William Laird Myer (1897)

KNAPP, LAMBERT, MYER, RUBY

Posted By: Kent Transier
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:04:34

The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Friday, June 18,1897
Page 5, Column 1

Mr. Mayer, of Osceola, an old and well known resident of that city, and a brother-in-law of S. G. Ruby of this city, died Wednesday. Mr. Meyer was formerly a resident of this city and was prominent in the insurance business just after the close of the war.
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Weekly Osceola Sentinel
Osceola, Iowa
Thursday, June 17, 1897
Page 5, Column 4

Death of W. L. Myer

Osceola citizens were suddenly surprised with the sad news of W. L. Myer’s death Tuesday evening. He had not been ill and death came altogether unexpected. Mr. Myer went to his store Tuesday morning, feeling as well as usual, but about 9:30 he was seized with pains in the region of the heart. He went to Lawrence’s drugstore, where he was given some medicine by Dr. Lawrence and recovered sufficiently to start home soon afterward, but his son, Ruby, persuaded him to ride in a buggy. Arrived at home he still continued ill and the doctor was called and remained with him until three in the afternoon. Feeling numbness in his hands Dr. Price was called at 4:30 and remained with him until a little after five, but soon after his departure Mr. Myer died with hardly any warning of the end, the cause being heart failure.

Obituary

W. L. Myer was born in Myersburg, Bradford cCounty, Pennsylvania, August 29, 1834, and was sixty-two years, nine months and sixteen days old. When eight years of age his father died and he was thrown upon his own resources at a very early age. He received a fair education at the district schools. After his father’s death his mother moved to Illinois where William, the subject of this sketch, grew to manhood.

He served as commission clerk on the board of trade in Chicago just previous to the war. During the war he was employed as a purchasing agent by the government. After the taking of Memphis he was placed in charge of the supply department there.

Coming to Iowa he was made a general agent of the Farmers Insurance Company. Later he determined to become one of the many energetic settlers who were moving west to open a new country and accordingly found himself at Osceola in 1866, where he established in business in the hardware line, Hon. W. H. Hall, W. H. Ridgway and E. A. Atkins starting in business about same time.

The county was sparsely settled then, but as it grew his acquaintance became more extended and his business proportionate. He kept increasing in stock, at all times keeping a store to the front as one of the completest to be found in this part of Iowa.

In 1865, Mr. Myer was married to Mrs. Lambert, of Winterset. They have two children, Ruby, who is now a partner in the hardware business, and Lemira, a daughter, at home. He was a Mason in high standing, being a member of the Chapter and Commandery.

The deceased never professed church membership. The funeral will be held at the residence Friday, June 18th, at 2 p. m., under auspices of the Knights Templar, after which the remains will be interred in the Osceola cemetery. The business houses will all close the afternoon of the funeral.

Mr. Myer in his long term of business life in Osceola led and exemplary life. He was a progressive citizen, who kept fully abreast the thought of the times. Strictly honorable and moral in his habits of life and being possessed of keen business perception made him one of Osceola’s most valued citizens. In his successful career he won a host of friends.

His identification with the upbuilding of the town and county and the historic connection of his life with that of the town where he cast his fortunes makes his life of peculiar interest to all. Old-time residents remember his hardware as it stood in a frame building on southeast corner. The gradual evolution of the town and the growth of his business made necessary the building of substantial bricks, and very little of those early days is left save the pictures imbedded on memory.

Mr. Myer leaves his wife, 2 children and a stepdaughter, Mrs. Knapp, who have a heartfelt sympathy of many friends.
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Transcriber's note: Full name taken from gravestone.

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