FRANCIS M. MYERS

MYERS, STAUB, WALSWORTH, BROOKS

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/31/2025 at 20:08:17

FRANCIS .M. MYERS. of Ft. .Madison, who is prominently engaged in the grocery trade in this city, is a native of Green Bay Township, born Dec. 13, 1850. His father, Joseph Myers, was a pioneer of Ft. Madison, and is now living in this city retired from active business. He was born nine miles from Gettysburg, one of the famous battlefields of the late war, in Pennsylvania, and his father, Francis H. Myers, was a native of New York, of German ancestry and parentage, and a tanner and currier by trade. The latter removed from New York to Adams County, Pa., when a young man, and purchased a farm, upon which he operated until 1818. He then removed to Fairfield County, Ohio, purchased another farm, and carried on the occupation of farming and tanning until his retirement from the active labors of life. He was married in early manhood to Miss Catherine Staub, a native of Pennsylvania. She accompanied her husband to Ohio and died in Fairfield County. Their family included ten children, eight of whom grew to mature years.

Joseph Myers, father of the subject of this sketch, was the fifth child of his parents' family. He remained at home receiving his primary education in the subscription schools, and later attended Marietta Institute, after which he took a course at Granville Institute. He commenced teaching at the age of eighteen years, and by this means earned money with which to pursue his studies. After graduating at Granville he continued his duties as an instructor in Fairfield and Perry Counties, after which, in 1837, he took up the study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. Brooks, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio. The year following he took a course of lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, Ill., and subsequently commenced the practice of his chosen profession at Reading, Perry Co., Ohio. He practiced and taught school alternately until 1841, and then started for Ft. Madison, via the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. In March following he opened a drug-store, which he operated for a period of nine years, and then selling out, purchased a farm in Green Bay Township, and followed agricultural pursuits for two years. He now concluded to abandon farming, and returning to Ft. Madison opened another drug-store, and continued this until 1876. He then sold the business to his sons and retired from active labor.

Joseph Myers was married on the 2d of August, 1841, to Miss Louisa Hoffman, who was also born in Adams County, Pa., followed the fortunes of her husband to the West, and died the year following his retirement from business on the 15th of July 1877. They were the parents of eight children, two of whom, Susannah and Joseph, died in infancy ; Justus lives in Washington Township; Maselon M.. born April 21, 1847, died Nov. 21, 1882; Francis, our subject, was the fifth child; Mary T. became the wife of Luther Walsworth, and lives in Austin, Tex. ; Alfred A. M., born May 7, 1856, died Jan. 11, 1884; John C. B. was born Oct. 16, 1860, and lives in Ft. Madison. He is Democratic in politics, and a prominent man in his vicinity.

Francis M. Myers was but two years old when his parents located in Ft. Madison the second time, and he here grew to manhood and received his primary education in the city schools. At quite an early age he began to clerk in his father's store, and gained an excellent insight into business matters. In 1876 he became associated in partnership with his brother, and they secured the father's business and operated it until the following year, when they sold out, and Francis M. went East on a visit, spending three mouths. He then returned to Ft. Madison, remained until the following May, then retraced his steps eastward, and made a tour of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Ohio, which occupied the greater part of his time until March, 1879, when he once more crossed the Father of Waters, and in company with his brother Maselon, again became engaged in the grocery trade until November, 1882, when his brother Alfred succeeded Maselon, and our subject and this brother carried on the business until January, 1884, when Alfred Myers died, and since that time Francis M. has conducted the business alone.

Mr. Myers is straightforward in his business transactions, and this, in connection with his courteous demeanor toward all with whom he deals, has secured for him an extensive and profitable trade. He is still a young man, with a bright future before him, and has the confidence and good wishes of a large circle of friends. He is connected with .St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and a valued member of the community, of whom good things are looked for in the future.

Source:
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF LEE COUNTY, IOWA
CHICAGO, CHAPMAN BROTHERS, 1887
 
Transcription typed/proofed as article was originally published in 1887