Joseph Ernest Meyer (September 5, 1878 – March 9, 1950) was a botanist, writer, illustrator, publisher, and supplier of pharmaceutical-grade herbs and roots to the drug trade who became a prominent citizen and eventually one of the first millionaireis in Northwest Indiana. He was the founder of the Indiana Botanic Gardens, Calumet National Bank and Meyer Publishing (now MeyerBooks). At his death he was said to be the world's largest distributor of herbs used in salves, cosmetics, and medicines.
Meyer not only supplied large pharmaceutical firms with drug-grade botanicals, he made up and packaged medical, culinary, and magical herbs for retail sales through his mail order catalogues and yearly almanacs. Many of the plants were raised in Indiana, but he also travelled the world to connect with growers in tropical and Mediterranean climates, and was a major importer of raw botanicals. The Indiana Botanic Garden catalogues and almanacs were illustrated with his own artwork, both line-art and water colours, and he wrote extensively about the folkloric customs employed by herbalists from many cultures. The articles and illustrations that he produced for the yearly catalogues were eventually collected into books, among which the most popular was titled The Herbalist and Herb Doctor.
Meyer's Castle is an example of Jacobethan Revival Architecture that was built between 1929 and 1931 by architect Cosbey Bemard Sr. as a replica of a Scottish castle, and to be the private residence of Joseph Meyer. He had seen the exact same castle once while traveling in Europe, and fell in love with it till the point that he had to re-create his own in the United States. It's location in the forested area on top of the highest point of Lake County, was perfect to continue his practice of Herbology. When it was completed in 1931, it became the largest, and most lavish home in the surrounding Calumet region. Meyer lived in the castle until his death in 1950. His wife Cecilia, remained there for several years after her husband's passing.
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