User:Artiffactor/sandbox/Meyer & Linz, Louisville, KY

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'Meyer & Linz was a firm in Louisville Kentucky that converted its industries into arms production at the beginning of the Civil War. In February 1990, a sword was discovered with a manufacturer's marking of MEYER & LINZ, LOUISVILLE, KY, and was later published in several reference books. It was classified as a Confederate copy of the U.S. Model 1840 cavalry sword. At the time of its documentation, little was known about the firm, due to inaccessibility of digitized archives. In November 2007, another sword by this maker surfaced, only it’s a Confederate copy of the U.S. Model 1840 light artillery saber. Its discovery led to another investigation into the origin of the firm. The firm was a partnership of two German immigrants, 44 year old Charles H.L. Meyer, aka Meyers Myers, and his 21 year old step-son Adam Linz, aka Lintz Lentz. Names recorded during this period were often based on phonetics, and misspelling was enhanced when a recording was taken from immigrants with strong accents. Some immigrants also modified their name, to help them adapt to American society.

Louisville’s 1861 City Directory recorded the firm as Meyer & Lintz, at 1026 West Market Street, under the headings, Blacksmiths, Brass Bell Founders, Bank Vault Door Manufactures, and Locksmiths. This Directory also recorded Charles H.L. Meyer, as a sole proprietor, at the same address, under Hardware and Cutlery-Retail.

-- Genealogy --

In the residential section of the 1861 Directory, on page 150, there is a Lentz, Adam, and next to his name in parentheses is, (Meyer & Lentz), followed by 1026 West Market. On Feb. 16, 1850, Charles H.L. Meyer married Adam’s mother, Anna, in Jefferson Co. KY. Their marriage record showed her as widowed from a Charles Linz. Adam’s father died prior to their immigration into the U.S. at the Port of New Orleans on June 16, 1848. Upon their arrival at the port, the ship’s captain, Master Rogers, let young Adam, the head male member of his household, change his name to Lentz, as found on his list of immigrant passengers. Adam’s name followed Charles Meyer, who was also aboard the same vessel, Hanover. It was presumed Master Rogers did this since recording a single mother arriving in a foreign country would not have been a good statistic.

Historical Context

 Following the bombing of Fort Sumter, President Abraham Lincoln ordered the Union blockade of southern port cities interrupting the South's ability to maintain Free trade , economic stability, and more importantly stop importation of arms. This prompted many businesses and industries having capability of weapons manufacture to convert their shops and factories into arms production. In spite of Kentucky not seceding from the United States and joining the Confederacy, port cities, along the Ohio River, including Louisville, were monitored for transportation of goods considered Contraband. 

Louisville's economy thrived from steam ship navigation on the Ohio River and also as a railroad hub, with the Louisville and Nashville Railroad According to many newspaper articles, the Union blockade caused an immediate shut down of many of the city's industries. This was seen by many locals as a violation of their Constitutional right to Free trade, especially since Kentucky had not seceded from the United States. City wide panic followed, along with the formation of local military companies seeking arms. Meyer & Lintz or Linz, quickly converted its businesses into arms production. And for a short time attempted to meet the demand. The concerns were not only about the economic downturn. But also whether Confederate forces gathering in other states would come to Louisville to end the blockade, or whether Federal troops nearby would engage with local southern sympathizers initially totaling about 50% of this areas population. As the weeks past, locally formed regiments supporting the South left the area to join forces with the Confederate army, leaving Louisville more open to Union occupation and control.

Whether Meyer & Linz were funded by city government, a wealthy citizen, or the Confederate government is currently unknown. Local newspaper articles attest to the city's desire to appropriate funds for arms but was not specific about sources. Other articles mentioned wealthy citizens paying for equipment out of their own pockets. 

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