From Proud Heritage, Volume I by DCPA, currently out of print.
Among the influx of settlers to Texas from Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois, in the mid-1840’s was the large family of David Myers. The clan crossed the Red River into the Republic of Texas on Christmas Eve, 1845, just four days before Texas became a state.
Born in Montgomery County, Kentucky, October 15,1797, David was the youngest of eight (or nine) sons and two daughters of William and Flora Myers. His was the third generation of the family in America. He married Letitia Reddish, daughter of Joseph and Nancy Cleaver Reddish, in Bowling Green, Grayson County, Kentucky. After about eight years, during which their first four children were born, the David Myers family left Kentucky for Indiana, where they stayed about two years, adding two more children to the family. From there they went to Greene County, Illinois; when that county was divided, the Myers’ farm became part of Jersey County near Fieldon and Jersey City. In Illinois seven more children were born, but three died in infancy. After they entered Texas, their last child was born on February 11, 1846, Dr. Throckmorton in attendance.
They arrived in the Farmers Branch area in March 1846. Appropriate land certificates under the Peters Colony arrangement were issued to Mr. Myers, a single son – Benjamin Cleaver Myers, a married son – John Miller Myers, and a son-in-law – James W. Chowning.
Devotion to the Lord’s work was the guiding principle in Mr. Myers’ life. Both he and his wife were converted to Christ in Kentucky and became affiliated with the Baptist denomination. He was licensed to preach by the Mt. Zion Church in Greene County and was ordained a Minister of the Gospel in Taylor’s Creek Church, Jersey County, by Elders John Brown and H. H. Witt. The latter was a member of the Witt family that later figured prominently in the history of Dallas County. On May 10, 1846, the Reverend Myers organized the Union Baptist Church in Farmers Branch; it was the first church of the Baptist faith in Dallas County. Later it was relocated in Carrollton; it has served the people continuously since its organization. Charter members besides the Reverend Myers were Letitia Myers and John Miller Myers, wife and son of the preacher; Margaret Ann and J. B. Lee; and Franklin Bowles. Among the other churches which Mr. Myers helped organize or in which he served as an early pastor were Bethel, Rowlett Creek, and Liberty in Collin County and Lonesome Dove, now in Tarrant County. He organized the Elm Fork Association of Baptist Churches in 1849 and served as its moderator until his death.
In January 1853 the Reverend Myers was caught in a freezing storm as he was returning home from services at Bethel Church. He took pneumonia, which led to his death on March 9, 1853, at the age of 56. He is buried at Keenan Cemetery in Farmers Branch. His wife survived him by 32 years. After a difficult time supporting her young daughters during the Civil War, she moved to Jack County to live with a son, Benjamin Cleaver, and a daughter, Harriett Myers Brandt. She died September 9, 1885, and was buried at Wizard Wells Cemetery with a footstone identifying her as the “Wife of Elder David Myers.”
Their children are as follows: Nancy married James W. Chowning; John Miller married Kesiah (Kiziah) Wiley; Emilene married J. H. Whitlock; Elizabeth married William Barnes; Sarah married A. J. (Andy) Clark; Benjamin Cleaver married (1) Penninah Fyke and (2) Mrs. Susan Marcom; James D. died in infancy; Jemima married Archer Fyke; David died in infancy; George W. (Peg) married Lucy Peak; Thomas Ezra remained single; Margaret died in infancy; Mary married David H. Nix; Harriet married A. G. Brandt.
The first Myers son, John Miller, is recognized as one of the early leaders in Carrollton. He was born in Kentucky, November 17, 1823; he married Kesiah (Keziah) Wiley (January 21, 1824-November 26, 1884) in Jersey County, Illinois, January 5, 1843; the ceremony was performed by his father. She was the mother of his ten children. After her death he married Mrs. M. E. Ricou.
Besides being a charter member of the Union Baptist Church, he was the first preacher licensed and ordained by that church. He followed in his father’s footsteps as pastor of the church and as moderator of the Elm Fork Association of Baptist Churches. He served both organizations in various other capacities also. One of the churches he helped organize was the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Collin County.
Having been postmaster at Trinity Mills, he felt there was a need for a post office between there and Farmers Branch. He applied for the office. On May 16, 1878, the Carrollton Post Office was established with Mr. Myers as the first postmaster. He and his son, George Franklin, who succeeded him in the office, held that position for almost 45 years. Evidence indicates that the establishment of the post office was the beginning of Carrollton as a town, though people had lived in the area since the early 1840’s and some businesses had been established. It is generally assumed that the town was named Carrollton, because of the great number of families which had come from the area around Carrollton, Illinois.
He operated one of the earliest general merchandise stores in the area, another enterprise which his son, George Franklin, continued. When the “Katy” railroad came through Carrollton, Mr. Myers was appointed agent for the line. Again the same son followed in the work. In the early years of the Dallas County Pioneer Society, he served as chaplain. He died March 5, 1899, and is buried at Perry Cemetery, Carrollton. The body of his first wife was moved from the family farm and placed alongside that of her husband.
Mention has been made of G. F. Myers continuing some of the work begun by his father, but the son himself contributed in other ways to the City of Carrollton. He and his brother, John Simeon, laid off the square for the business section and dedicated the streets and alleys therein. The work on the square was begun in 1900 and extended in 1901 and remapped in 1913, the year Carrollton was incorporated. G. F. Myers was one of the charter aldermen and was later elected mayor, twice. He had the first telephone in Carrollton; it was installed in his store and was a curiosity to everyone who came to the square. Two other businesses that he promoted were a cotton gin and a picture show. He is known to have built filling stations, cafes, garages, and even competing general merchandise stores for others to operate. He died May 31, 1937, and is buried at Webb Chapel Cemetery in Farmers Branch.
Another son of John Miller Myers, Stephen A. Douglas, had a grocery business in Carrollton. The oldest child, Elizabeth, married Israel Bailey, who with his sons built most of the early business houses, as well as residences in town. Besides the three sons and daughter mentioned, the other children of John Miller Myers were twins-Mary and Martha, Leticia, Lewis Cass, Nancy and Delilah.
Bibliography:
Brown, John Henry, History of Dallas County, Texas: The Aldredge Book Store, 1966. Reprmted with John H. Cochran’s Dallas County history listed separately.
Cochran, John H. Dallas County: A Record of Its Pioneers and Progress. Dallas: The Aldredge Book Store, 1966. Reprinted with John Henry Brown’s Dallas County history listed separately.
Connor, Seymour V., The Peters Colony of Texas. Austin: The Texas State Historical Association, 1959.
Dallas County Clerk. Marriage records, birth records, death records and land records.
Elm Fork Association of Baptist Churches Minutes. Baptist Seminary at Ft. Worth.
Jackson, George. Sixty Years in Texas. Reprint by the Peters Colony Historical Society of Dallas County, Texas, of the Second Edition, originally published in 1908. Quanah, Texas: Nortex Press, September, 1975.
Jersey County, Illinois, Clerk: Birth and marriage records.
Lone Star State: Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas, County, Texas. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892.
Myers, H. D. Interviews and personal files.
Myers, W. C. Various records from the Tax Collector’s office, Carrollton, Texas.
Ogle, Georgia Myers. Elm Fork Settlement. Wichita Falls, Texas: Nortex Press, 1977.
Union Baptist Church Minutes, Carrollton, Texas.
By Georgia Myers Ogle, Carrollton
