U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Myers, Sylvester (1861-1935) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: West Virginia and Its People, Volume II Author: by Thomas Condit Miller and Hu Maxwell Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York, 1913 Volume II, pages 513-514 Sylvester Myers, son of Nelson and Susannah (Glover) Myers, was born July 9, 1861. He received a common school education in his native county of Marion, and at the age of sixteen was employed in a store at Glover's Gap, which position he held about one year, after which he served fifteen month's apprenticeship in the railroad station of his native town, under Jesse L. Courtright. He was given a position as night telegrapher at Littleton, West Virginia, December 19, 1880. While there he heard the news flashed over the wires announcing the shooting of President Garfield by Gitteau. Shortly following this event, Mr. Myers was transferred to Colfax, Marion county, as station agent and operator. Afterward he was promoted to the agency at Littleton where he remained for several years. Later he served as station agent at Flemington, Belington, Pennsboro, St. Mary's and Smithfield, West Virginia. He also acted as relief agent and operator for a time and during that time he worked at practically all stations between Grafton and the Ohio river, on both Parkersburg and Wheeling divisions of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. In November, 1902, Mr. Myers resigned his position as station agent at Smithfield, on the West Virginia Short Line division of the Baltimore & Ohio, to accept the deputy clerkship under Captain I. D. Morgan, clerk of the county court of Wetzel county, and served in that capacity the full term of six years, from January 1, 1903. In the summer of 1908 he entered the race for the nomination of county clerk on the Democratic ticket and won by a majority of one thousand and ninety-six votes, and in the general election following he won out by about the same majority over his Republican opponent, running ahead of the ticket about four hundred votes. He is an old member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having joined that order more than twenty years ago. He and his wife and all but two of their children are members of the Christian church. When Mr. Myers left the telegraph service, he was recognized as one of the pioneers in his profession, having, as previously stated, entered in active service in 1880 when "registers" or "paper mills" were still in use by a number of operators. In fact, Mr. Myers learned on one of those machines. He never used one, however, after serving his apprenticeship. These "paper mills" have long since been relegated to the scrap heap or curiosity shops, and it is very doubtful if one telegrapher in ten of the present day has ever worked one of them, or indeed ever saw one in actual operation; for the great majority of the "old timers" have either passed away, or have found other occupations. Sylvester Myers married Frances, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Brumley) Carpenter, September 16, 1881. Of this union there were eight children: 1. Laura May, born August 14, 1882, at Colfax, West Virginia; married A. Lee Rhodes, November 5, 1905; one child, Melvin. 2. Clyde, born July 11, 1884, died at Littleton, West Virginia, September 18, 1884, buried at Glover cemetery, near Glover Gap. 3. William Cleveland, born November 1, 1885, at Littleton; married Lizzie, daughter of William Smith, November 5, 1905; two children: Carl and William. 4. Walter Michael, born March 10, 1888, at Pennsboro, Ritchie County, WV married Claudie, only daughter of Dr. J. R. and Amanda (Brown) Sole, August 24, 1912; one child, Nell. 5. Thurman Hugh, born at Littleton, Wetzel county, WV, Nov. 16, 1890; married Olive E. Ward, of Cameron, Ohio, May 28, 1910; two children: Deward, and an infant son not yet named. 6. Bessie Vera, born at Pennsboro, West Virginia, May 18, 1893. 7. Edward Nelson, born at Smithfield, Wetzel County, WV, Dec. 31, 1895. 8. Olive Cora, born at St. Marys, Pleasants County, WV, April 16, 1898. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Additional Information: --------------------------------------------------------------------- VITAL RECORDS Death Certificate, Wetzel County WV, #4740 Full-name: Sylvester Myers Residence: 140 Main Street, New Martinsville Marital-Status: Widower, Frances Carpenter Date-of-Birth: July 9, 1861 Place-of-Birth: Marion County, W.Va. Date-of-Death: March 31, 1935 Father: Nelson Myers, born in Monongalia County W.Va. Mother: Susannah Glover, born in Marion County, W.Va. Informant: Walter Myers of New Martinsville, W.Va. Burial: Williams Cemetery Death Certificate, Wetzel County WV, #4740 Full-name: Frances Myers Residence: 215 Washington Street, New Martinsville Marital-Status: married, S. Myers Date-of-Birth: March 24, 1864 Place-of-Birth: Ohio Date-of-Death: Oct. 5, 1933 Father: Jacob Carpenter, born in Ohio Mother: Sarah Bromley, born in Ohio Informant: S. Myers, New Martinsville, W.Va. Burial: Williams Cemetery --------------------------------------------------------------------- US FEDERAL CENSUS 1900 Census, Cabell County WV Central City, ED:7, Sheet 5A Lines 15-23, Enum-Dwelling #85, Enum-Family #91 MEYERS, Sylvester (head), July-1861, 38, m-22yrs, WV-WV-WV, Telegraph Operator ", Fannie F (wife), Mch-1864, 36, 9-children/7-living, Ohio-Ohio-Ohio ", Laura M (dau), Aug-1882, 17, WV-WV-Ohio ", William C (son), Sep-1885, 14, WV-WV-Ohio ", Walter M (son), Mch-1888, 12, WV-WV-Ohio ", Thurman H (son), Nov-1890, 9, WV-WV-Ohio ", Jessie V (son), May-1893, 7, WV-WV-Ohio ", Eddie N (dau), Dec-1896, 3, WV-WV-Ohio ", Olive C (dau), Apr-1898, 2, WV-WV-Ohio 1910 Census, Wetzel County WV Magnolia District, ED:156, Sheet 22A North River Road Lines 17-23; Enum-Dwelling #404; Enum-Family #407 MYERS, Sylvester (head), 49, m1-27yrs, WV-WV-WV, County Clerk, Court-House ", Mrs. Sylvester (wife), 46, 8-children/7-living, WV-WV-WV ", Walter M (son), 22, WV-WV-WV, Deputy-Clerk, Court-House ", Thurman H (son), 19, WV-WV-WV, Helper, County-Surveyor ", Bessie (dau), 17, WV-WV-WV, Stenographer, County Clerk ", Eddie M (son) 15, WV-WV-WV ", Olive C (dau) 12, WV-WV-WV ---------------------------------------------------------------------