|
|
JUDGE WILLIAM BYERS, former judge of the county court of Jasper county. Missouri, was born in Franklin county,
Pennsylvania, November 14, 1818, being descended from Revolutionary stock, his grandfather having served as a soldier
in the Continental army. Judge Byers was raised on a farm in his native county and after a course in the common
schools he entered Chambersburg Academy, at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and at the end of three years graduated
at that institution. Afterward he was engaged as a clerk in a store and in farming. In 1854 he removed to Iowa
City, Iowa, and in 1857 to Springfield, Missouri, remaining there until the Confederates captured the place after
the battle of Wilson's Creek, when he returned to Iowa, locating this time at Marion, and where he established
himself in the dry goods business. At the close of the war he returned to southwest Missouri, locating this time
at Carthage. In 1872 he became one of the first citizens of Joplin after that place had started, where he lived
until the time of his death.
Judge Byers, by judicious business and real estate investments, became quite wealthy. In connection with Patrick
Murphy, Mr. Byers laid off additions both to 1VIurphysburg and latter to the city of Joplin, one of these suburban
additions being a long time popularly known as Byersville. In 1875 Judge Byers, under the law as it then was, was
ajpointed by Governor Hardin sole judge of the county court, and at the election in 1878 was elected to another
term of four years. His administration of county affairs was marked with firmness and a desire to serve the best
interests of the people of the county. He was a Democrat and always acted with that party.
On March 20, 1854, at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, he married Miss Martha L. Jeffrey, who after a short residence
in Iowa City died there, after her husband's removal to that place. Judge Byers never remarried and had no children.
He died at Joplin in November, 1890, one of the most highly respectedcitizens of the county, his estate being distributed
to his surviving brothers and sisters and the children of such as were deceased.
From:
The Biographical History of Jasper County, Missouri
By Hon. Malcolm G. McGregor
The Lewis Publishing Co.
Chiago 1901
Privacy Policy for
OnlineBiographies
|
NAVIGATION
Jasper County, MO
Biographies
Online
Biographies
New York
Histories
New York
Biographies
Maine
Histories
Pennsylvania
Histories
Pennsylvania
Biographies
For all your genealogy needs visit Linkpendium
|