Myers - Franz Oneall
Source: AW Bowen History, Montgomery County, Indiana (1913) p
1180
Franz O'Neall Myers, one of the most progressive of Montgomery
County's younger farmers and a worthy representative of two of
the honored pioneer families of this section of the Hoosier state
is a man who takes an abiding delight in nature and existence,
because he has been in touch with the springs of life. Mr. Myers
was born in Scott Township, Montgomery County on the farm where
he now lives, one mile west of Ladoga Sept 4, 1885. He is a son
of J. Frantz and Sarah E. (O'Neall) Myers. The father of our
subject was born also in the house where the immediate subject of
this sketch lives. He was a son of William Myers, who was a son
of John Myers, Sr., who was the principal actor in the early
development of Ladoga and Vicinity. He was the first of the
family we can trace definitely. The family is of German origin,
and emmigration was made to the US in the COlonial days. John
Myers, Sr. was born in Lancaster County, PA about 1770, was
married in 1791 to Katheran Hantz (Frantz), who was born in 1775.
Soon after their marriage they moved to Botetourt County,
Virginia, where they became owners of 200 acres of land. 8
children were born to them, an equal number of sons and
daughters: John, Jr.; David; Henry; William; Catherine; Sallie;
Elizabeth and Nancy. About the year 1828 John Myers, Jr. came to
the site of Ladoga, Montgomery County, Indiana and prior to the
spring of 1830 he had purchased 320 acres which joined the mill
site south of Ladoga and in 1830 he brought his family here.
In
1831 John Myers, Sr. and son Henry and nephew, Mathias Frantz
came on horseback to Ladoga to visit John Myers, Jr. The senior
Myers was then 60 years old. He was so favorably
impressed with the possibilities of the new country that he
returned to Virginia, sold his land and other property for $6000,
which sum he put in a chest, which he loaded into a big wagon,
piling furniture on top. Hitching four large horses to the
outfit he started with his wife, youngest son William, son Henry
and his family, and with a goodly party of others came overland
to this county, arriving at Ladoga in the fall of 1833, their big
prairie schooner, although nothing new to the pioneers, yet
attracting much attention. When John Myers, Jr. was building the
first flour mill there, William, the youngest brother of John,
Jr. then a boy of 19, was sent to the Ohio river and brought back
the machinery. John Myers, Sr. bought a great deal of land in
and about Ladoga and between there and Parkersburg, aggregating
1304 acres. He was a man of great vigor of mind and body as is
shown by the fact that at 60 when financially able to take his
ease he moved from the home of his early life to what was then
the western frontier and founded a new home where his children
could have more abundant opportunities. it was his money and
public spirit that made possible the fostering of private
enterprises and building up the town of Ladoga. His death
occurred in 1841, and he is buried in the Cemetery at the south
edge of Ladoga. He and his wife were members of the German
Baptist Church and lived strictly in accord with their religious
opinions. They were given to many acts of hospitality and
charity, often providing a home for persons until they could
provide a home for themselves. In her earlier married life, Mrs.
Myers weaned one of her own children so she could rear her
sisters, child, Mathias Frantz, who was left an orphan when a few
days old.
A leading trait of their character was industry. They
loved work and were never idle. Mrs. Myers worked in the fields
and no one was a better reaper or swifter binder than she. After
the flax was sown she did all the rest of the work, sheared the
sheep and made the cloth, cut and made homsepun clothes for all
her children. She also had some ability as a milliner. Her death
occurred in 1850 and she was buried beside her husband. Her son,
William Myers, was born in 1816 in Botetourt Co, Va and was
married here in 1836 to Lydia Harshbarger, daughter of Jacob and
Salome (Ammen) Harshbarger. She was born in 1816 in Virginia
near Roanoke City and came here with her parents in November
1831. Her father was a man of affairs, well to do and owned
nearly 3000 acres near Ladoga. He was a religious man and of high
moral character. William Myers' death occured on March 1, 1907.
After his marriage, William Myers went to housekeeping in a log
cabin on Raccoon Creek, a half mile south of where Franz O. Myers
now lives. It was new land and he cleared it as he told his
grandchildren in after years, "In those days we married to make a
home. Now the young folks must have a home after marriage. I
cleared this ground, your father ditched it. Now it is ready for
you." He made a good farm of it and here he reared his family 7
children having been born to William Myers and wife, only four of
whom are now living, namely: Mrs. Alice Baldwin, who lives East
of Ladoga; and Daniel A. Myers, who lives four miles NE of
Ladoga. Two other daughters, Mrs. Salome Graybill and Mrs. Mary
Gill liv ein Kansas and Missouri. One of the sons was Jacob
Frantz Myers, father of Franz O'Neall Myers. He was born May 18,
1850 on the place where Franz O. Myers now resides. He and Sarah
Ellen O'Neall were married in this locality in 1877. She was a
daughter of Abijah and Ellen Hall O'Neall. She was born in
RIpley Township, this county April 25, 1854. Her mother was of
Scotch-Irish blood and she came here from Ohio. Abijah O'Neall
is mentioned in the sketch of William Q. O'Neall appearing
elsewhere in this work. J. Franz Myers was a farmer all his
life. He and his wife were Presbyterians. They lived all their
married life on the farm where he was born and prospering with
advancing years, he became owner of 320 acres of land, which he
kept well improved and well cultivated and ranked among the
successful and leading farmers of the southern part of the
county. He was a man of exemplary character and was well and
favorably known. He was active in the republican party, but
never south office, being content to remain on his farm, always a
man of modesty and plain manners. he was, hoever, a delegate to
the state convention that nominated Governor Mount with whom he
was well acquainted and was one of those whose earnest efforts
brought about hte nomination of this distinguished son of
Montgomery County. He was educated at Asbury (now DePauw)
University and Smithson College, and was a member of the PHi
Gamma Delta Fraternity. He was a delegate to the Presbyterian
General Assembly in Washington D C. HIs death occurred November
24, 1903. His wife was educated at Smithson College. She was a
strick Presbyterian and an earnest worker in the church. She was
a good wife and mother and an excellent housekeeper. Her death
occurred August 25, 1893. Franz O'Neall Myers, the immediate
subject of this sketch, attnded Wabash College and also took a
year in the agricultural department at Purdue. He left school
upon the death of his father and took charge of the farm where he
now resides, and he has made a great success of operating the
same, carrying on general farming and stock raising on a large
scale, and keeping the place well improved and well cultivated.
On October 31, 1905, Mr. Myers married Chasie Bridges, daughter
of John l. and Vina Harris Bridges. She was born reared and
partly educated in Putnam County, where her father is a
prosperous farmer and was county commissioner of Putnam County.
Two children have been born to our subject and wife, namely:
Howard B. and Madonna. Fraternally, Mr. Myers is a Mason. He is
a member of the phi Gamma Delta fraternity. religiously, he
belongs to the Presbyterian Church. His farm known as "Fair
Acres" is well named as all who have seen it will readly
acquiesce. It consists of 320 acres and his wife owns 80 acres.
Mrs. Myers was educated at Western Female Seminary at Oxford
Ohio. - transcribed by kbz