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Archiver > PACAMBRI > 1998-03 > 0889745318


From: "David Monahan" <>
Subject: Re: Geo. and Mary Myers
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 18:28:38 -0500


George Myers is listed in the Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia. I sent
this message earlier to the list (about 2 months ago):

GEORGE J. MYERS, who has carved out for himself a useful and successful
career is a son of John B. and Catherine (Myers) Myers, and was born in
Williamsport, Penn-sylvania, March 4, 1820. His father, who was born
November 8, 1791, was a native of Russia, and his mother was born in
Germany, November 1, 1793. They were married before coming to this country.
In 1817 they emigrated to America and located near Williamsport, where they
rented a farm, which they continued to cultivate until 1822, when they
removed by means of wagons to this county, locating in the woods in
Allegheny township, where they had all the difficulties of a new settlement
to overcome. Here by untiring energy and industry Mr. Myers succeeded in
clearing a farm on which he resided until 1837. He then removed to
Pennsylvania Furnace, on Spruce creek, on the line of Centre and Huntingdon
counties, Pennsylvania. He resided here for six years and again returned to
Cambria county, where he purchased a farm near Loretto.
He died in 1875, his wife having died June 19, 1854. They were both devout
members of the Roman Catholic church. They had seven children: Peter, an
inmate of the soldiers' home, in Kansas; A. J., who lives near Sioux city,
Iowa; John B., of Pender, Nebraska; Mary, the wife of Martin FLECK,
Catherine, the wife of R. E. SMITH, of Keokuk, Iowa; George J., and Matilda,
the wife of F. D. SAUPP, of Altoona, Pennsylvania.
George J. Myers, whose boyhood days were spent near Williamsport, never had
the ad-vantages of common school education. He remained with his parents
until he was twelve years old, and during these years his father taught him
to read and write in the German language. He had a retentive memory, and
being a constant reader and a close observer of human events, he has through
his own efforts obtained a good practical education. When but twelve years
old he worked on the old Portage railroad as errand boy, serving in this
capacity six months, and in the following spring went to Johnstown, this
county, where he worked on the old Pennsylvania canal from March, 1833,
until June, 1837. In the latter year he went to Philadelphia and secured an
appointment on the police force of that city, and although young and small,
proved himself a courageous and efficient officer.
In November of 1837 he retired from the police force and went to Spruce
creek to work as furnace-man for John LEMON, the blower at Pennsylvania
furnace. He remained here for six years and then took charge of Mitchell's
furnace in upper Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and in two years was able to
clear $10,000, which he lost during the next two years on account of the
Walker Tariff law of 1846. He was now penniless and from a financial
standpoint had to begin life anew. He walked to his home in Blair county and
soon secured work at the Elizabeth furnace; here he commenced to write
English under Martin BELL, who was superintendent, and remained there
fifteen months. For the next three years he was foundryman of the Ashville
furnace of this county, owned by Hugh MCNEAL, of Hollidaysburg,
Pennsylvania. About this time he built and operated three coke ovens the
first in this county, using the coke produced in the furnace he was
operating.
In March, 1851, he located on his present farm in Gallitzin township, which
at that time was a dense forest. By the 25th of the following September he
had cleared a small tract of land and had built and moved into a small
shanty. By dint of hard work and indefatigable energy, he has cleared and
improved one hundred and fifty acres, and now owns one of the most desirable
farms in the county.
In religious faith he and his entire family are devout and consistent
members of the Roman Catholic church. In politics Mr. Myers was an old-line
whig, but on the disruption of that party and the organization of the
Republican party, he became a republican, and in 1856 attended the first
Republican County convention held in Cambria county. His voice was heard
from the hustings in the memorable campaign of 1840, when the log cabin and
the political slogan of "Tippecanoe and Tyler too," enthused the masses, and
made it one of the most noted campaigns in the history of political parties.
He has always taken a very prominent part in the politics of his township as
the following record will show:
For three years he was county poor director; for twenty-five years, served
as justice of the peace in Gallitzin township; was assessor of his township
for seventeen years, road supervisor for six years, collected the school tax
for his township for seven years; served on school board twelve years; as
township auditor for twenty-nine consecutive years, and has acted as school
treasurer of his township from 1876 to the present time. This evidences in a
marked degree the confidence reposed in him by the people who know him best.
At one period he filled five offices in his township.
In 1847 he married Miss Mary, a daughter of Joseph Urban and Elizabeth
(KOONS) URBAN, of this county. Their marriage has been blessed in the birth
of eight children, three daughters and five sons: Mary E., the wife of T.
Thomas STEPHENS, of Gallitzin, Pennsylvania; John A, a conductor on a work
train on the Pennsylvania railroad; D. Gallitzin, a hotel man at Ashville,
this county; James F., now located in Altoona; Joseph P., who operates the
coal bank on the farm; Thomas H., who lives at home, acts as justice of the
peace and auditor; Catharine, now deceased, was the wife of George L.
ALLWAUGER, and died August 9, 1895, leaving four children; and Clara A.,
born in 1852, and died in infancy.
Mr, Myers knows well the lesson of industry and economy, and by unyielding
perseverance has become one of the most prosperous farmers of the county. He
is affable and congenial and has deservedly won the confidence and esteem of
his fellow-citizens.

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