Salem Cemetery Lot No. 33 contains four graves, those of my great-great-grandfather, Jacob Myers; great-great-grandmother, Harriet (Dick) Myers; great-grandfather, Daniel Myers; and great-grandmother, Mary Belle (Redlingshafer) Myers. The balance of the lot was intended for my grandparents, Irwin and Ethel (Dent) Myers, but because the Jacob Myers monument rather carelessly consumes a great deal of space they went looking for another that could accommodate more family members and alighted upon the last available open lot in the original Salem plat. As a result, there still is room here for two or three burials.
The Jacob Myers stone, a white marble affair topped by an urn, is the largest tombstone in the cemetery and a fairly good (although not especially elaborate) example of triumphalism. A smaller headstone inscribed "father" to the south of the main tombstone marks Jacob's grave. For some reason, however, his inscription is on the north rather than south face of the big tombstone, which may explain why Great-great-grandmother Harriet, buried to the north, has a separate stone of her own in a later style. The Jacob Myers inscription reads as follows:
Died
May 27, 1883
AGED
71 YEARS, 10 m.
& 27 ds.
Inscribed on the west face below a recessed panel depicting clasped hands is the couplet:
"A faithful friend, a father dear,
lies buried here"
DEATH NOTICE: JACOB H. MYERS
The Chariton Democrat, 30 May 1883
DIED --- On Sunday evening, May 27th, 1883, Jacob Myers. The deceased was one of the old settlers of Lucas county, and was highly respected by all who knew him. About a year ago he suffered from an attack of that dread disease, paralysis, and it was feared that he would not recover. But his constitution asserted itself, and he slowely recovered, and was able to be about and attend to his business, although he was not by any means as vigorous as he was prior to the attack. But our citizens had grown accustomed to see him on the streets again.
He was in the city on Saturday, and appeared to be as well as usual. On Sunday afternoon he took a walk out over his farm and to all appearances was in good health and spirits. Soon afterwards he experienced something like a choking sensation in the throat, from which he never rallied. Dr. Simmons, his family physician, was immediately sent for, but before he reached the house, Uncle Jake, as he was familiarly known, was dead. He was a good citizen and his death will be mourned by a large number of relatives and friends.
The Chariton Patriot, 6 June 1883
MYERS --- At his home in Benton township, Sunday, May 27th, 1883, Jacob Myers, aged 72 years.
Mr. Myers was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., June 30th, 1811, and there grew to manhood. Possessed of powerful frame and vigorous health, with an indomitable will and restless energy, he early identified himself with the then great undertaking of connecting Philadelphia and Pittsburgh by canal and rail. He assisted in building the Portage railroad over the Allegheny mountains that formed a link in the system of transportation projected and owned by the state of Pennsylvania.
Afterwards, when the Pennsylvania Central railway was constructed, he took an active part in the great work, and there laid the foundation of a substantial fortune. Coming to Iowa about seventeen years ago he bought and settled on a large farm in Benton township, where he resided until the time of his death.
He was well known and highly respected; a man of great positiveness of character, he was always kind and forbearing to his friends. When the law reducing the number of supervisors to three went into effect in 1879, he was elected a member of the board. His services were valuable to the county and marked by good judgement and strong good sense.
He became interested in mining operations, making three trips to Arizona when nearly seventy years old, and serving as superintendent of the consolidated Papago Chief Mining Co.
He leaves a fine estate, the result of a life of industry, good business management and great economy. He was a central character of the community where he lived, and few will be more missed than our good friend, kind neighbor and excellent citizen.
Notes: Jacob Myers is one of those ancestors I'd like to know more about, but unfortunately a turn-of-the-century fire triggered by a grandson who set off a firecracker inside the family home burned everything (the house reportedly contained a good deal of ammunition and some other explosives, so everyone more or less just backed off and let in burn). My great-aunt, Minnie (Myers) Johnson, remained disappointed into very old age, however, because she was sent to the fields to alert the men when the fire broke out, then made to stay in the field and tend the work horses while they all rushed to the house --- she really regretted missing the spectacle.
Partly because of that fire, I know little or nothing about Jacob's character (or for that matter what he looked like). His daughter-in-law, Great-grandmother Mary Belle (Redlingshafer) Myers, had the last word in conversations with her son, Raymond: "If any man ever deserved to go to hell, he did," she said of Jacob. I rather doubt she was qualified to determine that, since Mary Belle was shall we say a forceful character herself and was known to deeply resent that great amount of time and energy her husband, Daniel, devoted soon after their marriage to settling his father's estate, which in one case required a trek to the Iowa Supreme Court. If nothing else, Jacob must have been, however, an interesting character.
Although he worked as a contractor, building both canals and rail lines in Pennsylvania, he reportedly specialized in the construction of keystone arch bridges.
The Papago Chief Mining Co., mentioned in the obituary, was located south of Tucson, Ariz., and was not a great success --- although neither Jacob nor his business partner, Stephen Arnold of Chariton, seems to have suffered. The same cannot be said for friends and neighbors who invested in the company, so it is entirely possible that Jacob was not so universally admired at the time of his departure as the obituaries imply.
Harriet (Dick) Myers was Jacob Myers's second wife. We know only that his first wife's surname was Snow and that, if family stories are accurate, she died after 1838 but before 1840 of drowning in a canal near the Myers home in St. Clair Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, as some of her children looked on. She was the mother of the eldest Myers children, Sarah A. (Myers) Houck, Abraham (or Abram) Snow Myers and George Myers (who died young).
Jacob and Harriet had ten children, two of whom died young, after their 1842 marriage. The eight survivors were Elizabeth Adella (Myers) Simpson, Susan Harriet (Myers) Hickle, Phoebe (Myers) Gookin, Mary (Myers) Gookin, Catherine (Myers) Parsons, Daniel Myers, Anna Clarissa (Myers) Dulin/Angell and Adalaide (Myers) Slattery/Scovel. Jacob and Harriet also raised a foster son, Ishmel (Worthword) Myers, whom they took from the Lucas County poor house during Jacob's tenure as county supervisor. Harriet outlived Jacob by more than 20 years. Her small pink granite tombstone is immediately north of his white marble extravaganza.
HARRIET
MYERS
Mar. 16, 1818
Feb. 16, 1906
OBITUARY: HARRIET (DICK) MYERS
The Chariton Herald Patriot, 22 February 1906
Mrs. Harriet Myers, nee Dick, was born at Brush Valley, Maryland (actually she probably was born in Brush Valley Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, although her family had come to there from Maryland), March 16, 1818, and died at her home in Benton township, Lucas County, Iowa, on February 16th (1906), aged 87 years and 11 months. She was one of a family of six children. One brother, James Dick, of McPherson, Kansas, survives her. With her parents she removed in youth to West Moreland (Westmoreland) County, Pa., residing there until 1842. At this time and place she was married to Jacob Myers, of East Florence (New Florence), Pa., where they resided until 1865, from whence they removed to Benton Township, Lucas County, Iowa, where they both resided until death. Her husband departed this life some years since.
To this union were born ten children. Two children died in infancy. One daughter, Mrs. Susan Hickle of Lincoln county, Kansas, passed away some four years since. One son and six daughters mourn the loss of a kind and loving mother. Those residing in Lucas county are Daniel Myers, Mrs. Phoebe Gookin, Mrs. Clark Gookin and Mrs. Catherine Parsons. Mrs. Elizabeth Simpson and Mrs. Adda Scovil are residents, the former of Montana, the latter of Idaho. Mrs. Anna Angle is also a resident of Montana. A son and daughter of her husband, by a former marriage, also survive her. They are Abram Myers of Allerton, Iowa, and Mrs. Sarah Houck of South Dakota. She leaves 52 grandchildren, 47 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.
In early life she united with the Methodist church and during her illness she left bright hopes for the future. She was a loving wife and mother, a true and obliging neighbor, being loved by all who knew her. The funeral service was held on Monday conducted by the Rev. Charles Pickford.
The graves of Daniel Myers and Mary Belle (Redlingshafer) Myers, his wife, are just north of his parents' graves. Mary Belle is a granddaughter of Doratha Redlingshafer, buried in Lot No. 4. Her parents, John G. and Isabelle (Greer) Redlingshafer, are buried in the Chariton Cemetery. Daniel's and Mary Belle's graves are marked by a single modest gray granite stone inscribed as follows:
Mary B. (north inscription)
1859-1943
Daniel (south inscription)
1856-1933
OBITUARY: DANIEL MYERS
Mary Belle (Redlingshafer) Myers scrapbook
Daniel Myers was born in New Florence, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, on December 4, 1856, and departed this life at his home in Benton Township, southeast of Chariton, Iowa, on February 24, 1933, at the age of 76 years, 2 months and 19 days. Seven sisters and one brother have preceded him in death.
The early years of his life were spent in Pennsylvania, but at the age of 9,in 1865, he moved to Lucas county, Iowa, with his parents, and has resided in Benton township, of said county, ever since that date.
On October 27, 1880, he was united in marriage to Mary Belle Redlingshafer, and they were privileged to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary together, two years ago last October 27th. To this union seven children were born, all of whom are living today. They are Irwin Myers, Mrs. Carl Johnson, Mrs. Nelson Reynolds, Mrs. D.B. Ream, Raymond Myers, John J. Myers and Nolan D. Myers. All the children reside in Benton Township except Raymond, who lives in Ottumwa, Iowa.
During the winter of 1893 he joined the Mt. Carmel Evangelical church just east of his home and has been a member ever since, having at various times held the office of trustee and steward in his church.
Also, he played a very active and prominent part in both township and school district activities. He has held several township offices and has been treasurer of the school district for 30 years, and was held in high esteem by all who have dealt with him in the carrying on of his duties.
He has been in poor health since suffering a stroke of paralysis two years ago this coming March 10, and especially during the past year has gradually failed until his departure to that great eternity of the future, on the morning of February 24th.
He leaves to mourn their loss, his devoted wife; two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Simpson of Billings, Mont.; and Mrs. Addie Scovel, of Oregon; 7 children 21 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and a great host of other relatives and friends.
After a short service at the house and a service at the Salem Methodist Church, the body was laid to rest in the Salem cemetery on Sunday afternoon, February 26. The officiating ministers were the Rev. Leslie Deedrick, pastor (of Mt. Carmel Church), and the Rev. W.C. McKinley, of Griswold, former pastor, who delivered the message. Music was furnished by Mrs. Will May, Mrs. Lloyd May and Argie Risbeck.
Undated clipping, files of Frank D. Myers
Mary Belle Redlingshafer, daughter of John and Isabelle Redlingshafer, was born in Lucas County, Iowa, on March 14th, 1859, and departed this life on October 1st, 1943, at the age of 84 years, 6 months, and 15 days.
When seven years old she moved with her parents to Pennsylvania where they lived for a year, then returned to Lucas county where the remainder of her life was spent.
On October 27, 1880, she was united in marriage to Daniel Myers and they were privileged to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary together. Their entire married life was lived in the Mt. Carmel neighborhood. Mr. Myers preceded her in death in February 1933.
To this union seven children were born, all of whom are living. They are: Irwin Myers of Chariton, Mrs. Minnie Johnson and Mrs. Harriett Reynolds of Russell, Mrs. Daisy Ream of Chariton, Raymond Myers of Ottumwa, John Myers of Racine, Wisconsin, and Nolan Myers of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Early in life she accepted Christ as her savior and later became a member of the Mt. Carmel Evangelical Church where she was a loyal worker in the church and Sunday school as long as health permitted. She was a faithful wife, a kind and loving mother and a helpful neighbor, ministering to homes of the community in times of sickness and need.
Besides the children she is survived by 22 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, one brother, Greer Redlingshafer of Chariton, Iowa, and many other relatives and friends.
Largely attended funeral services were held Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Dunshee and Son Funeral Home in Chariton, conducted by the Rev. A.E. Beals of the Russell Baptist Church and interment was in the Salem Cemetery.
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