Biographical Sketch of

Abram F. Myers

Transcribed by Sandy Boudrou



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 520 - 521 


Abram F. Myers, who is engaged in merchandising in Oxford, Wis., was born in Albany County, N. Y., Aug. 26, 1823, and 
is a son of Nicholas Myers, who was of Holland ancestry.  The father and great-grandfather of our subject were both 
named Philip Myers, and the latter was the original progenitor of the family in America.  He was a native of Holland, 
and in that country engaged in the shipping business.  When he crossed the Atlantic to this country he brought with him 
his two sons--Philip and Nicholas.  On the death of his wife he returned to Holland, probably for the purpose of settling 
up business relating to an estate, and was accompanied on his return trip by his two sons, but afterward all three again 
came to America and settled in Albany County, N. Y.  In later years, Philip Myers, Sr., went to Philadelphia, Pa. taking 
with him some treasure in a small iron-bound box and afterward sent word to his sons that he was about to return and 
requested them to meet him in New Amsterdam, now New York City.  The sons accordingly went to the place appointed for 
meeting, but never again saw their father, and it is supposed that he was murdered for the money which he had in his 
possession.  Nicholas Myers, brother of Philip, the grandfather of our subject, afterward went to sea and was never 
again seen by his brother, but many years later a man of the name of Myers was known to have built a vessel on one of 
the inland lakes in the State of New York, and was later drowned.  Though there is no certainty attached to the matter, 
Philip always supposed that gentleman to have been his long-lost brother.
 
Philip Myers was one of the early settlers of Albany County, N. Y., and there remained until called from this life.  
He was the father of five sons and three daughters, all of whom have passed away.  One of that number, Nicholas Myers, 
was the father of our subject.  He was born in Albany County, in March, 1775.  He married a Miss Smith by whom he had 
four sons and three daughters, and after his death wedded Esther Familiar, and to them were born three sons and one 
daughter.  The mother had also been previously married, and by her first union had two children--Tunis and Elizabeth.  
Joseph, a brother of our subject, was killed by the cars near Utica, N. Y., in 1851, at the age of twenty-four years. 
Abram F. is the eldest; Nicholas is a resident of Schenectady, N. Y.; the daughter, Esther, who is unmarried, is living 
in Albany County, near the birthplace of herself and brothers.
 
Abram F. Myers, whose name heads this notice, was a lad of thirteen years when his parents removed to Schoharie County, 
N. Y.  His father there purchased several hundred acres of land, but the following year (1837) a financial panic 
enveloped the country causing a great business depression for several years, and as a result Mr. Myers lost all the 
property which he had accumulated, and his sons were then forced to seek their own livelihood.  Abram acquired such 
education as the common schools afforded and then left to make his own way in the world.  For a time he engaged in 
farm work, and later served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, which he followed until within a few years, 
being quite successful in that line of business.  In 1843, when twenty years of age he joined in wedlock with Miss Mary 
Margaret Keyser, a native of Schoharie County, N. Y., and a daughter of Philip Keyser, who was of German descent.  They 
have three children yet living, Edgar, Mary and Charity, all of whom were born in Schoharie County, and they lost two 
daughters in infancy.
 
Believing that he could better his financial condition by settling in the West, in 1856 Mr. Myers, accompanied by his 
family, came to Wisconsin, settling in Waushara County, where he resumed work as a carpenter and builder.  He erected 
the first school-house in Plainfield and did much toward building up that village.  In 1860 we find him a resident of 
Marquette County, having removed with his family to Oxford, where he devoted his attention to the trade of a carpenter 
and millwright until embarking to the mercantile business in May, 1883.  To make the record of Mr. Myers more nearly 
complete, it should be mentioned that in 1882 he went to Kilborn City and kept the hotel known as the Rose House for 
nearly a year.  He was quite successful in that enterprise, but being unable to longer rent the hotel he returned to 
Oxford.  Mr. Myers is one of the representative citizens of the community and has ever been prominently connected with 
the educational interests of his town, and forward in whatever enterprises tend to promote the general welfare of the 
community.  He has served as town Clerk for a number of years, and was also a member of the Board of Supervisors.  In 
religious matters he and his wife are connected with the Presbyterian Church, and in politics he is an ardent Republican.  
His first Presidential vote was cast for Henry Clay in 1844, and since the organization of the Republican party he has 
never failed to deposit a ballot in its interest and support.






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