MYERS, Levi Griffith - 1912 Bio (1846-1928)

MYERS, HUFFMAN, LONGERBONE, GRIST, MOORMAN, SNYDER, CALDWELL, HINTON, RAMEY, BAKER

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/24/2007 at 21:33:52

History of Jefferson County, Iowa -- A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol II, Published 1912, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 357-359

Levi G. MYERS, a veteran of the Civil war, is living retired in the village of Packwood but is still the owner of a good farm property which he personally cultivated for many years, making it one of the most attractive features of the landscape in Polk township. He was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, September 13, 1846, his parents being Stephen and Sarah (HUFFMAN) MYERS, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state, where they were reared and married, residing there until 1855, when they came to Jefferson county, Iowa. The father secured a farm on section 34, Polk township, and there they took up their abode, making it their home until August, 1872, when both died within a week. They were respected and worthy residents of the community and their loss was the occasion of deep regret to all who knew them.

Levi G. MYERS was a pupil in the public schools of Pennsylvania until the family came to Iowa, when he continued his education in the district schools of Polk township. He also attended the Axline school in Fairfield for two terms. On the home farm he received thorough training that cultivated in him habits of industry and enterprise. He continued with his father until he had attained his majority and then started out in life for himself by renting a farm in Polk township. He carefully saved his earnings and after a short time purchased part of the old homestead, upon which he resided for forty years. During that period he converted the place into one of the fine farms of the county, adding to it many modern improvements and bringing the fields under a high state of cultivation. In 1910, however, he came to Packwood, purchasing town property here and renting his farm.

In early manhood -- when about seventeen and a half years of age -- Levi G. MYERS gave practical evidence of his loyalty to his country by enlisting at Abingdon, Iowa, on the 22d of February, 1864, as a member of Company K, Seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. He was mustered in at Davenport and was at once sent to the front, taking part in several engagements, including the battle of Lay's Ferry, Georgia. He also marched with Sherman to the sea whereby the Confederacy was proven to be but an empty shell, the troops having been drawn from the interior to protect the border. He also took part in the campaign through the Carolinas and marched in the grand review at Washington, on the 23d of May, 1865, when thousands of victorious troops passed through the streets of the capital and by the reviewing stand, where the president greeted the returning army. At length he was honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, July 12, 1865. He was then but eighteen years of age and yet he has met with most of the hard experiences of military life.

When the war was over Mr. MYERS returned to Iowa and resumed farming, adding to his original purchase a tract of one hundred and forty-eight acres, making his farm one of two hundred and forty acres. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Mary A. LONGERBONE, whom he wedded in Jefferson county October 3, 1867. She was born in Ohio, a daughter of Parker and Lucinda (GRIST) LONGERGONE, who were natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively. The year 1865 witnessed their arrival in Jefferson county, at which time they located in Polk township, where the father's death occurred upon his farm in 1889. His wife survived him until 1897, and also passed away on the old homestead. Mr. MYERS was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife on the 8th of February, 1883. The children of that marriage were five in number. Otho B., the eldest, is a member of the firm of Caviness & MYERS, dealers in hardware, farm implements and automobiles in Packwood. He married Miss Bertha MOORMAN, of that place. Clara, the second of the family, is the wife of J. S. SNYDER, a resident farmer of Polk township, and they have one child, Perry. Merta is the wife of James A. CALDWELL, a cement manufacturer of Hedrick, Iowa, and they have seven children, Ray, Fay, Mary Leola, Edna, Hazel, Mark and Lucile. Raymond, the fourth of the family, is a farmer of the state of Washington, who is married and has one child, Grace. Leroy is engaged in farming in Arkansas. On the 30th of May, 1884, Mr. MYERS was again married, at which time Miss Martha B. HINTON became his wife. She was born in Jefferson county, a daughter of Ezekiel and Arena (RAMEY) HINTON, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Ohio. They came to Iowa at an early day, locating in Jefferson county in the '50s, and here the father engaged in teaching school and in farming. He died in Wapello county in 1859 and was long survived by his wife, whose death occurred in Polk township, this county, in 1895. The children of Mr. MYERS' second marriage are Floyd G. and Lester G. The latter, ten years of age, is attending school in Packwood. The former took charge of the old homestead farm when his father removed to Packwood. He married Susan BAKER, of Abingdon, Iowa, and they have three children, Irene, Claude and Erma.

Mr. MYERS votes with the republican party and has been somewhat prominent in local political ranks. He served as assessor of Polk township for six years, in 1889 was a member of the county board of supervisors, serving on the board when the county court house was built, and in 1890 was enumerator for Polk township. He also served as secretary of the township school board for thirty years and as school director for several years, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion whose labors have been an effective force in raising the standards of public instruction in his locality. Both he and his wife are devoted members of the Baptist church and for a number of years he held membership with the Grand Army of the Republic. He is still affiliated with Abingdon Lodge, No. 468, I. O. O. F., of Abingdon. He is one of the well known and highly respected residents of Polk township and is as true and loyal to the best interests of citizenship today as when he followed the old flag upon southern battlefields. In business, too, he has been found thoroughly reliable, his success coming to him as the legitimate outcome of earnest, persistent and honorable effort.

[Transcriber's note: The Grand Army of the Republic is the fore-runner of the American Legion.]

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