John Myers
John Myers, Atwater, Ohio, was born in Berlin Township, Mahoning Co., Ohio, December 22, 1828, son of Daniel and Polly Myers from Pennsylvania, and early pioneers of Mahoning County, Ohio. The subject of this sketch had not the advantages of acquiring an education that many boys, even of his time, possessed. Arithmetic was his "main fort," and in that branch he got as far as the "double rule of three." His constant practice in compound numbers, interest, percentage and mensuration has made him so proficient in these departments of arithmetic, that better scholars than he frequently acknowlege his superiority in these departments. When about twenty years old he commenced to battle with life for himself, and his first undertaking was a contract to cut 100 cords of four-foot wood at 25 cents per cord for John Boles, of Campbellsport. Taking for a partner his brother Henry, they accomplished the feat in ten days, going to and from their work twice during the time, a distance of fifteen miles. With his share of the proceeds, as part payment, Mr. Myers purchased a "Cantield grain thresher" for which he paid $200. This was his first investment, and he continued to follow threshing for sixteen years. In February, 1851, he was married to Miss Sophia Betts, a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, but who when two years old moved with her parents to Trumbull County, Ohio, where she lived until united in marriage to Mr. Myers. Our subject and wife spent one year of their married life in Berlin Township, and in the fall of 1852 they moved to Atwater Township, this county, on the farm where they now live, consisting of 120 acres, for which Mr. Myers paid $17.50 per acre; about ten acres of this farm were cleared off when Mr. Myers moved on it, but being possessed of a strong constitution and a tireless ambition, with the best elements of character and natural frugality, his life's work has been crowned with merited success. He is owner of over 500 acres of land in Atwater Township, and notwithstanding the vast amount of labor connected with operating such a farm, he has always taken an active interest in educational matters, giving his children every advantage of acquiring a thorough education. The record of his family, all of whom are now living, is: W. C, born November 3, 1852; Lucy A., born July 11, 1854, married to L. I. Glass; Chester A., born December 16, 1856, married to Clara E. Hawn; H. Alva, born August 20, 1859, married to Jennie T. Douthitt; Vinnie M., born August 27, 1861; Eddie M., born December 11, 1864; Hattie J., born January 8, 1867; Jesse O., born May 26, 1870, and Worthy Allen, born December 14, 1873. Six of these have taught school, viz.: W. C, Chester A., H. Alva. Vinnie M., Eddie M. and Hattie J. Mr. Myers is a strong supporter of Democracy, casting his first Presidential vote for Franklin Pierce, and voting for every Democratic candidate for President since that time.
From History of Portage County, Ohio, Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885