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In attempting to locate information about J.P. Meder's early experience, I have also become interested in his father, B.H. Meder (Benjamin H. Meder) (1812-1881). B.H. Meder was a native of Maine. He co-owned a fulling mill in Brunswich, Maine; served in the Maine legislature from 1842-1844, where he promoted the concept of school district consolidation; served as a newspaper publisher in Bath; did some mining in California; was elected justice of the peace in Yuba (Cal.) County in 1842; moved to Boston in 1844, where he owned a carriage building and stagecoach business; and moved to Carson City in 1863, where he built the first planing mill in the state. He was elected to the state Senate twice and, like his son, served as president of the school board.
J. P. Meder Tunes
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Comments
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Published by and dedicated to... |
Sound (MIDI) files and/or PDF of sheet music |
| The Appeal Schottische | Not located. The editor of the precursor to the Nevada Appeal makes reference to this work having been written by the young composer. I have seen no other references to the composition, however. | .
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| Hank Monk Schottische | "Copyright, 1878, by John G. Fox" | Published by John G. Fox, Carson City, Nev.
"Dedicated to Miss Lillie Swift" |
PDF of sheet music (retranscribed by D. Bugli) |
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"My Own" Waltz |
Copyright 1885[?] by I. L. A. Brodersen, 139 Post Street |
"Dedicated to Miss Florence E. Meder" |
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"Pretty Blue Eyes" Schottische |
On cover: "Copyright, Cagwin & Noteware, 1885"
Copyright inside says something like "Copyright A.D. 1885 by Cagwin & Noseware" (sic) |
Published by A. Waldteufel, 737 Market St. San Francisco Dedicated "To My Little Friend Martha L. Ardery." (she would have been about 4 Y.O.)* |
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"Pearl" Schottisch |
Copyright 1879 by Brentano's Literary Emporium |
Published by Brentano's Literary Emporium, Music Department, 35 Union Sq, New York Dedicated "To Miss Belle Goddard." |
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"The Grant Return" Schottisch |
As quoted in the 9/19/2009 "Nevada Appeal" "Past Pages" article in for 130 years ago (Sept. 1879): John P. Meder has composed a new piece of music which he will call "The Grant Return" schottische. |
(Probably not published.) It is presumed that this piece was dedicated to Pres. Grant, upon his visit to the Carson City and Virginia City area in September 1879. |
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"Sweetest Yet" Schottische |
Copyright A.D. 1884[?] by J.P. Meder |
Published by M. Gray, 206 Post Street, San Francisco, Cal. Dedicated "To Miss Alice Goss, by her brother G. W. Goss, of Santa Cruz, Cal." |
PDF of sheet music (D. Bugli's version with added violin) |
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Nevada State March |
Copyright 1894 by Byron Mauzy |
Published by Byron Mauzy, 308-314 Post Street, San Francisco "Dedicated to J.A. YERINGTON, Managing Director Nevada State Exhibit"
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PDF of sheet music (retranscribed by D. Bugli) |
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Don't Make a Noise schottische |
1877 Sherman & Hyde, San Francisco. A copy of this has been obtained, and a PDF and Midi version of it will be posted. |
"To my friend, W. A. Mann."
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"Pleasant Hour" Schottische |
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Not located |
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"Memories of the Past" Waltz |
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Not located |
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"Pretty Blue-eyed Kate" Song and Dance |
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Not located |
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"Water-Cress" Schottische |
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Not located |
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"What is it?" Schottische |
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Not located |
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"Twilight" |
Not located. This song was written with words by W.S. Byrne (William S. Byrne), an editor and sometimes poet. The song was sung at a benefit for singer Nellie Parkinson, daughter of the editor (publisher?) of the "Carson Tribune" (also referred to as the "Nevada Tribune"). Byrne had been or was the editor of the "Grass Valley Daily Union." One source also indicates that Byrne performed in a lot of musicals that Meder presented. |
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The MIDI files are playable using Quicktime and other audio/movie software.
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J.P. Meder was known for putting together
various groups for musical entertainment throughout his adult life. By some accounts, he and
one or more of his brothers assembled the musical ensemble for the 1866
cornerstone laying of the Carson City Mint, so he was about 17 years old at that time.
However, it is likely that Daniel Madeira organized the band and led it in 1866.
At right is a photograph of the band that Madeira, on the left, was probably leading in 1867. Dan Madeira probably left Carson City
the following year, and I suspect that J.P. Meder took over for him.
J.P. Meder is third from the left in the back row, holding an E-flat tenor
horn, perhaps. His brother James is in the front (out of focus) by the bass drum,
and Charles W. Friend, famous as a weatherman, jeweler, scientist, and
astronomer, is on the far right, with what looks to be an E-flat bass horn.
Click on the photo at right for a larger, clearer image and list of band
members, with annotations believed to be in J.P. Meder's own hand. |
Back row (left to right): Daniel Madeira, Geo. Cowing Sr., John P. Meder, Dean Hatch, Theodore Hale, Arnold Friend, Charles W. Friend Front row: Lyman Frisbie, James Meder Photo courtesy of Elinor Berger. |
I have presented two lectures presentations on J.P. Meder and his family. The first one, on July 22, 2008, was presented by the Carson City Historical Society at the Carson City Library. That presentation was video recorded and has been presented on Carson City's public access television station. That lecture can be viewed on the web by going to the Access Carson City website. A second presentation was done on September 20, 2008, at the Meader Family Association reunion in Carson City. -David Bugli
Click here to return to David Bugli's home page.
This page last updated 4/13/2014