Joseph H. Myers is a native son of Sycamore township, born of pioneer parents. Mr. Myers was born near Sycamore Springs, May 20, 1881, and is a son of Sylvester and Mary A. (Stuller) Myers, both natives of Carroll county, Ohio. They were the parents of nine children, three boys and six girls, only two of whom are now living: John, who resides at Pratt, Kans. and Joseph H., the subject of this sketch. The parents located in Sycamore township in 1870, where the father and George Snively bought 160 acres of land which was later traded to Leonard Harsh for eighty acres and is now a part of Joseph H. Myers' farm. The father found some timber along the creek with which to build the one-room, frame, 14x14-foot cabin, and hauled boards for it from Emporia.

The Myers family met with much discouragement during the first few years of life in the new country. However, one of their greatest misfortunes was the death of three of their children shortly after coming here. Life during the first years in Butler county was a serious struggle, the average settler had very little produce for sale, and there was practically no market for what he did have. The Myers family sold eggs in El Dorado for three cents per dozen, with which to buy groceries and the price of the latter was altogether out of proportion to the price which they received for eggs and other farm produce, and very much in accord with the present high cost of living or more so.

Game, both large and small, was plentiful when the Myers family came here. The father often had to drive herds of deer out of his corn field at night, and antelope were here by the thousands. The main herds of buffalo were a little farther west, but occasionally a few wandered across the plains in this vicinity. Mr. Myers saw two buffalo pass within a few rods of his cabin. Prairie chickens were so plentiful that when great flocks of them rose in the air, they sounded like thunder. Coyotes infested the plains in vast hordes and it was a difficult matter to save chickens from them. At times they would come in such large numbers that they would drive even the dog in terror to cover, under the house.

Sylvester Myers and wife experienced all the hardships incident to such life in a new country and are well entitled to go on record among the true and brave pioneers of Butler county. They have both passed to their eternal reward, and now peacefully sleep beneath the sod of the land which they helped to reclaim from the great American desert. The mother died August 17, 1884, and was survived a number of years by her husband, Sylvester Myers, who passed away December 28, 1906.

Sylvester Myers was one of the brave defenders of the Union, who in answer to President Lincoln's call enlisted August 15, 1861, in the Twenty-sixth battery, Ohio light artillery, and on January1, 1863, he reenlisted in the same battery and was honorably discharged September 7, 1865, after having served four years and twenty-three days. He saw much hard service and among other engagements he participated in the battle of Alleghany, Va., the siege and surrender of Harper's Ferry, Va., September 12-15, 1862, and the siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May 18 to July 4, 1863.

Joseph H. Myers, whose name introduces this sketch, was reared on the home farm and received a good public school education, and has made farming and stock raising his principal occupation. After his father's death he bought the interest of the other heirs of the estate, and is now sole owner of the old homestead, which is well imporved[sic] and a thoroughly modern farm.

Mr. Myers was married in 1904, to Miss Luella James, a daughter of Charles and Jane James. The James family were pioneer settlers of Sumner county, Kansas, having homesteaded near Caldwell at an early day in the settlement of that section. Mrs. Myers has one sister, Mrs. Alice Handle, who resides at Burt, Colo. Mrs. James, the mother, is deceased, and the father lives at Burt, Colo. To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Myers have been born four children, as follows: Edith A., Charles S., Hazel M. and Frank L. Mr. Myers is a progressive citizen and is well and favorably known in the community.

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