Henry C Myers

MYERS

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/20/2009 at 01:07:30

Henry C Myers, Among the well known and prominent farmers of Boone county, who have had an important influence and taken an active part in the progress and growth of the community in which he has lived and where through those attributes which will always sooner or later achieve success, he has gained for himself an enviable position in the business interests of Yell township. Henry C Myers is well deserving of mention for he has witnessed the advance of civilization in the county which he has made his home for the past forty-eight years and has taken no inconsiderable part in its outbuilding, having resided here since the year 1854. Mr Myers was born in Logan county, Ohio, January 12, 1842 and is a son of Jacob and Anna Catherine (Kepple) Myers, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, moving thence to Ohio, where the father engaged in farming, the mother bearing her share in the work of rearing the family and making a home. The parents remained in Ohio until 1854 when, thinking to find a more suitable abode, they turned their faces westward and settled in Webster county, Iowa, but only remained there for three days. They then removed to Yell township, Boone county and settled at the place now called Pilot Mound. There the family lived, the father engaging in cultivation the fields and stock raising, and also conducting a flour mill. He lived an active, industrious life, which was filled with energy and enterprise. He died January 19, 1891, while the mother passed away in September 1890. In their family where five children: Henry is the first in order of birth, Sarah Ann became the wife of John Buttolph, a farmer by occupation, and they resided in Pilot Mound township, Mary M is the wife of Hiram Alsever, and they also reside in Pilot Mound township, her husband being engaged in agricultural pursuits, George resided on the old homestead but is now deceased, Anna died in 1866. The children all received their education in the pubic schools of the township.
Our subject remained on the old farm and assisted his father in tilling the soil and improving the land, placing it under cultivation and raising stock until the father bought a flour mill at Centerville. He then operated the same for his father and fro an early date in his life evince a keen insight into business possibilities, and was a very efficient assistant to his father and afterward through habits of honesty, sobriety, integrity and diligence he attained to a flattering degree of prosperity and his now the possessor of 142 acres of rich land in the farm which he occupies on Sec 11, and 10 acres on Sec 22, Yell township, together with hotel property in Fraser, Iowa, where he became the owner and proprietor of the Hotel Myers of that place. This he conducted for six years, renting in the meantime the farm. He then returned to the farm, but still owns the hotel, although he prefers to make the farm his home.
In 1867 Mr Myers was united in marriage to Miss Barbara I Cline, a native of South Bend, Indiana. She was born on August 5, 1846, a daughter of George W and Harriet (Moon) Cline, the former a native of Ohio, the latter having been born in the Empire state. Mr Cline was an early settler in Boone county, Having resided here since 1855. The parents have spent a long and useful life and are now living in Pilot Mound township, the mother being now in her sixty-seventh year, while the father is eight-two. Mr and Mrs Myers became the parents of four children: Eva L the wife of Jacob Thompson, resides on the home farm. Oliver died at the age of two years. Ira L married Gertie Burns and is a resident farmer of Yell township. Robert E resides at home with his parents.
Although Mr Myers has been a very active man with many business interests to engross his attention, he has never forgotten that each worthy member of a community should add something to the general welfare and improvement. He has never been public spirited, never failing to do all in his power to advance the public good. In politics he is a Democrat and is strong in advocacy of the principles of that party. In the educational development of the county he has taken great interest, and on the school board has been director, secretary and treasurer for the past twenty-five years. He was also justice of the peace for four years while residing at Fraser. Mr Myers has done much to promote the interests of the county in which he has so long resided, and the family is highly esteemed for the genuine worth of its members.

1902 Boone County History Book