Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1057 - 1059

MURRAY MYERS, Auditor of Sedgwick County, a gentleman well and favorably known, is highly respected for his excellent business qualities, strict integrity and fidelity in places of trust. He is a native of Wenona, Marshall Co., Ill., where he was born April 28, 1846, being the son of Albert S. and Emily J. (Whitcomb) Myers, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Rochester, N. Y.

             The grandfather of our subject, David Myers, was born in Pennsylvania, his ancestors having emigrated from Holland in an early day and settled in that State, where they engaged in the nursery business. David, who was trained in that occupation, removed to Marshall County, Ill., in 1832, and established the first nursery in that State, known as the Myers Nursery, near Magnolia, and successfully carried on the business there until his death. The maiden name of his wife was Drusilla Simpson. To them were born a family of thirteen children, all of whom, excepting the youngest, lived to maturity, were married and reared families.

             Albert S. Myers, the father of our subject, continued in the nursery business at the old homestead after the death of his father, and still resides there, having acquired a competency in that lucrative business. He is a prominent man in his community, has always been identified with its interests, and has held the numerous local offices of his township. To him and his wife have been born five children, all of whom are living, namely: Ella, Murray, Oren, Willis and Hattie. Ella is the wife of Hon. A. H. Stateler, who is engaged in the mercantile business at Wenona, Ill.; Oren lives in Nebraska, and is engaged in farming; Willis lives at Ft. Hayes, Kan., and is engaged in the broker and real-estate business; Hattie is the wife of George Young, a merchant of Bloomington, Ill.

             The maternal grandfather of our subject, Oren Whitcomb, was a native of New York. He removed with his family to Putnam County, Ill., and settled in Magnolia, being one of the pioneers of that place. He engaged in the cabinet business in that town, and by his superior workmanship soon established a fine business reputation. He had great mechanical ability, as well as inventive talent, and was the inventor of the first reaper. He never had it patented, but the machines were manufactured by William Parrott, of Magnolia, and were extensively used in that part of the State. Had he lived a few years longer the world might have had substantial evidence of his genius, but in 1857 both he and his wife were stricken with that dread disease cholera, and died within an hour of each other.

             Murray Myers, of this sketch, remained at home, attending school and assisting in the nursery, until eleven years old, when, having become familiar with all branches taught in the district school, he went to Galesburg, Ill., where he was admitted to Lombard University, remaining there until the breaking out of the late Civil War. He then enlisted as drummer boy in Company C, 44th Illinois, and remained in service during the war. He took an active part in the battles of the Western Army under Siegel and Fremont, was with Gen. Buell through Kentucky, and participated in all the engagements from Nashville to Chattanooga. After Buell was superseded by Gen. Rosecrans, our subject continued with the latter through the siege of Chattanooga, and was engaged in all the battles of the Georgia campaign. Then he returned to Nashville, and from there went to New Orleans, finally receiving an honorable discharge in Texas in November, 1865. During the second year of the war our subject was promoted for gallant service to the position of Captain of Company E, 44th Illinois Regiment, being the youngest Captain commissioned from that State. He subsequently received further merited promotion for valor and efficiency, being appointed on the staff of Gen. Opedike, of Ohio, and later served on the staff of Gen. Conrad, of St. Louis, and was also an officer on the staff of Maj. Gen. Elliott. Gen. Myers was wounded in the knee at the battle of Stone River, shot in the hip at Chickamauga, and also received a wound in the head at Resaca. After the war closed our subject returned to Wenona, Ill., and engaged in the drug business, continuing until 1872.

             In 1868 Mr. Myers was united in marriage with Miss Libbie, daughter of H. N. Todd, and sister of Rev. George S. Todd, Chaplain of St. Luke's Hospital, Chicago, Ill. To them was born one child, Guy. In 1873 Mr. Myers, desirous of trying farm life in Kansas, removed with his family and took up a homestead claim in Attica Township, where he improved a farm, erecting substantial dwellings and putting the land under good cultivation. In 1880 Mr. Myers, who had become prominently identified with town and county affairs, was appointed Auditor of Sedgwick County, a position for which he is well fitted, and the duties of which he has since satisfactorily discharged, and later commissioned by Gov. Martin Brigadier General of the Kansas National Guards, which position he continues to fill. Just before the "Wichita boom" he sold his farm, and removing to this city, invested the proceeds in property here, which proved a very fortunate speculation, and since then he has dealt largely in real estate. In company with Mr. Heiserman our subject has built three brick blocks worth $150,000. He is also a stockholder in most of the stock companies of Wichita, and has been remarkably successful as a financier.

             In 1881 the household of our subject was bereaved by the death of the gracious woman who presided over it with loving care. Her body was carried back to her old home in Illinois, and on the 4th of March was tenderly laid to rest in the cemetery at Wenona. In 1885 Mr. Myers was again married, his union with Miss Laura, daughter of Gen. B. B. Eggleston, of Wichita, being solemnized February 21 of that year.

             The subject of this sketch is one of the leading men of the city, and uses his influence in advancing its welfare, materially aiding all beneficial schemes for promoting its financial, moral or intellectual status, and is a worthy representative of the intelligent and substantial citizens of the county. As a man of judgment and discretion, his views are often solicited on matters of importance, and as a man and a citizen he is filling his niche in life with credit and dignity. His pleasant home at No. 1013 North Lawrence avenue is ever open to his friends and acquaintances, who are hospitably welcomed and entertained by himself and his estimable wife. Politically, our subject is a stanch supporter of the Republican party; socially, he is a Mason and a member of the G. A. R.

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