Herman Joseph Myers (1871 - 1956)

Born 9 Mar 1871 in Coulter, South Versailles Township, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Died 29 Jul 1956 at age 85 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States

Biography

From Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania:

Herman Joseph Myers, the eighth child of John and Elizabeth (Bost) Myers, was born March 9, 1871, in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. His education was received at the town of Coultersville that county, of which his father was appointed postmaster when Herman J. was about ten years old, and which was the home of the family for more than fifty years altogether. He attended the Catholic parochial school and the local public schools there, and after completing his studies he obtained a position as clerk in the grocery establishment of W. J. Sharpies. He continued in this service for a period of ten years, when he received an appointment to a place in the county treasurer's office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Here he remained for three years, and then again received a better appointment, this time as assistant postmaster of the city of McKeesport, an office which he held for the four-year term. He then accepted a position as bookkeeper for the concern of Bowman Brothers Company. In the meantime Mr. Myers had determined, when the occasion arose, to engage in business for himself, and with this end in view he plied himself with energy and zeal to his labors, living a frugal life the while, and was thus able to lay by a steadily increasing capital. His position with Bowman Brothers Company may thus be looked upon as merely a temporary expedient, in spite of the fact that it was five years before he felt justified in leaving them and embarking on his own adventure. It was in the autumn of 1908 that he finally made the move, and established the Myers Coal Company, with offices at Thirteenth and Market streets, McKeesport, which has ever since been the scene of his active and successful business career. The venture was never in doubt, and from the start the business has increased both rapidly and steadily, until in 1913 the firm was incorporated under the name of the Myers Coal Company, with Mr. Myers as president and Henry Collin as secretary and treasurer. The business is now one of the most important in the city, and Mr. Myers has become one of the most prominent figures in the business and financial circles in the region. The company deals in coal and coke, fire brick and fire clay, lime, sewer pipe, cement and builders' supplies.

Nor is this all. His interests are by no means confined, as in the case of so many of our successful business men, to the narrow limits of his personal affairs, but on the contrary embrace the general affairs of the community of which he is a member. This is especially the case in the matter of politics, in which he takes a deep and intelligent interest, and he is very active in the local councils of the Republican party, of which he is an ardent member. Mr. Myers has made his residence in the township of Versailles, Allegheny county, since his business has been in McKeesport, and it is in the former place that his political activities have lain. Here he is regarded as not only one of the most successful politicians of the neighborhood, but as possessing those fortunate characteristics which fit a man for a competent office holder. He has without doubt executive ability of no common order, his integrity is unimpeachable, and he has shown that courage necessary to resist undue political pressure without which no man can adequately serve the public in any official capacity. As a consequence of these qualities, Mr. Myers has held wellnigh all the posts of trust within the gift of the township. Among others he has occupied the position of treasurer, school director and clerk, besides being, as was his father before him, a delegate to the convention nominating Dalzelle, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Myers married, October 7, 1896, Clara B. Snyder, also a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, born May 4, 1877. Mrs. Myers is a daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Lang) Snyder, of Versailles township, where he is a large property owner. Mr. and Mrs. Myers are the parents of four children, as follows : Thelma, born October 6, 1897, who despite her youth is a graduate from Duff's Business College, and is now employed as a stenographer by the United Real Estate Company of McKeesport, Pennsylvania; Harold, born December 28, 1903; Edward, born January 27, 1908; Herbert, born October 28, 1909.

Mr. Myers is one of the most successful business men of McKeesport, a stockholder in the City Bank of that place, and a large owner of property both there and in Versailles township, among his valuable properties being his place of business at the corner of Thirteenth and Market streets. Mr. Myers and his wife are members of the Catholic Church, as his family has always been, and they are rearing their children in the same faith.

Sources

• Jordan, John W. Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania, Vol. 2 (Lewis Historical Pub. Co., New York, 1915, p. 827-830)
• Cushing, Thomas. History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (A. Warner & Co., Chicago, 1889, Part 2, p. 699)
• Find A Grave: Memorial #65350037