MYERS, Richard - 1890 Bio (1830-1907)

MYERS, HUFFMAN, GAULT, TATE, GILMER, FISHER, CLOKE, BLACK, SALTS, MAXSON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/19/2007 at 21:16:19

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 527-529

Richard MYERS is a farmer and stock raiser of Polk Township, Jefferson County, carrying on operations in those of lines of industry on section 35. He has made his home in this community since 1855, and has therefore witnessed much of the growth and development of Southeastern Iowa. He is a respected citizen, worthy the esteem of his fellow-men and we are glad thus to present his sketch to his many friends.

The record of his life is as follows: he was born in Washington County, Pa., in 1830, and in a family of thirteen children, was the eldest. His parents, Stephen and Sarah (HUFFMAN) MYERS, were also natives of the Keystone State, where the father followed farming until 1855, which year witnessed his emigration to Jefferson County, Iowa. The West, with its splendid opportunities attracted him and with the hope of bettering his financial condition, he made a settlement in Jefferson County, where he purchased three hundred and seven acres of partially improved land, located in Polk Township. His excellent wife died at her home in this community in 1872, and four days later he was also called to his final rest.

The days of his boyhood and youth our subject spent upon his father's farm and in the schools of his native State, he acquired a good English education. Having attained to mature years, in 1852, he married Miss Matilda GAULT, a native of Pennsylvania, and their union has been blessed with five children yet living: John, the eldest of the family, is married and resides in Pueblo, Col; Sarah is now Mrs. TATE, of Black Hawk Township, Jefferson County; Curtis is married and resides in Jefferson County; Stephen, a resident of Fairfield, is also married; and the youngest, Mary, is now Mrs. GILMER, of Abingdon.

The same year in which his father emigrated to Iowa, Richard MYERS and his family sought a home in the West. His life work has been that occupation to which he was reared. Purchasing a partially improved farm of eighty acres, five years after his arrival, he at once began its development and has been so successful in his undertakings that he was enabled to extend its boundaries until it now comprises two hundred and five acres in Polk and Locust Grove Townships. Many excellent improvements, both of a useful and ornamental character, have been added, good grades of stock are there to be seen, together with the latest improved machinery, while the well-tilled fields give evidence to the passer-by of the thrift and enterprise of the owner. He is truly a self-made man, for with no pecuniary assistance, he started out in life and through his own efforts has acquired the property which today places him in comfortable circumstances and ranks him among the substantial farmers of the community. His life has been a busy one, yet he has found time, aside from his business, to devote to the advancement of all worthy interests calculated to benefit the community and also to church work, himself and wife being members of the Baptist Church. He does not take an active part in political affairs, but keeps himself well informed on the leading issues of the day and casts his ballot with the Republican party.

In 1868, Mr. MYERS was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife and the following year he was joined in wedlock with Ruth FISHER, a native of Des Moines Township, and a daughter of George and Mary Jane (CLOKE) FISHER, of whom further mention is made later on in this sketch. Three children grace their union: Frank, Emmett and Laura Alice. Mr. MYERS is a practical and progressive farmer, who, thoroughly understanding his business, manages his interests in the best possible way and thereby reaps a good income as the reward of his labor.

George FISHER, father of Mrs. MYERS, was a native of Pennsylvania, but in his youth removed to Indiana, where he became acquainted with and married Miss CLOKE, a native of that State. From Indiana they removed to Illinois in 1836 and two years later came to what is now Des Moines Township, Jefferson County, Iowa, but was then a part of the Territory of Michigan. He entered land and improved it, settling upon the purchase where he continued to make his home for many years. He was a stirring and wide-awake farmer who labored unceasingly for the interests of himself and family. He became a prominent citizen of the community, took an active part in politics and was an untiring worker in the Baptist Church. His upright life commended itself to the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact and won him many warm friends. He was called to his final home in 1876, having survived his wife for some twenty-six years. They were the parents of eight children: Mary Ann, now Mrs. BLACK, of Kansas; Ruth J., the honored wife of Richard MYERS; Mlton, who is married and makes his home in Locust Grove Township, enlisted for the late war in 1861, Company H, Thirtieth Iowa Infantry and after serving three years was honorably discharged in Davenport; Rachel is now the wife of William SALTS; Rhoda married Samuel SALTS; Clara C. married Christian MAXSON and die din 1872; Martha E. died when two years of age. Barbara, the youngest, is the wife of David SALTS.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.