MEYERS, John F. (1884-1943)

MEYERS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 1/23/2021 at 20:34:44

John F. Meyers
(1884 – July 1943)

Ida Grove Pioneer Record, Thurs., July 22, 1943
Meyers Dies in Jap Prison Camp
Official Notice Received By Relatives of His Death
Official word has been received by relatives of the death of John F. Meyers, 59, son of Fred Meyers, Ida Grove, in a Japanese prison camp on the Philippine Islands. The notification, according to relatives here, was sent by the Japanese government through the International Red Cross to Mrs. Auba Meyers, Chicago. The message was sent here July 15. The report failed to mention any date of his death, and it was believed he died of malnutrition.
Captured
Meyers was captured by the Japanese in the Philippines and taken prisoner. He had been a resident there since December 1938, when he went to the Islands to assume a position on the government contract. He was an electrical engineer. His wife left in 1941 upon orders of the government for all women and children to evacuate. Relatives here indicated that no official word was received from Meyers since the Japs took the Philippines.
Saw Him in 1938
His father last saw his son in October 1938, when he and his wife were en route to the Philippine assignment. One son of Meyer’s lives at Flint, Mich.
Native of Ida Grove
Meyers is a native of Ida Grove. He was born upstairs above the Cameron Café which burned here a couple of years ago. Meyers went to high school here and graduated in 1901. He was an outstanding football performer and played on the champion high school team here in 1900-01. After graduating he went to Iowa University where he received his degree in electrical engineering in 1905. He lived on the Vickerstaff corner with his parents until he went to Iowa.
Various Positions
Meyers, after finishing at Iowa University, held numerous positions with leading electrical firms. He worked for the Edison Electrical Company, Chicago, the General Electric Company, Chicago, and a telephone factory. His father, who lives here in the Cameron home, for many years operated a café in Ida Grove.
[John is buried in Jefferson Barrack National Cemetery, Lemay, St. Louis County, MO]