KSGenWeb Digital Library Biographical Sketch of J. L. Myers Doniphan County, Kansas

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The following transcription is from a 750 page book titled "Genealogical and Biographical Record of North-Eastern Kansas, dated 1900.  These have been diligently transcribed and generously contributed by Penny R. Harrell, please give her a very big Thank You for her hard work!

J. L. Myers, a well known resident of Elwood and a veteran of the civil war, was born in Indiana, near the town of Lebanon, October 7, 1845.  His father, J. L. Myers, was born in Kentucky, whence he removed to Indiana and was there married to Miss Evaline Stoker.  He was a farmer by occupation and in 1847 he removed with his family to Wapello county, Iowa, where he secured a tract of wild land which he subsequently transformed into rich and fertile fields.

Situated, however, on the western frontier the trials and hardships of pioneer life were many, but the family made the best of their opportunities, remaining in Iowa until the early spring of 1856, when they removed to Kansas, locating in Jackson county, on the Red Vermilion, near Holton.  The father carried on agricultural pursuits throughout his entire life, was also a minister of the United Brethren
church and usually occupied a pulpit on Sunday, thus carrying to the people the "glad tidings of great joy."  At the age of eighty-two years he was called to his final rest.  His political support was given to the Republican party and at all times he was loyal to citizenship, to truth and right.

His wife, who was a member of the Methodist church, died at the age of eighty-four years.  They had a large family of children, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, namely: Elizabeth Ann; R. A., who was a member of the Eleventh Kansas Cavalry during the civil war and is now deceased; Ellen; Louisa; Jonathan, who was a member of Company D, Eleventh Kansas Cavalry, and was killed in the service at Camp Babcock, Arkansas; Sarah Frances; Mary Gibbs; Thomas, who was a member of the Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry in the war for the preservation of the Union; Elsie; Hiram; Harriet Eveline; Margaret; James L.; Sophrona; and Flora.

J. L. Myers, whose name introduces this review, was in his second year when his parents went to Iowa, and was still a young lad when the family came to Kansas, so that the greater part of his life has been passed in this state.  He attended the public schools and in his youth assisted in the work of the farm, thus becoming familiar with all the duties and labors of the agriculturist.  Upon the breaking out of the civil war a spirit of patriotism was aroused within him and he joined the boys in blue of Company H, Eleventh Kansas Cavalry, under command of Captain Greer and Colonel Moorlight.

He served for more than two years, participating in nine battles, and was honorably discharged at the close of hostilities, at Fort Leavenworth.  For some time he was ill in the Fort Scott hospital, but it was not until 1882 that he made application for a pension.  He was always a loyal soldier, brave in battle, fearlessly defending the old flag and the cause it represented.  At the close of the war Mr. Myers returned to Jefferson county and entered the employ of the railroad company at Oskaloosa, where he remained until 1872.

In April of the following year he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Belle White, who was born in Adair county, Kentucky, a daughter of R. T. White, of Elwood.  Her father, also a native of Adair county, was born on the 4th of May, 1823, and was a son of Thomas White, a native of Virginia.  His grandfather, Thomas White, Sr., was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Thomas White, Jr., was married in Kentucky to Miss Sarah Grider, a native of Germany, and they became the parents of nine children, eight sons and a daughter. 

The father of Mrs. Myers was reared in the state of his nativity and there learned the blacksmith's trade.  In 1852, in Tennessee, he married Miss Mary C. Farlee, who was born in Adair county, Kentucky, a daughter of John C. and Judah (Parsons) Farlee, the former a soldier of the War of 1812.  Mr. and Mrs. White became the parents of five children, namely: Mrs. Myers; Mary, wife of John Sharp, of Elwood; Alice, who became the wife of Warren Stine and died at the age of twenty-six years; William, also of Elwood; and James, who is living in St. Joseph, Mo.  Mr. White, the father of this family, joined the Thirteenth Kentucky Cavalry, and served for eighteen months.

Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church and have the warm regard of many friends.  Three children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Myers: Lorena is the wife of Thomas Shortle, who is in the employ of St. Joseph & Grand Island Railroad Company, and they have three children: Flossie O., James P. and Thomas.  Harry is attending school and is fourteen years of age.  Florence completes the family. However, there are three children deceased, two sons and a daughter.

Mr. Myers votes with the Republican party and is a member of several fraternal societies, including Rice Post, G. A. R., of Topeka, Kansas.  He devotes his time and energies to farming and is one of the successful and enterprising agriculturists of the community who has placed his land under a high state of cultivation, making it a valuable and productive tract.  In all matters pertaining to the public welfare he is found on the side of progress, giving his support to such measures as are intended to secure advancement along educational, social and moral lines, while at all times he is as true to his duties of citizenship as when he followed the old flag upon the battlefields of the south.

Last update: Sunday, January 18, 2004 01:36:04

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