J. W. Myers - G.A.R., Bishop Post

Jacob K. and Sarah Wellman Myers welcomed their son, John W. Myers, to the world on March 27, 1844.

Residents of Goshen, Ohio in Clermont County, they and their family would become residents of Defiance County eventually.

John, one of the younger sons, enlisted in the 100th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company D on July 18, 1862, when he was eighteen.  Organized in Toledo, Company D was composed largely of men from Defiance County and was a three-year company.

Without any training, the newly formed regiment was ordered to Covington, Kentucky, on the Ohio River to begin a series of stints serving as guards for the railroads, the necessary Union supply lines.

They had one major skirmish during the first year in Telford Station where 200 soldiers were captured while on guard duty. In the spring of 1864, the unit was sent to Knoxville, Tennessee.

The History of Defiance County, 1883, said on page 134:

"Upon arriving at Knoxville, a portion of the regiment was sent up to guard the Virginia state line to guard the railroad. The detachment, 240 strong, was captured by the enemy on the 4th of September and was sent to Richmond, Virginia."  This would have been in September, 1863, and the prisoners were probably exchanged.

Was J. W. Myers one of the prisoners?  Only his pension record from the National Archives can give that information, but we know he lived on as part of regiment and was present in the spring of 1864 to join General Sherman in his march into Atlanta. The 1883 History told us that the 100th "was present for almost every battle."  Then the 100th were sent into Tennessee to follow the Confederate, John B. Hood, and there they participated in the Battles of Franklin and of Nashville.  A trek into North Carolina took them to war's end and the unit was mustered out at Greensboro, North Carolina on June 20, 1865.  J. W. served two years, ten months and twenty-one days in service to his country.

 A few years after arriving home, he married Hester Elliott on February 9, 1868, in Defiance County.  By 1870, they lived on a farm in Richland Township with their first son, Jacob E. and her mother, Sarah Elliott.  By 1880, they had their farm in Highland Township and were firmly settled for their lives. Six children were now part of the family, and John had fully taken on the farm and community life. 

The newspapers told of his successful crops, his large ship timber contracts, and his orchard.  He served as a township trustee and on juries when called. Well thought of by his family and community, J.W. was honored in 1905 as the Memorial Day Parade marshal in Defiance, and in 1926, the Myers family reunion voted him lifetime president of the group. In addition, he was one of the most active members of the Bishop Post, G.A.R.

On March 2, 1920, his wife, Hester, died and was buried in the Hill Cemetery.  

"Mrs. John Myers

Mrs. John Myers died Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 at her home on Ayersville avenue, aged 71 years, 4 months and 26 days.  She leaves a husband, five sons and three daughters.

The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Ayersville M.E. church.  Rev. Manahan will officiate and interment will be made in Hill cemetery."

Less than one year later, John married his second wife at the age of 76. Caroline M. (nee' Greenamyer) Stone was 75 and the widow of Harry Stone. The couple was married by Rev. G. M. Baumgardner of the Methodist Church.  Caroline died about six years later and was buried with her first husband in Hill Cemetery. 

From the Defiance Crescent-News, July, 1927:

"MRS. MYERS 84, AYERSVILLE, DIES.

FUNERAL WILL BE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON; TO BURY IN HILL CEMETERY

Mrs. Caroline Matilda Myers, 84, wife of G. W. (sic J.W.) Myers, Civil war veteran, died today at 4 a.m. at her home in Ayersville after an illness after chronic myocarditis.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in the home, and at 2 p.m. at the Methodist church of Ayersville, with Rev. C. D. Chiles officiating. Burial will be made in the Hill cemetery, Ayersville.

Mrs. Myers who was born June 19, 1843 in Mahoning county, came to Defiance county when a young woman after her first marriage and lived in Highland township for about 55 years.  Prior to her marriage to Mr. Myers about six years ago, she was Mrs. Stone, her first husband having died in 1900.

Surviving Mrs. Myers are four children: William Stone, Highland township; John Stone, Hillsdale, Mich.; Charles Stone, Ionia, Mich.; and Mrs. T. C. Ashton, 918 Jefferson Ave; a sister, Mrs. Hanna Cline, Los Angeles; and four brothers, Edward Greenamyre, Canton; Benjamin Greenamyre, Salem; and Martin and William Greenamyre, Sarasota, Fla."

By 1930, J. W. had moved in with his son's family - John B. Myers, Merle, his wife, and grandson, Jack.  John W. was 86 by this time, and he would not live much longer, passing away on March 2, 1931. 

From the Defiance Crescent-News, March 2, 1931, page 1:

"JOHN W MYERS, WELL-KNOWN CIVIL WAR VETERAN, EXPIRES

John W. Myers, 87, twice a colonel on the staff of the national commander, and thrice on the staff of the state department of the Grand Army of the Republic, died of infirmities of age today at 7:10 a.m. at the home of a son, Walter E. Myers, 843 Wayne avenue.

Mr. Myers was prominent in the heyday of Bishop post of the G.A.R. here; and in the days when much was made of Memorial Day observance under the auspices of Bishop post, he was parade marshal and always rode a horse at the head of the column.

He held many offices in Bishop post and during a year that he was commander, never missed a meeting, although he had to drive a horse and buggy to Defiance from his home at Ayersville, six miles away.

The funeral will be held at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday in the home of his son here and at 2 p.m. in the Methodist church, Ayersville, with Rev. S. E. Kaetzel, pastor, officiating.  Burial will be made in the Hill cemetery, one and half miles southeast of Ayersville.

He was born in Goshen O., on March 27, 1844, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jacob K. Myers.  When he was two years old, he came to Highland township where his father had taken up land on a government claim.

He was married twice. His first marriage occurred at Independence.  His bride was Hester A. Elliott, a daughter of the late Judge and Mrs. Samuel Elliott. She died 11 years ago.  In February of 1921, he was wedded to Mrs. Caroline Stone of Highland township. She died in August of 1927.

Mr. Myers served two years and eleven months in the Civil war, having enlisted in company D, 100th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He engaged in 17 battles and skirmishes without a wound. His entire service was as a private.

After the sale of his property in Highland township three years ago, he lived with a son, John B. Myers, Ayersville. He came to the home of Walter E. Myers here on Feb. 1 to be closer to his physician. He had been in failing health several years. His condition had been serious since Jan. 5.

Surviving are three daughters: Mrs. L. E. Allen, Elyria; Mrs. George Baringer and Mrs. Karl Henrch, the last two of Ayersville; four sons, John B. Myers, Ayersville; Clayton E. Myers, Wauseon; Walter E. Myers, Defiance and Russell I. Myers, Hillsdale, Mich.; a brother, Sumner B. Myers, Goshen, O., a sister, Mrs. Samuel Boday, Fostoria; 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

From the Defiance Crescent-News, March 5, 1931, p. 5:

"FUNERALS - JOHN W. MYERS

Veterans of the Civil and World Wars took a major part in the last rites Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Methodist church at Ayersville for John W. Myers, Civil War veteran who twice served on the national and thrice on the state staff of the Grand Army of the Republic.  There was a large attendance.

Rev. S. E. Kaetzel, pastor of the Ayersville church, assisted by Dr. F. M. Swinehart, pastor of St.Paul's Methodist Episcopal church, Defiance, conducted the services.  Burial took place in the Hill cemetery.

Civil War veterans who attended were L. P. Rife, John Myers and George Solley, Defiance, and John L. Johnson, Sherwood.  Members of the Women's Relief Corps attended in a body.

World War veterans who participated were:

Color bearers - F. C. Duerk and Richard Greenler

Color guards - Frank Cleaves and Charles Rogalatti

Bugler - F. A. Troeger

Firing Squad - Oscar Bauer, Ralph Baringer, Harvey Baringer, Carl Schlembohm, Frank Weber, Harry Woodward, Martin Schatz, Cecil March, Edward Bloir and Hal V. Arnold; and

Pall-bearers - Frank Gaylord, George Steingass, Charles Davis, Lloyd Roth, Harry Brown and Harry Milligan

His Legacy

Sarah Gertrude Myers Baringer

Ruby G. Myers Henrich

Ada A. Myers Allen

Walter Earl Myers

Russell Irwin Myers

Clayton E. Myers

John B. Myers

Clinton E. Myers

Jacob Elliott Myers

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)