Joseph Oliver Myers (1859 - 1904)

Born 19 Jan 1859 in Rose Hill, Mahaska County, Iowa

Ancestors

Husband of Cordelia Jane (Leathers) Myers — married 11 May 1882 in What Cheer, Keokuk County, Iowa

Descendants

Died 30 Jul 1904 at age 45 in Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa

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Biography

Name: Joseph Oliver Myers.^[1][2]

Born: 19 Jan 1859 Rose Hill, Mahaska County, Iowa.^[1][2]

Education: Attended Oskaloosa College for a while, 1878-79, but left to go to work.^[1]

Occupation:
Worked most of his life for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway -- as a "helper" at Rose Hill, 1879; night operator at Marengo, Iowa, 1879; operator at Colfax, Iowa & Malcolm, Iowa, 1879; operator at Grinnell, Iowa, 1879-80; agent at Atalissa, Iowa & Kellogg, Iowa, 1881-87; agent at Beatrice, Nebraska, 1887-90; traveling freight agent, 1890-93; commercial agent at Wichita, Kansas, 1893-99; and finally secretary to the general freight agent of the company, 1899-1904. He also became a freemason, later reached 32d Degree, and became a Knight Templar.^[3]

Married: Cordelia Jane Leathers, 11 May 1882 What Cheer, Keokuk County, Iowa.^[4][1]

Died: 30 Jul 1904 Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa.^[1][2]

Buried: 2 Aug 1904 Forest Cemetery, Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa.^[2]

Obituary: 26 Nov 1904 Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa.^[5]
DIED.
Joseph Myers, age 45 years, 6 months and 11 days,on July 30, 1904, of kidney trouble at the home of his father-in-law, J. H. Leathers, No. 307 North C street, at 6:25 a.m. The deceased was a freight and passenger of the Chicago, Rock Island and Gulf Railway system and also of the C.R.I.&P. & El Paso. He resided at the city of the division headquarters at El Paso, Texas. He had been failing in health for some weeks and had come home to visit his little daughter, Cordelia, and take a much needed resat. He was taken seriously ill soon after his arrival and death came to relief Sunday evening. The little girl is thus left parentless, the mother having died when the child was but three days old. Besides his daughter, deceased leaves a mother, Mrs. Wealthy [sic] Myers, of Rose Hill and two sisters, Mrs. Serena Jackson, of Grannes, Ark., and Mrs. Roena Reed, of Rose Hill. The funeral was held, Tuesday, August 2nd, at 2 p.m., from the Stone Chapel the services being conducted by Rev. D. A. Wickizer and under the direction of the local Blue Lodge of Masons, with interment in Forest cemetery. A large circle of friends extend sympathy to the family in their great bereavement.

Probate
Will entered into probate, 25 Oct 1904 (Record Bk Q, p. 432) -- referred on affidavits of witnesses. J.H. Leathers, admin. ($2,000 bond). Final report, 11 Nov 1905 (Record Bk Q, p. 74) [or: Bk 8, p. 92]. ^[6]

State Census 1885
What Cheer, Keokuk County, Iowa, 210/206, p. 86.^[7]
Myers, Joseph 24 yrs Store Clerk b. Mahaska Co.
Myers, Cordelia 23 yrs "K. H." b. Mahaska Co.

Research Notes Not located in 1900 census.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Cordelia (Myers) Smith's family history notes, made over a lengthy period of time, and taken largely from her correspondence with various cousins.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Find-a-Grave
3. ↑ A History of the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railway System (np: npub, 1904)
4. ↑ Keokuk County, Iowa, Marriages (copy on file)
5. ↑ Oskaloosa Saturday Globe, 26 Nov 1904.
6. ↑ Mahaska County, Iowa, Probate Files, Probate Docket Book 8, p. 293 (Box 621)
7. ↑ Census Iowa 1885 Keokuk County