Myers, Reuben - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Reuben Myers was born in York County, PA March 29, 1815. He came to Preble County Ohio in the fall of 1817 and in Sept 1830 came to Fountain County, Indiana and that same fall joined the United Brethren Church.  He was converted May 15, 1831. In the spring of 1834 he came to Warren County Ind and was marr to Sally Moore, Sept 15, 1836. She being a member of the ME Church at the time of their marriage he joined with her. Soon after he was appointed classleader and remained so until the year of 1843 when the came to Wapello County. That same fall Rev TM Kirkpatrick organized a class at Ashland and appointed him class-leader. He remained in that relation most of the time up to 1851 when he was given license to exhort and in 1857 received his first license to preach.  In the fall of 1863 he was ordained deacon by Bishop Ames at Newton.  Such are the brief items of a life most of which has been identified with the development of the country and church in Wapello County from territorial times. His death occurred at Mt. Pleasant at the home of his son, Rev. TJ Myers at 9:30 a.m. Feb 5, 1901 at the advanced age of 85 years 10 months 6 days.  He was seemingly in the best of health of a man his age.  He was up and about the home as usual, ate a hearty breakfast, conducted family worship and sat down to finish a book in which he was deeply interested (Makers of Iowa Methodism).  While thus quietly resting and reading, the wheel broke at the cistern and he was not for God had taken him.  Mother Myers, his wife died two years ago Jan 19.  Three children had preceded them to the spirit world, leaving a son, Rev TJ Myers of the Iowa conference and a daughter, Mrs. GW Creath of Agency to mourn their loss.

Of his father’s family two brothers, Jacob Myers of Agency who came with him to Iowa in 1843 and Abram Myers of Plano and one sister, Mrs. Katherine Harriet of Newhawka, Nebraka are still living. Father Myers was deeply interested in all of the great movements of the church; he was a careful reader of the church periodicals and thus kept young in spirit and quite abreast of the times. His home from the day of the log cabin in Iowa until the last was a welcome resting place for all ministers of the gospel, irrespective of the denominational relations.  He was the unfailing friend of his pastor, a cheerful and liberal supporter of the local church and as well an annual contributor to its education, missionary and the various benevolent agencies.  He was a prayerful student of the Bible and had committed to memory many of the Psalms and many portions of the New Testament and was able to recite a large number of favorite hymns. His mind was clear and even vigorous to the last and how appropriate it would seem that from a review of Iowa Methodism (with which he was closely identified both as a lay worker and local preacher) and careful consideration of the past and present of the Militant church he should pass quietly and peacefully to the scenes and glory of the church triumphant. “He rests from his labors and his works follow him.”  Appropriate services were held at the home of his son, Rev. TJ Myers conducted by Rev. WH Hepps of Mt. Pleasant; Rev JW Lamber, presiding elder of the Ottumwa district, led in prayer and Rev. JG Barton of Mt. Pleasant delivered an address. Services were held at the home church in Ashland, also, participated in by Revs JB Hill and AE Thomly of Agency and by his pastor, Eldon, Iowa.   TF Barker