Mary Jane Myers

As printed in 1889

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 Commemorative biographical record of Wayne County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families .. (1889). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.