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John W. Myers
John
W. Myers, deceased, was for many years connected with agricultural and
industrial interests in Greene county and belonged to that class of
representative American men who while promoting individual success also
promote the public welfare through the conduct of business interests
which contribute to the public prosperity. Wherever known he was
respected and he had a very wide acquaintance in this part of the state.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Myers was born on the 16th of November, 1843,
and was a son of Berlin and Mary (Ross) Myers. His father, a native of
Pennsylvania, died in February, 1872. When a child he had accompanied
his parents on their removal to Ohio, where he spent the days of his
boyhood and youth. After attaining man’s estate he married Miss Ross,
and for many years they resided in Ohio, but in 1855 removed westward
to Iowa, their destination being Greene county. They settled on a farm
in what is now Washington township, although the township had not then
been organized. This was largely a frontier district, which was just
being opened up by the pioneers who had made their way thither from the
east and were converting the wild land into productive farms. Berlin
Myers entered a claim of one hundred and sixty acres from the
government and lived upon it until February, 1865, when he leased his
land and removed to Jefferson. In the county seat, associated with his
three sons, Joseph R., John W. and Henry B., he then erected a sawmill
and began the manufacture of lumber. Two or three years later they put
up a gristmill and the properties became known as the Jefferson Mills.
A short time prior to his death the father purchased the interest of
his son John in the business and continued to engage in milling until
his demise.
John W. Myers spent the first thirteen years of his life in the
state of his nativity and then came with his parents to Iowa, being
reared upon the home farm in Washington township. He assisted in the
arduous task of developing and cultivating the new land and continued
upon the farm until the removal of the family to Jefferson, when he
became interested in the milling enterprise which his father there
established. He was a partner in the business for several years and
then sold out to his father, after which be located upon a farm south
of Jefferson, where he continued to make his home until he was called
to his final rest.
On the 1st of October, 1870, Mr. Myers was united in marriage to
Miss Margaret C. Winkleman, who was born May 15, 1847, in Champaign
county, Illinois. Her father, Benjamin Winkleman, was a native of
Switzerland, born in 1812, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of
Margaret Panager, was born in Germany in the same year. They became
early residents of Champaign county, Illinois, and in 1855 removed to
Dallas county, Iowa, their home being on the boundary line between
Dallas and Greene counties. The father owned and cultivated a farm in
the latter county until his death. He passed away in 1898 at the very
advanced age of eighty-six years, having long survived his wife, who
died in 1855. They were people of the highest respectability and
enjoyed in large measure the confidence, good will and friendship of
those with whom they came in contact. They had a family of four
children, of whom three are still living at the time of this writing in
1907, namely: John, a resident of California; Fred, who is living in
Bristol township; and Mrs. Myers.
Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Myers took up their abode
upon a farm south of Jefferson and there lived until the death of the
husband, which occurred July 20, 1883. In 1901 Mrs. Myers sold that
place and came to her present home, situated on section 11, Kendrick
township. Here she is pleasantly located and her daughter Mary E. is
living with her. She is an only child and is now the wife of Wilbur
Tarbell. Mrs. Myers is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of
which her husband was also an active member, and she is an estimable
lady, having many warm friends in this locality. She has resided in
this part of the state from early girlhood and for more than a half
century has witnessed its growth and development and the changes which have here occurred. Many
events which have shaped its history and are to the majority of people
merely a matter of record are to her matters of experience or personal observation.
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