John R. Myers

MYERS, WOOD, DODGE

Posted By: S. Ferrall (email)
Date: 4/4/2006 at 04:21:59

John R. Myers came to Ventura, in 1874, directly from his native State, Iowa. He was born in Clayton County, July 1, 1846. His father, Jacob K. Myers, is a native of Beverly, Randolph County, Virginia, born in 1824. His grandfather, John Myers, was also a Virginian. They were of German descent. His mother, Elizabeth (Wood) Myers, was born in North Island, Vermont, a daughter of Nathaniel Wood, of that State. Their ancestors, on the paternal side, were English, and on the maternal, Irish. Mr. Myers was the oldest of three children. He was reared on a farm and educated as other farmer boys, learning to work and getting his book education between times. This fitted him for the life of a farmer which he has since followed. When he was nineteen years old he bought a colt, which was the first property he ever owned. At that time he began to do for himself. When twenty-two years of age, he bought eighty acres of land in western Iowa. On this property he built and made improvements and, after farming it eight years, sold it to come to Ventura, California. His first purchase here was ten acres of land. He improved it and lived on it seven years, then sold, and in July, 1882, bought his present fine property of twenty-three acres, on Ventura avenue, the best street in the city. He has planted the property to English walnuts, apricots, apples and other varieties of fruit. Between the younger trees, as his groves were growing, he has raised large crops of lima beans, which have proved very remunerative.

In 1869 he was united in marriage to Miss Elena Dodge, a native of Oswego, New York, daughter of Mr. Samuel Dodge, a farmer of that locality. Their ancestors were English. This union has been blessed with three children, a daughter and two sons: Verner D. and Mary E., born in Monona County, Iowa, and Frank S., born in Ventura. The eldest died in his forth year. Mr. and Mrs. Myers are both members of the Methodist Church, and, in politics, he is a Republican. They are enjoying life in their beautiful California home, engaged in the general employments attending fruit culture.

-source: A memorial and biographical history of the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California; Storke; Chicago. Lewis Pub. Co., 1891, pg. 402-403