John B. Myers

As printed in 1881

JOHN B. MYERS, farmer, P. 0. Uniontown; born in Green Township Jan. 18, 1818; the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Bushong) Mjers. The Myers family were of Germanic extraction, but probably from Switzerland. The grandfather of Michael was Isaac, who lived in Union Co., Penn., near Straubstown; Isaac had a son named Jacob, who married a Miss Ream, she was an exemplary Christian; they had eight children: Phillip, Jacob, George, Henry, Christopher, Michael, Barbara and Catharine. Michael was born March 1, 1765, and resided on his father's farm until 19 years of age, and then, in 1784, married Agnes Buchtel, who was born Dec. 1, 1765. About the year 1805, Michael removed from Union Co. with his wife and family to Center Co., Penn., where they remained about seven years. Michael followed his trade as a weaver for many years, but found this occupation injured his health, and commenced getting out millstones which was a very remunerative business, but one day a small piece of the stone flew into his eye; he was obliged to discontinue work for six months; meeting with a second accident of this kind some time afterward, he abandoned the business and commenced blacksmithing in a small way, learning the trade as he went along, until finally he was a master mechanic as some of his pieces of handiwork will testify to-day. He excelled in whatever he undertook. His love for music was manifested in the variety of instruments he was able to play, such as the flute, cornet, drum and fife. About the year 1813, he removed with his family to Ohio and settled in Green Township. Michael was the father of eight sons and five daughters, viz., Henry, Michael, Jacob, Christopher, Joseph, John, Philip, George, Sophia, Elizabeth, Barbara, Mary and Susan; only three are now living; they are residents of Springfield Township— Phillip, George, and Mary, now Mrs. Spade. Henry, Michael, Joseph and John died near their father's Ohio home; Jacob and Christopher removed to Indiana and died there; Susan, died at 16; Sophia, died in early life after marrying Benjamin Pontius; Barbara, married a Mr. Bowers and died in Uniontown; Elizabeth, married a Mr. Buchtel, and died in Wood Co., Ohio. Michael seemed always to have the welfare of his children at heart; and in precept and example he was a Christian. He died Aug. 5, 1841, at the residence of his son George in Springfield Township; his wife died at the home of her son Michael. It is related by John B. Myers that some two weeks previous to the death of his grandfather, the aged pioneer entered the shop of his grandson, who was working at the forge and affirmed that he had just seen a spirit which brought the tidings that he would soon pass to another world. Henry Myers, father of John B., was born in Pennsylvania about the year 1788; Elizabeth Bushong, his wife, was born the same year and they were married several years previous to the time the Myers family removed to Green Township. Five of Henry's children reached main-ity, viz., Michael, born in 1811, now a resident of Green Township; Henry, born in 1815, and died in 1857, while a resident of Akron: John B., subject of this sketch, born Jan. 18, 1818; Elizabeth, born Jan. 9, 1822, and married John Hammill; Jonathan, born Nov. 12, 1825, now a resident of Green Township. Hem-y was a blacksmith by trade, and lived on the farm now occupied by his son Michael; he was a member of the Reformed Church, as was also his wife; she died June 10, 1864, and he survived her over ten years until Dec. 6, 1874. John B., his son, was when a mere boy apprenticed to learn his father's trade, and worked at the forge early and late; consequently he had no time left to acquire an education; he never went to school in his life; at the age of 15 he had the entire control of his father's shop, in which he worked until 25 years of age; he then purchased 72 acres of land, and has since then been a farmer, owning at the present time over 100 acres, upon which the village of Myersville is located. He was married, Nov. 16, 1843, to Louisa Catharine Grotz, daughter of Abraham and Mary (Kuhn) Grotz; she was born Dec. 9, 1824; they are both members of the Reformed Church at Uniontown. The Myers family held their first annual re-union and picnic Satmxlay, Sept. 6, 1879, and the second one on Sept. 4, 1880.

As printed in History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.