Byers, David

BYERS, DUNBAR, ROBB, WASHINGTON

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 12/1/2012 at 16:39:56

David Byers, now deceased was numbered among Iowa's honored veterans of the Civil war who, responding to his adopted county's call for aid in the darkest hour of her history, served throughout almost the entire period of hostilities.
He is one of Canada's donations to the citizenship of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Montreal on the 18th of March, 1840. His parents were David and Mary (Dunbar) Byers, both of whom were born and reared in County Down Ireland. In 1839 they came to this country, locating at Montreal, Canada. The father, an agriculturist by occupation, was engaged in the operation of a farm at that place until 1843, when the opportunities of the United States attracted his attention and, crossing the border line, he made his way to Rock Island, Illinois. There he purchased a farm, upon which he resided until 1867, in which year he came to Poweshiek county, Iowa, and here located upon a farm which he bought about eight miles south of Brooklyn. That remained his home for eighteen years, or until his failing health caused his retirement from active life. He then took up his residence in Brooklyn and there remained until his death in 1899, having survived his wife for three years, her death also occurring in this city.
David Byers was in his third year when brought to the United States and remained with his parents in the Illinois home until the spring of 1861, when the outbreak of the Civil war awoke a spirit of patriotism within him that prompted his enlistment for service in the Union army. Accordingly he enlisted at Rock Island, Illinois, as a soldier in Company A Thirty-seventh Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and with that command served for four years, ten months and twenty-eight days. He took part in the battle of Pea Ridge and many of important engagements of the war, being wounded at the battle of Perry Grove, Arkansas. Unlike many who were quick to respond to the country's call, he did not regard his duty over at the close of his first or even second term of enlistment, but remained at the front until after all Confederate troops had laid down their arms, receiving honorable discharge on May 15, 1866, in Houston, Texas, after an active, brave and efficient service on the battle fields of the south.
After his military services were no longer needed he returned north and making his way to Poweshiek county, purchased a farm in Scott township bout eight miles south of Brooklyn and there carried on agricultural pursuits. That remained his home for only four years, however, for his health, which had never been strong after his military experience, compelled him to withdraw from farm labor and he took up his abode in Brooklyn, where he passed away on the 13th of January, 1892.
On the 16th of February, 1867, Mr. Byers married Miss Maria Louise Robb, a daughter of Jacob and Louisa (Washington) Robb. The father, who was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, was a son of James Robb, also a native of that county, and came of English lineage. The mother was born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, about forty miles east of Pittsburg, and was of German descent. Jacob Robb, who followed the trades of tailor and brickmason, removed with his family to Rock Island, Illinois, in 1851, when his daughter Maria Louise was but eighteen months old, and later located on a farm in Mercer county, about sixteen miles southwest of Rock Island. There he continued his residence until the fall of 1886, when he removed to Missouri and there passed away. He had seen service in the Union army at the time of the Civil war, enlisting on the 5th of August, 1862, from Mercer county, Illinois, in Company C, One Hundred and Second Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was discharged at Galveston in March of the following year, however because of a disability. His death occurred in the fall of 1881, while he was residing at Brashear, Missouri. Subsequently his widow made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Byers, at Brooklyn, for thirteen years, after which she returned to her home in Missouri and there passed away on the 22d of October, 1904. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Byers was blessed with one daughter, Mary Louisa, who died at the age of four years.
With the death of Mr. Byers Poweshiek county lost a public-spirited and representative citizen, who had ever remained as loyal to the interests of his adopted country during the days of peace as when following the old flag on southern battlefields. He was a republican in politics and for several years served as a member of the school board of Scott township, ever remaining a stanch friend to the cause of education. He held membership in John T. Drake Post, No. 332, G.A.R., of Brooklyn, while he and his wife belonged to the Presbyterian church, in the work of which they were interested and helpful. Mrs. Byers now attends the Methodist Episcopal church of Brooklyn, however. She is serving for the third year as treasurer of the Woman's Relief Corps of John T. Drake Post No. 332, G.A.R., and is also a member of Rebekah Lodge, No. 202, at Brooklyn. She now makes her home in Brooklyn, having sold her farm a few years subsequent to her arrival here, and has gathered about her a large number of warm friends, who hold her in the highest respect and esteem for her many excellent qualities of heart and mind.

History of Poweshiek County Iowa
- A Record of Settlement, Organizations, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II
written by Prof. L. F. Parker.
Published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1911
Pages 512-514