The Byerly Families of Jones County, Iowa

ALVIN RICKETTS BYERLY.

Alvin Ricketts Byerly, now of Fredonia, Kansas, but for many years a leading farmer of Jackson township, Jones county, Iowa, and a man who participated in many of the incidents surrounding pioneer life in this state, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, October 4, 1841, a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Jeffries) Byerly, a history of whom is given elsewhere in this work He is the eldest of their six children who grew to maturity and therefore the brunt of the hardships fell upon his shoulders after the family arrived in Jackson township in 1846. Indians were numerous and had to be contended with as well as other wild things, and the boy grew to manhood sturdy and self-reliant because of his struggles, securing such educational advantages as the primitive schools afforded. Later he attended Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa.

When he felt his country had need of his services, Mr. Byerly enlisted September 12, 1862, in Company K, Sixth Iowa Cavalry, at Marion, Iowa, and was sent up the Missouri river to look after hostile Indians. He was in several skirmishes with them and participated in the battle of White Stone Hills, North Dakota, September 3, 1863. On October 1, 1865, he was mustered out at Sioux City, Iowa, with the rank of sergeant.

After these exciting experiences, Mr. Byerly returned home and resumed his farming operations. On August 28, 1862, he married Emarilla Beam, who was born in Indiana in 1845, "d was brought to Jones county by her parents, Joseph and Barbara Ann (Fall) Beam. On May 28, 187 1, Mr. Byerly went to Wilson county, Kansas, and had the misfortune to lose his wife September 13, of that year. He returned home and in 1873 married Ella Mary Armitage, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1853, and was also brought to Iowa by her parents.

By his first marriage Mr. Byerly had three children, namely: Jennie Josephine, who married M. T. Fleming, of Maquoketa, Iowa, and has three children, Mabel, Parke and Joseph Dale; Joseph Michael, a resident of Jackson township, who married Carrie Benadom and has two children, Ina and Alvin; and Nora May, who married John Landis, of Jackson township, and has two children. Miles and Jennie. There are four children by the second union: Roy, a lumber dealer of Parsons, Kansas, who married Daisy Tarr and has three children, Harold, Keith and Doris; Mabel Imogene, now the wife of Frank Clifford Carter, of St. Paul, Minnesota; Bessie, a photographer at Fredonia, Kansas; and Clifford J., a printer living in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

. Mr. Byerly came to Anamosa in 1846 when there was but one log house here, known as the Lexington Tavern. He returned to Kansas in 1875 located in Wilson county at a time when Fredonia, now the county seat, was but a postoffice. Several years ago he sold his farm and removed to that city, where he is now enjoying a well earned rest, although for some time he was a dealer in queensware but has now retired from all active business. Like the other members of his family, he is a strong democrat and served as deputy sheriff for four years. Mr. Byerly is a Mason, joining that order in Anamosa in 1872. Although he no longer lives in Jones county, he has a tender "spot in his heart for his old home and is always interested in anything that tends toward advancing the interests of his relatives and old neighbors.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Many of the most successful farmers of Jones county are those who in younger years devoted some of their time to teaching school, thus gaining a broader outlook on life and an understanding of human nature. They have learned the value of a thorough comprehension of any line of work and when they turned their full attention to farming it was with the idea of profiting by the experience of others. One of the men who has been both school teacher and farmer is Milton Byerly, residing on section 4, Jackson township, who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, January 30, 1844, and was brought to Jones county by his parents, Michael and Elizabeth (Jefifries) Byerly, in 1846. The family located in Jackson township and for many years assisted other pioneers in the work of improvement.

Milton Byerly received more than the average education afforded the farmer's son, for after he had attended the common school he entered Cornell College at Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and also took a commercial course in Iron City College at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. For eighteen winters he taught school in Jones county and farmer in the summer, becoming one of the best known educators of his locality. He made his home with his parents until his brother John was married and then he farmer in partnership with him. This association continued until Mr. Byerly was married, when he settled on his own farm. His present farm, located on sections 4 and 5, Jackson township, cost him fifty dollars an acre but it is now worth much more owing to the work he has put upon it as well as his many improvements. Here he carries on general farming and stock raising, and his property shows the results of his good management and knowledge of his business. In addition to this farm Mr. Byerly owns one hundred and sixty acres in San Luis Valley, Colorado.

In 1882 Mr. Byerly married Marie J. Johnson, who was born in Fairview township, Jones county, March 25, 1863, a daughter of the Rev. J. H. and Katherine (Bowlby) Johnson, natives of Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Johnson was a clergyman of the Christian church and came here in 1860. In addition to his pastoral duties, he also engaged in farming and he and his wife spent the remainder of their Hves here.

A stanch supporter of the principles of democracy, Mr. Byerly has held all of the important township offices, including those of township clerk and assessor and is now township committeeman. As a public official, a business man or an educator Mr. Byerly has always done his full duty as he has seen it, and has won the confidence and respect of those with whom he has been brought into contact. For a number of years he has been a member of the United Brethren church at Antioch, and is one of the liberal contributors to that body. He and his wife had charge of the music in that church for a quarter of a century. For a year and a half they made their home in Denver, Colorado.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN W. BYERLY.

John W. Byerly, one of the substantial farmers of Jackson township, is a man of considerable force of character and one who occupies a prominent place in his community. He was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, October 13, 1845, son of Michael and Elizabeth (Jeffries) Byerly. The founder of the family in America was Andrew Byerly, who came from his native land, Germany, about 1745 and participated in the French and Indian war, serving with Washington. His wife bore the maiden name of Beatrice Guiding and was a native of Berne, Switzerland. A gr,eat-grandfather of John W. Byerly, George Creamer, took part in the Revolutionary war as a private in the Second Pennsylvania Continental troops and served under Colonel Philip De Haas. Six children were born to Michael Byerly and wife, of whom John W. Byerly was the third in order of birth. Michael Byerly was a son of Francis, and great grandson of Andrew Byerly, the founder of the family in this country.

In 1846, the Byerly family came to Jackson township, Jones county, Iowa, and this has been the home of John W. Byerly ever since. He received a common-school education and after he had finished school, he taught for five winters in Jones county and during the summer farmer for his parents until he assumed the management of the home place. He now owns this farm, which consists of two hundred and ten acres on sections 20, 21 and 29, Jackson township. It is in excellent condition and all of the present improvements have been made by Mr. Byerly. He makes a specialty of stock raising and feeding and has met with gratifying results in his work. This farm was entered by his uncle John Byerly. When the family came here they had no money but plenty to eat and their home was always open to those less fortunate than themselves. So hospitable were they that many times they boarded whole families upon their arrival here, and could never be induced to accept a cent. No one was ever turned away hungry. Mr. Byerly and his brother Milton are the only ones now residing in Jackson township who were here when Iowa as admitted to the Union.

The Byerlys have always been democrats and our subject follows in the footsteps of his forebears and supports the candidates of that party. He has been called upon to fill the offices of school director and road commissioner and has made a good public official.

On March 7, 1873, Mr. Byerly married Susie AI. Johnson, who was born in Lenawee county, Michigan, June 21, 1848, and was brought to Jones county by her parents in 1856, having since made it her home. She is a daughter of James and Maria (Whaley) Johnson, natives of England, who came to America after their marriage, in 1838. and located in Michigan. The father's death occurred in Crawford county, Iowa, and the mother's in Clinton county, the same state. Mr. and Mrs. Byerly have had two children: Eva Mary and Earl Russell. Miss Eva Mary is now at home and is a very well educated lady, for after taking a high-school course she attended the Iowa State Normal School, where she was graduated and she also secured the degree of A. B. at-Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the degree of A. M. at Columbia University in 1908. She has been a teacher in the high-school of Cedar Rapids. Earl Russell was educated in the Anamosa high school and is now a farmer of Jackson township.

Perhaps no family is better known than the one bearing the name of Byerly. Its representatives have done much to develop and improve their part of the county and all have become well-to-do. have borne their part in public affairs and always led law-abiding lives.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HON. WILLIAM M. BYERLY.

Some men are personal popular enough to rise above party lines and ties and to carry all before them. They possess the characteristics needed in public men and these are recognized and appreciated by those in whose hands lies the voting privilege. The Hon. William M. Byerly of Jackson township, present member of the lower house of the general assembly from his district, is a man whose popularity is remarkable and whose public life is without a blemish. He was born in this township. March 31. 1854, and he belongs to one of the best known families of Jones county, being a son of the pioneers Michael and Elizabeth (Jefferies) Byerly.

Michael Byerly was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, July 10, 18 18. while his wife was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, May 6, 1815, but she was taken to Fairfield county by her parents and was there married November 1, 1840. Six years later they came to Jones county, Iowa, locating in Jackson township, which ever afterward was their home. The father died here July 10 1896. and the mother passed away December 22, 1900. Michael Byerly entered the land now owned by his son William M., fifty-six acres being in timber and forty in prairie. He also bought other claims until he owned one hundred and sixty-six acres. This land has never been out of the family or been incumbered in any way. In politics he was a strong democrat and held various township offices. He was also active in religious work and was one of the founders of the Antioch Christian church as well as one of its trustees. He and his wife had the following family: Alvin R., who lives at Fredonia, Kansas; Milton J. and John W. who live in Jackson township; Malinda, who married R. B. Johnson, of Jackson township; William M., of this review; Elizabeth, who died at the age of eighteen years; and three children who died in infancy. The eldest, Alvin R. enlisted in 1862 in Company K. Sixth Iowa Cavalry and served three years in rhe Civil war, or until

William M. Byerly has spent his life in Jones county with the exception of three years, from 1880 to 1883, when he was in Barton county, Kansas. He was educated in the common schools of Jackson township and at Lennox College, Hopkinton, Iowa.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

John Byerly, who for more than forty years has been a member of the agricultural community of Wyoming township, was born in Pennsylvania, August 25, 1825, and is the son of Michael and Mary (Lookabaugh) Byerly. The family is one of remotely German ancestry, for about five generations back one of the name left the fatherland when the fever of colonizing the new world was just invading the countries of northern Europe and settled in the vicinity of Philadelphia about 1635. His descendants have, therefore, in turn been connected with the history of this country from its earliest years, participating in all its struggles, from the conflicts with the Indians to the last great war which so nearly destroyed the nation that had been built from the colonies. Michael Byerly and his wife remained in their Pennsylvania home throughout their lives and there reared their family of ten children, only four of whom now survive: John, of this review; Hannah, who lives in Pennsylvania; Rachel, who is the wife of William Bolton and lives in her native state; and A. J. Byerly, of Anamosa,

John Byerly received such an education as the public schools of his period afforded and remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age, when he married and started in life for himself. He bought first a farm in Pennsylvania, on which he lived and worked for about fifteen years, when, won by the stories of the opportunities in this state, he disposed of his property, crossed the mountains and made his way to Jones county. Here, in 1865, he purchased the farm on which he now lives. It is one hundred and eighty-five acres in extent, devoted to general farming which Mr. Byerly has pursued upon it for more than two score of years. In this period he has had opportunity to witness the many improvements which have simplified and lightened the work of the farmer, a progress marked enough since he has taken up his residence here but even greater if he looks back over the whole span of his life.

At the age of twenty-five years, just at the dawn of the second half of the last century, Mr. Byerly wedded Miss Catherine Klingensmith, who accompanied him along the highway of life for more than thirty years, when she died in 1884 and was buried in South Mineral cemetery, Wyoming township. Seven children were born to them: Mary E. and Florence, both deceased; Elizabeth, who is the wife of 'william White, of Olin, Iowa; Ida B., who lives in Wall Lake, Iowa; Emma J., who is the wife of Thomas Hood, of this county; Franklin P., who resides in Anamosa; and John H., who lives on his father's farm. On the loth of June. 1886, Mr. Byerly married again, his second wife being Mrs. Jennie Boyle, nee Edwards, the widow of R. D. Boyle, a native of Jackson county, Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. Byerly are devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church, but politically Mr. Byerly owes allegiance to no party. All his life he has been accustomed to regard questions of local or national concern from many sides, and being a man who has taken an interest in such matters and has kept himself well informed, he feels that he would rather exercise his right of franchise in accordance with what he believes to be right and the better policy than to accept the guidance of an organized party. This independence of judgment and his acquaintance, not merely superficial, with important issues, makes his opinion of value in the community where he lives. He has served in various township offices, both in Pennsylvania and as school director in Wyoming township, and has been a peacemaker and arbitrator in the disputes of his neighbors to such an extent that his services have been of great value in that regard and have met with the full appreciation which they so well merited.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.