MYERS RESPONDS TO LAST ROLL CALL

Thomas C. Myers, Pioneer Citizen of Hubbard County, passes away. The death of Thomas C. Myers, which occurred Tuesday morning, May 23, 1916, at his home in this city, was received with a deep feeling of regret by everybody. It was known that his health was gradually failing, but having recovered from a previous sinking spell, friends and relatives all hoped for the best. Early on Tuesday morning he rallied from an unconscious state, only to relapse into another stupor from which he never awakened.

Mr. Myers was widely known all over this section of the state. A man of generous impulses and never forgetting the hospitable ways of the pioneer, he had borne adversity bravely, and enjoyed prosperity bravely. He had filled the various relationships of life as son, husband, father, brother, friend, and filled them well. Who could do more?

Thomas C. Myers was born October 24, 1847, at Troy, Ohio. He was the son of Samuel K. Myers and Frances Pettit Myers whose parents were among the first settlers to cross the Alleghenies from the New England states after the close of the Revolutionary War. His grandfather, John Myers, commanded a company of frontiersmen during the war for independence and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. John Myers had two sons, John and Jake, who served in the War of 1912, and later in the Mexican War, receiving wounds at Gettysburg. He died shortly after the close of the war. Benjamin P., a brother of Thomas C., also served in that war, enlisting on April, 1865, in Co. B. 194 O.V.L. He mustered out on October 24, 1865, on his seventeenth birthday. He was very proud of the war record of the family. The enlistment of his son Robert S. in the Spanish American War completed four generations to offer their services to the flag. After the close of the Civil War, he spent several years in the scout service and also with a party of prospectors. During these years he visited every government post in the west and northwest, and every state from old Mexico to Canada. On his return east in the early seventies, he spent one season at Dubuque, Iowa, where he helped build the first bridge across the Mississippi River.

In 1873, December 31st, he was married to Rhoda A. Park, a former schoolmate in Troy. To them were born seven children, first of whom are now living. They are Samuel I of Park Rapids, Robert S. of Parkers Prairie, Mrs. Phillip Szuszitzky of Park Rapids, Benjamin P. of Minneapolis, and T. Corwin of St. Paul. Mr. Myers' first wife and mother of his children died at Verndale in 1890. In 1909 he was married to Mrs. Frances Hogan, who with a 4 year old daughter Helen, also survive him. He was the last member of a family of seven to die.

In 1878, Mr. Myers came to Minnesota with E. M. Britts and other people from Osage, Iowa. Mr. Britts employed him to erect the flourmill at Verndale, the first mill of its kind to be built in the northern part of the state. He spent his summers working in Minnesota and his winters in Ohio with his family, but moved them to Park Rapids in 1891.

His trade of contractor and builder has left many monuments to his memory, He built the first brick schoolhouse at Verndale and Park Rapids, the school houses at Staples, Hubbard and Akeley. In Park Rapids, the M.E. (Methodist Episcopal), Catholic and Baptist churches, the Carnegie library and many residences are his handiwork, his last public building being the new auditorium. Douglas Lodge at Itasca State Park is also his work.

In public affairs he has held several positions of trust. He has been Justice of the Peace for over twenty years and served Hubbard County for 4 years as Register of Deeds. He was a member of and Past Grand of the I.O.O.F. of the Akeley Encampment, and a member of E.S. Frazier Post G.A.R., being commander at the time of his death.

In his private life he was fond of his family and home, and made much of them. He was a reader of good literature and enjoyed thoroughly a large collection of books which he had accumulated in his long and useful life.

Funeral services were held from the home at 9:30 o'clock this morning, Rev. McKee officiating and the burial was at Verndale beside the remains of his mother, wife and daughter, the trip being made by auto. His four sons, Sam, Rob, Ben, and Corwin, his son in law, Philip Szuszitzky and stepson guy Hogan acted as pallbearers. The floral offerings were profuse and beautiful, all of which spoke of peace, purity and immortality.

Prominent and Well Liked Citizen's Death Comes as Shock to Community The death of Sam Myers on Saturday at his home here came as a decided shock to the entire community. He had a heart attack and died before the doctor arrived. Samuel Isaac Myers was born in Troy, Ohio on September 6, 1874. At various times he was a resident of Osage, Iowa, Verndale, Park Rapids from 1884 to 1891, Duluth, Helena, Montana and has been at Park Rapids since 1914.

He was married in 1899 at Wadena to Anna Lillie who died ten years later. In 1911 at Helena, Montana, he was married to Margaret Halvorson who survives him.

There were funeral services held at the Methodist Episcopal Church on Tuesday afternoon at 2:30, with the Rev. I. L. Seager officiating. The services were attended by a host of friends and relatives from Park Rapids and other nearby towns in spite of the bitterly cold weather. The large number of floral offerings were also reminders of the many friends who mourned the passing of Mr. Myers. Pallbearers were selected from the two lodges of which the deceased was a member, the Jerusalem Encampment of I.O.O.F. and the Odd Fellows lodge.

The remains were placed in the vault at Greenwood cemetery. Mr. Myers was a contractor, builder and draftsman by profession. He had served as justice of the peace in Park Rapids for the past eight years, filling the office in a capable and highly commendable manner. At various times in the last forty two years he has been a member of the local band. Surviving besides his wife are nine children, Mrs. Arthur Gabardy (Rhoda), Mrs. John Nelson (Gladys), Mrs. John Vespa (Erma) all of Hibbing, Mrs. Paul McFarren (Ethel) of Bemidji, Samuel I. Jr. of Minneapolis, Ruth, Eugene, Dorothy and Corwin at home. One son, John died in infancy. A stepmother, Mrs. Francces Myers of this city; a sister, Mrs. Phil Szuszitzky, two brothers, Thomas Corwin Myers of New Lennox, Ill., and Benjamin Myers of Minneapolis and a half sister, Mrs. Jasper O'Neil of Omaha, Nebraska also survive.

Among those from away attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Gabardy, Mr. and Mrs. John Nelson, and Mr. and Mrs. John Vespa of Hibbing, Mr. and Mrs. Paul McFarren and children of Bemidji, Mrs. Robert S. Myers, Ben, David and Beverly Myers of Parkers Prairie, Mr. and Mrs. B. P. Myers and nephews, Sam Myers Jr. and Phil Szuszitzky Jr. of Minneapolis, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Corwin Myers and sons Tommy and Benny of New Lennox, Ill., besides many from Hubbard Akeley and Nevis.

Mr. Myers will long be remembered by his many friends for his genial personality and his willingness to cooperate with any move which tended toward furthering the aims of Park Rapids.