The Myers Families of Wayne County, Ohio

The true spirit of progress and honorable achievement has been manifest in the career of the well known and highly esteemed citizen whose name introduces this sketch and who, since discontinuing the strenuous life which was characterized by such signal success, has been living in honorable retirement in the city of Wooster. His life has been one of fulness and completeness of vigor and inflexible integrity and while engaged in the vocation to which in the main his attention has been devoted, he accomplished great and lasting good for the material progress of various cities and communities and at the same time failed not to reap the reward which his industry and skill so richly deserved.

David Myers is a native of Wayne county, Ohio, and a descendant on the paternal side of a long line of sturdy German ancestry, which was first represented in America by his father, Daniel Myers, who came to this country from Wurtemherg about the year 1814 and settled in Wilmington, Delaware. After spending a few years in that city he removed to Iancaster county, Pennsylvania, thence when a young man to Wayne county. Ohio, where in 1828 he married Martha DeWese, who was born and reared in the county of Columbiana, this state. In his younger days Daniel Myers was a cooper, but in after life he became a farmer, which vocation he followed until his death, in 1873. Mrs. Myers survived her husband five years, departing this life on the home farm in Chester township in 1878. She sprang from an old and highly respected family, that figured actively in the early history of eastern Ohio and, tracing her ancestry further back, it appears that several of the DeWese family were soldiers in the Revolutionary war and that two of Mrs. Myers’ brothers served with distinction in the war of 1812. By reason of this connection with the struggle for independence, three of Mr. Myers’ daughters hold membership with the Daughters of the American Revolution, a patriotic society composed of female descendants of the soldiers of that war. Daniel and Martha Myers were parents of eight children, of whom five are living at the present time, viz: Mrs. Rebecca Reichard, whose home is in Iowa near the town of Knoxville; David, of this review; Mrs. Elizabeth Berkey, of Ashland county, Ohio; John, a resident of Chester township, Wayne county, and Mrs. Anna Powers, who lives in the city of Wooster.

David Myers was born December 16, 1833, and spent his childhood and youth on the family homestead in Chester township where he early became familiar with the practical duties of the farm and learned to appreciate the true dignity and worth of honest toil. In the free, outdoor experience of wood and field he grew up strong and rugged and well fitted for the active career upon which he subsequently entered and while still a young man he began to formulate the plans for his future course of action. In a little log school house not far from the parental home he obtained a fair knowledge of such branches of learning as were then taught and, having early manifested decided predilection for mechanical work, he began, ere attaining his majority, to learn the trade of a carpenter, in which he soon acquired much more than ordinary efficiency and skill. Having mastered his craft, he worked at the same for some time in a subordinate capacity, but, actuated by a laudable ambition to extend his operations, he afterwards became a contractor and it was not long until the high reputation of his work caused a wide demand for his services.

Without following in detail Mr. Myers’ long and eminently honorable career as a contractor and builder, suffice it to state that from the beginning he was animated by a desire to excel and that during his active years he erected many buildings in various cities of his own and other states which still stand as monuments to his superior mechanical skill. Among the more notable public edifices under his direction in Wooster are the Methodist Episcopal church, the.City.Hall, a number of the university buildings, the Overholt residence,

6l2 pronounced the finest private dwelling in the city, besides many others, to say nothing of numerous structures throughout the country. His fame as a mechanic extending far beyond the limits of his own county, he contracted for a number of buildings in New York City and Brooklyn, including residences, churches, halls and various other public edifices, and later did much work in his line in several eastern and central states and throughout the northwest. The beautiful and imposing Methodist Episcopal church at Duluth, Minnesota, one of the finest and most attractive temples of worship in the state and representing a cost of one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars, was erected by him, as were also similar edifices in Burlington, Iowa, Monmouth, Illinois, New Rochelle, New York, and in many other cities and towns, all of which bear evidence of a high order of architectural skill and efficiency of workmanship, bespeaking a thorough mastery of the builder's art.

Mr. Myers was in Iowa when the country became disrupted by the late Civil war and, being loyal to the government and its institutions, he did not hesitate when the call came for volunteers to help put down the rebellion. Enlisting in the Fifteenth Regiment Iowa Infantry in 1861, he was soon at the scene of action, rendering valiant service for the Union and during his three years at the front his conduct under all circumstances was that of a brave and gallant soldier who shrank from no danger and was ever ready to go where duty called. He shared with his comrades the vicissitudes and fortunes of war in a number of noted campaigns and battles, including Corinth, where he served under General Belknap, and won promotion to a lieutenancy by meritorious conduct while under fire at Pittsburg Landing, Iuka, siege and capture of Vicksburg and numerous other engagements, receiving at Corinth a painful wound in the arm, which, however, did not long incapacitate him from service.

At the expiration of his period of enlistment, which included three of the most strenuous years of the war. Mr. Myers was discharged with an honorable record and, returning to civil life, resumed contracting and building, which he followed with success and profit until 1886, when he discontinued active labor to spend the remainder of his days in retirement. By industry, judicious management and wise economy he amassed a handsome competency, amply sufficient indeed to enable him to spend the future free from anxiety and care and. being thus fortunately situated, he is enjoying that rest which he has so well earned and the many blessings which have come to him as the result of his many years of endeavor.

Mr. Myers returned to Ohio soon after the war closed and in 1865 was

Google united in marriage with Elizabeth Miller, daughter of Jacob Miller, of Somerset county, Pennsylvania. When five years old she was brought to Ohio by her parents and at the celebration of her nuptials was living in Wayne county, where she had made her home for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Myers had five children, namely: Viola, deceased; Martha, who married ex-County Clerk David Mussleman, of Wooster; John, assistant cashier of the Wayne County Bank; Blanche, wife of John Ames, chemist of the Ohio Experiment Station at Wooster, and Miss Claude Myers, who is still with her parents.

Mr. Myers manifests a commendable interest in all matters pertaining to the progress of the city of his residence and the good of the people and keeps in touch with the times on the leading questions and issues of the day. He is a director of the Wayne County National Bank, and in addition to a beautiful home on Beall avenue and other property in Wooster, owns a fine farm in the county to which he gives much personal attention. Fraternally, he holds membership with the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Royal Arcanum orders and politically fields an influence for the Democratic party. The Methodist church holds his religious creed, and with his wife and certain of his children he is a regular attendant of the congregation worshiping in Wooster, also a liberal contributor to its support and to the various lines of work under its auspices. His son John and daughter Mrs. Ames subscribe to the Presbyterian faith, both being active and consistent members of the church of that denomination in Wooster. Personally Mr. Myers stands high in the esteem and confidence of his neighbors and fellow citizens and is regarded as one of the enterprising and well-to-do men of the city in which he resides. Courteous and kindly in his relations with others, an influential factor in the business world and ready at all times to assist laudable measures for the general welfare, he has lived to high and noble ends and the future awaits him with bounteous rewards.

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

JOHN A. MYERS.

The able and popular assistant cashier of the Wayne County National Bank at Wooster, Ohio, is most consistently accorded recognition in a work of the province assigned to the one at hand, since it has to do with the representative citizens of Wayne county, of which number he is unquestionably a worthy member and has played well his part in fostering the diversified interests of the same, and while yet a young man has shown what fidelity to duty, coupled with right principles, can accomplish. He is a native of this county, having been born near New Pittsburg, Chester township, on August 14, 1871, the son of David Myers, of Wooster, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. He is a worthy son of a worthy sire, — in fact, takes a delight in keeping untarnished the brilliant escutcheon of the Myers name, which has long been highly honored in this locality. He received a good practical education in the district schools of his township, later attending the high school at Wooster. When eighteen years of age he removed to Wooster with his parents, and attended Wooster University for a period of two years, during which time he made a very commendable record for both scholarship and department. Desiring to fit himself for a business career, he took a course in Eastman’s Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York, graduating from the same with a very creditable record.

After he had finished his education, young Myers acted as deputy clerk of the courts at Wooster for six years, doing very creditable work, — in fact, he had mastered the details of the office so well that he attracted the notice of the officials of the Ashland & Wooster Railroad Company, who invited him to serve as their chief clerk with headquarters at Ashland, which position he held for a period of four years, giving his usual success. He returned to Wooster in 1903 and became assistant cashier of the Wayne County National Bank, which position he still holds, discharging the duties of the same in a manner that shows him to be a man of rare business qualities, alert, painstaking and eminently capable.

Mr. Myers was married on May 28, 1902, to Lydia C. George, a lady of culture and refinement, the daughter of D. C. and Harriet F. George, of Latrobe. Pennsylvania, where Mrs. Myers was born and reared and where her family were long prominent. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Myers has been blessed by the birth of two children, namely: Laura Minerva, born September 13, 1903, and [name withheld], born May 5, 1907.

Mr. Myers is now a member of the city school board, being the youngest member ever honored thus. He takes an abiding interest in local educational affairs, and the cause of education here has been augmented since he became a member of the same. Fraternally, Mr. Mvers belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a loyal Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian church, being liberal supporters of the same.

The Myers residence on Beall avenue is modern, beautifully located and nicely furnished, and is often the gathering place for many of the best people of Wooster where hospitality and friendship ever prevail. Mr. Myers is a man of pleasing address, frank, generous, courteous and straightforward.

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

ELMER F. MYERS.

The family of this name in Wayne county was founded by Samuel and Hannah Myers, who came to this section in 1832 and settled on a half section of land in the eastern part of Congress township. They farmer this land successfully after the methods prevailing at that early time, lived the quiet lives usual to people in sparsely settled neighborhoods and were finally gathered to their fathers without blame or reproach. They were interred in the cemetery located on their homestead, where also three others of the name have been laid by their side. Among their children was Solomon Myers, who was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1829, and came to Ohio with his parents. He married Elizabeth Xaftzger, a descendant of early pioneers and a native of Harrison county, Ohio. Her grandparents, Jacob and Elizabeth Xaftzger, were very prominent members of the United Brethren church and the first meeting of this denomination in Ohio was held at their home. The parents of Mrs. Myers were David and Susan Xaftzger, natives of Harrison county, Ohio, and who were among the first settlers of Congress township, in Wayne county. They took up a quarter section of land and spent all their active lives in clearing, improving and cultivating it, eventually making it quite valuable. They were, like their ancestors, quite enthusiastic members of the United Brethren church, and always took much interest in the local gatherings of the denomination. The Xaftzgers, for generations, were always considered good citizens, good neighbors and reliable in all the relations of life. Solomon Myers lived on a part of his father's farm in Congress township during the entire period of his activity. He was successful as a farmer and a man of sterling integrity and supported the Democratic party, but later became an ardent Prohibitionist, voting the ticket of that party for many years. After the death of his first wife, he married Maggie Guthrie, the full list of his children being as follows: David A., deceased; John F., a resident of Burbank; Emma, deceased; Elmer F.; Susan, deceased; Zeno, of Congress township, and Annabelle, the latter being the only child by the second wife. He was also a very active Christian man, being a member of the United Brethren church all his life. He was class leader for fifty-five years.

Elmer F. Myers, son of Solomon and Elizabeth Myers, was born in Congress township, Wayne county. Ohio. March 15, 1862. He was educated in the district schools near his home, and later attended the Xorthv western Ohio Xormal University at Ada. He remained on the farm, helping his father, until the completion of his twenty-third year, when he decided to begin life on his own account. Matrimony is usually the prime cause of this step in the case of young men and Mr. Myers was no exception 1 * the rule. On December 18, 1884, he was married to Sarah, daughter of Samuel and Susanna Whonsetler, a well-to-do and highly respected family of Wayne county. In 1840 Mr. Whonsetler came from Washington county, Pennsylvania, and settled on a farm in Canaan township, where he prospered by hard work and good management and at his death owned two hundred and sixteen acres of land. Mrs. Myers was born on this farm, October 10, 1862, and besides herself there were ten other children. To E. F. Myers and wife were born two children: Zora, wife of Merton Talley, of the commercial department of the Denison high school, and Clyde, who is his father’s assistant on the farm. In 1885 Mr. Myers began renting the home farm of his father-in-law and after the mother-in-law’s death he purchased one hundred forty-one acres in iyoo. since which time he has occupied and cultivated it with entire success, giving much attention with gratifying success to livestock. Mr. and Mrs. Myers are very active members of the Lutheran church, and he is a Democrat in politics. He is public-spirited and was a member of the school board a number of years.

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

WILLIAM C. MYERS.

On the roster of Wayne county's solid and influential business men the name of William C. Myers stands out clear and prominent as the head of the largest insurance agencies of Wooster and one of the most successful in the state. He has achieved a wide and honorable reputation among the progressive men of his adopted county and no one commands a greater influence or stands higher in the esteem and confidence of the public.

The Myers family, which is of German origin and originally pronounced Moyer, came to the United States in a very early day and settled near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where in due time the name became identified with a number of important interests and figured for a number of years in local annals. Contemporaneous with this family were the Funcks, who also emigrated from Germany and were among the early comers to eastern Pennsylvania, where in the course of a few years their descendants became not only quite numerous but prominent in building up their respective communities and developing the resources of the country. From the most reliable data obtainable, the antecedents of the latter family in the country appear to have been one Bishop Henry Funck, who came from Germany some time in the seventeenth century and settled not far from Philadelphia, from whence his descendants, as above indicated, moved to other counties and localities, some of them in after years moving to Ohio and still farther west.

Capt. Ralph Funck, a native of Pennsylvania, moved in an early day to Wayne county, and here spent the remainder of his days, dying a number of years ago and leaving a family of several children, among whom was a daughter by the name of Cecelia Funck, whose birth occurred in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, February 27, 1832. On November 4, 1852, she became the wife of Isaac H. Myers, son of John O. and Elizabeth (Haldeman) Myers, of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, the marriage taking place in Wayne county, Ohio, where Mr. Myers had settled a short time previously.

For several years after their marriage, Isaac H. and Cecelia Myers lived in the town of Chester, but about 1859 moved to Seville, Medina county, where they continued to reside until 1864, when they changed their above to Wooster, with the interests of which city the remainder of Mr. Myers’ life was identified. For some years he conducted a grocery store and built up a lucrative patronage. He then turned his attention to the insurance business, in which he met with signal success, establishing an agency which, under the joint management of himself and son, William C., in due time became the largest enterprise of the kind in the city and since passing into the hands of the latter has become one of the most successful in the state.

Isaac H. Myers took the road as special insurance agent in 1878, from which time until shortly before his death, on June 5, 1907, he traveled quite extensively in the interest of his companies and achieved honorable repute as a capable, far-seeing and thoroughly reliable business man. His wife, who suffered a stroke of paralysis in 1887, departed this life very suddenly on the 4th day of April, 1895, and was laid to rest in the cemetery at Wooster, where her husband now sleeps by her side awaiting the resurrection of the just. The children of this estimable couple, three in number, are Isadore, born August 1, 1857, died January 25, 1882; Lura, whose birth occurred March 8, 1867, and who lives in Wooster, and William C, the subject of this sketch, who was born in Seville, Medina county, Ohio, on January 28, 1861.

William C. Myers was about four years old when his parents moved to Wooster, and since 1865 his life has been very closely interwoven with the growth and development of his adopted city. At the proper age he entered the public schools, where he pursued his studies until graduating from the high school, after which he assisted his father in the latter’s insurance business, having been familiar with the duties of the office from his twelfth year. Engaging with his father on a salary, he soon acquired a practical knowledge of insurance and under his able and skillful management it was not long until the business took on new life and became the largest and most successful of the kind in the city.

The insurance agency of which Mr. Myers is now the head and which for some time has been known under the style of W. C. Myers & Company, was established in 1870 by the subject’s father, who continued as its manager until accepting the position of special traveling agent in 1878, when William C. took charge of the business and has ever since conducted the same. On attaining his majority he became his father’s partner, but within a short time thereafter succeeded to the business, which since the year 1878 he has practically controlled and which under his initiative and successful methods has grown so rapidly that he now leads all competition in his own city and county and occupies a commanding position among the leading insurance men of Ohio.

The career of Mr. Myers affords a notable example of the exercise of those qualities of mind which overcome obstacles and win success and his example is worthy of imitation by those who are dissatisfied with present attainments and who would aspire to higher positions of honor and trust. A business man in the broadest sense of the term, his integrity has ever been above suspicion, while his methods will bear the test of the severest criticism and among his fellow citizens his name has always been synonymous with fair and honorable dealing. While subordinating every other consideration to his business affairs, he has not been unmindful of his obligations as a citizen, as is indicated by the interest he manifests in the public welfare, nor is he negligent of those social ties which every well ordered community requires of those who constitute its mainstay and support. Aside from his insurance interests he is identified with various local enterprises, including among others the Citizens’ National Bank of Wooster, of which he is a director and one of the largest stockholders. He is prominent in Odd Fellowship, being an influential worker in the lodge at Wooster, which he has the honor to represent in the sovereign grand lodge and to his efforts are largely due the growth and popularity of the brotherhood in the city of his residence.

The domestic chapter in the life history of Mr. Myers bears date of November 28, 1888. at which time was solemnized his marriage with Mary Haymaker, of Warren, Ohio, daughter of Jesse and Abbie P. Haymaker, of that city, and a niece of Ephraim Quinby, one of the early settlers and prominent residents of Wooster. Mr. and Mrs. Myers have no children of their own, but take great interest in the young people of the city to whom the doors of their beautiful home are ever open and among whom their county is freely and lavishly dispensed. Alive to every good work and in touch with all laudable measures and humanitarian projects, this excellent couple fill a large place in the public life of Wooster, and the high esteem in which they are held by the people of the city, irrespective of class or condition, bears eloquent testimony to their amiable qualities of head and heart.

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

his well-known lady has been a resident of Wayne County all her life, having been born in Wooster Township, May 22, 1824. Her father, John Kauke, a native of Holland, came to America with his parents when a small boy. They stopped for a time in Pennsylvania, when Christopher, grandfather of Mrs. Myers, came to Wayne County, in which he passed the remainder of his life. The family made the journey in covered wagons. John Kaukegrew to manhood in Pennsylvania, and there learned the trade of shoe-making. He was married to Miss Mary Hoover, who was born about seven miles from WilkesBarre, Peun., in which State both her parents died. John Kauke and his wife came to Wayne County about 1816, and he there engaged in the manufacture of brick, making some of the first ever burnt in

Wooster. Both he and his wife died in this county.

AVhen she was seventeen years of age Mary Jane Kauke was united in marriage with John Myers, a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, whose father, also named John, was born in Pennsylvania, and came as a pioneer to Wayne County. The latter was a wagoner, and teamed between Baltimore and Pittsburgh when goods were transported altogether by wagon. John Myers, husband of our subject, learned the trade of carpentering in his native county, and worked at it after coming to this county. For three years after their marriage the young couple lived in what is known as the haunted house, in AVooster Township. On the death of his mother they went to live with his father, staying with him two years, and then removing to a farm in Chester Township, remaining on it for twelve years. His father dying, they again went to the old homestead for three years, after which they returned to their own farm. In 1870 the family removed to the house the father had built in Wooster, which is Mrs. Myers' present home, and lived there five years, but in the fall of 1873 death took from the family circle two sons and a daughter-in-law, and the afflicted parents again returned to their farm, trying by active labor to assuage their grief. In the spring of 1884 the grim reaper again invaded their hearthstone, this time taking away the husband and father, at the age of sixty-seven years. -John Myers was a prominent man in the county, and exercised a considerable influence in its affairs. He was well known and much respected by those who knew him, and left behind not only a competence, but the better heritage of a good name. In politics he was a stanch Republican, and while a resident of Chester Township was for many years township assessor and township trustee.

By her marriage with Mr. Myers our subject became the mother of eight children, of whom we make the following record: John H. died in childhood; Walter M. entered the army during the Civil War, in the 100-day men, and died while in the service, of typhoid fever; Samuel B., or " Doc," as he was familiarly called, is also deceased, he and his wife dying a few hours apart, of typhoid fever, leaving two children, Sydney D. and Laura B., who are being reared and educated by Mrs. Myers; the next in order of birth is Mary Ellen, who is now Mrs. Snyder, of Chester Township; Charles is deceased; Brown is living in Nebraska; Grant is a book-keeper, and makes his home with his mother; and an infant, who died unnamed, complete the list. The fall following her husband's death Mrs. Myers came back to Wooster, ami has since made her home in her pleasant house ou Saj-bolt Aveuue. For forty-eight years Mr. Myers has been a member of the Baptist Church, and his widow Las now been a member for the same number of years. All the children who grew to maturity also became members of the same church. The family is one of the oldest and best known in the county, and will long be remembered as among its worthy pioneers. They are esteemed and respected by every person with whom they come in contact.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ISAAC A. MYERS.

All credit is due the man who starts in life with but little of this world’s goods and no influential friends to help him hew his career through the avenue of obstacles that necessarily lie in wait along his future pathway, and he who removes such barriers one by one and wins a place of respectability and financial ease among his fellow men is undoubtedly the possessor of strong characteristics. Such phraseology might well be applied to I. A. Myers, a farmer and stock man of East Union township, Wayne county, for we shall see by a brief study of his career that he has persevered on his own account until success has crowned his efforts. He was born in Wooster township, this county, March 17, 1866, the son of Milton and Catherine (Kick) Myers, a well known family in that community.

I. A. Myers was reared on the home farm, where he began assisting with the work during the crop seasons very early, and he attended the district schools during the winter months, receiving a very good education. He was ambitious to become a merchant and when twenty-one years of age entered a dry goods store in Eulton county, Ohio, having been employed by F. J. Dimkey, of Archliold, this state, and he remained in his employ for a period of eight years, rendering very faithful service and learning much regarding the mercantile business.

After leaving the store Mr. Myers returned to Wooster, Ohio, and married Elizaheth A. Sands, daughter of J. W. Sands, long an influential citizen of this county.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

To Mr. and Mrs. Myers have been born two sons and one daughter, Zoma, John and Anthony.

Fraternally, Mr. Myers is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Politically, he is a Democrat, having long taken considerable interest in the success of his party locally, and as a reward for his loyalty his fellow citizens gave him the office of treasurer of East Union township, which position he held with much fidelity and credit for a period of four years. He is one of the influential citizens of this township.

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