The early history of the Myers family is a story of the search for peace and religious freedom. For several centuries the family had lived in the German Palatinate, located on both sides of the Rhine. During the Middle Ages, this was the center of the Protestant reformation under Martin Luther. There was a bitter rivalry between the pope and the emperor and there were many years of war and persecution. Late in the 17th century many German Protestants migrated and some of the Myers family settled in Holland where they become followers of the Dutch reformer Menno Simmons. By 1700 most of these peace loving Mennonites had migrated to New York.
During these early years a man' s name often depended on his position in the community or his occupation. Many of these emigrants of the 17th century had adopted the name of Mayer, indicating the "older son" or "one who works." Modifications of this name included Majer, Meyer, Meyers and Myers. Following settlement in western New York state the name Myers was accepted by several related branches of the family.
Some of the Myers families moved into South Carolina and played a prominent part In the Revolutionary War. Another branch settled in Pennsylvania and a large number of the family moved to Washington county in Maryland. In the census of 1800 there were 16 families with a total of 130 Myers' in Washington county, Maryland. This county, founded in 1776, is in the fertile Hagerstown valley, an extension of the Shenandoah valley of Virginia. This county served as the base of operations for John Brown who raided nearby Harper's Ferry on October 16, 1859 and was later captured by Colonel Robert E. Lee and executed. This county was split between the Union and the Confederacy families were divided and animosity was bitter.
Between Sharpsburg and Keedysville on the banks of Antietam creek was a religious community centered around the Dunkard church. Close by on a small farm lived Levi and Angeline Myers who were to migrate to Mount Carroll (IL) following the Civil war. Levi (1821-1905) was married to Angeline Longman (1834-1913) on Christmas day, 1855. Six children were born to them in Maryland: Elias Cemore (1857-1912) married Izora Henderson; children George, Roy, Carroll and May; Ida Margaret (1858) married to Sam Eshelman; a daughter and son Glen; Emma Catherine (1860-1913) married to John Eisenbise; sons Edward and Freeman; Edward Clayton (1862-1936) a school teacher and Carroll County Treasurer; sons Lester and Ralph; Harva Elsworth (1864); two sons and a daughter; Wilford Alvin (1868) married Molly Longman; Harry, Lloyd, Glen, Mignon and Grace. (Note: This paragraph is filled with several mispellings and incorrect information. Ida and Samuel Eshelman had more children than listed, as did Edward Clayton Myers. "Harva Elsworth" was Harvey Ellsworth Myers. Wilford Alvin did not marry Molly Longman, but was married to Mary (Molly) Z. Sleasman of Sterling, IL and was possibly named William Alvin Myers.)
The two great armies of General Robert E. Lee and Major General George B. McClellan collided on September 17, 1862 in the bloodiest battle of the Civil War when 23,000 Americans fell at the battle of Antietam. Levi and Angeline Myers left their four small babies with nearby friends and provided first aid and nursing service in the Dunkard church, which is now a National monument. After this battle the county was impoverished. Crops had been destroyed, farm animals were taken for food, currency was deflated. Many families moved west. In March 1869 Levi and Angeline with their six small children travelled by train to Mount Carroll where Angeline's three married sisters had relocated. They settled on a small farm in Woodland township, just north of Mount Carroll. Two sons were born in Woodland: David Franklin (1870-1940) married Lizzie Zillhart; and Sherman Henry (1876-1940) married on Thanksgiving day 1900 to Lizetta Kromer (1877-1953).
Sherman H. Myers was educated in the one room Woodland school and found employment in nearby Mount Carroll. He worked for Holman & Son until 1905 when he purchased the furniture business from Charles Holman and established a partnership with W. T. Sherman Holman. The business was sold in 1928 to Frank Brothers. Sherman Myers served as town clerk in Mount Carroll from 1902 to 1935 and was county supervisor for six years until his death. Sherman and Lizetta raised two sons who became very prominent in their chosen professional fields.
Cleo Kromer Myers was born September 8, 1907. He was an outstanding athlete in high school. He was also an accomplished xylophone player and drummer , working with Tony Miles' orchestra. He was a carrier of the Daily Democrat for many years and later worked in his father's furniture store driving the delivery truck. In Beloit College he continued to gain fame as a basket ball star and was captain of the varsity team in his sophomore year. After graduation from Beloit college he enrolled in graduate work at the Universities of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Northwestern, specializing the fields of rehabilitation. Mr. Myers was a representative of the Wisconsin State Board of Vocational and Adult Education. He pioneered in the rehabilitation of physically handicapped persons and later served as director and co- ordinator of all Wisconsin state rehabilitation services until his retirement in 1972.
On August 23, 1930 he was married to his Beloit College class mate, Gwendolyn Ann Bray, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Emery Bray of Delevan, Wisconsin. Mr . and Mrs. Myers lived for many years in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. They are survived by a son, Theodore Sherman Myers and a grandson, Thomas Sherman Myers now living in Menominee Falls, Wisconsin.
Norval F. Myers was born May 10, 1902 in Mount Carroll, the son of Sherman H. and Lizetta Kromer Myers. He was married in 1926 to Elizabeth Miles, the daughter of Joseph S. and Grace Coleman Miles.
Mount Carroll afforded a happy but busy boyhood with fishing, hunting and trapping. Norval was a carrier for the Daily Democrat. He was janitor in the First National Bank, a clerk in Raish's restaurant and later worked in Martin's Dry Goods store. As clarinet player, he was the youngest member of the Mount Carroll Concert Band and also played in Tony Miles' Orchestra. His High School activities included basket ball, track and participation in oratorical. contests and operettas. He was president and Valedictorian of his High School class.
He was graduated from Beloit College in 1924 magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He was a member of the track team, manager of debates, president of the Wisconsin Oratorical Assocations. He sang in the Glee Club and played with the Campus Serenaders, a popular college dance band. He was a laboratory assistant in the Chemistry department, treasurer and president of his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, and president of his class. His education was continued at Princeton Graduate School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He holds a Bachelor, Master and Doctorate degrees in Science.
His business career began with the Union Oil Company of California as a research chemical engineer. Several years later he became manager of the Oleum Refinery from which he was promoted to Manager of Union Oil Company's five refineries.
In 1941, Norval accepted an offer from the Standard Oil Company (New Jersey), now the Exxon Corporation, which meant moving his family from San Marino, California to Short Hills, New Jersey. He was Associate Director of the Process Division in the Standard Oil Development Company. During this period he received several patents in the field of petroleum refining.
Then World War II changed the course of events He was appointed to The National Defense Research Commmittee and became a section head responsible for the development and early production of new weapons essential to the war effort. For "outstanding fidelity and meritorious conduct in aid of the war effort" he received an award of merit from President Harry S. Truman.
When the war was ended, Norval returned to Standard Oil as Assistant Chief Engineer. Some years later as Deputy Coordinator of Refineries he was directly concerned with the coordination and budget affairs of forty four refineries located in twenty two countries throughout the free world, processing more then two million barrels per day of crude oil. He was also a director of several foreign Esso affiliates.
In 1949 Mr. and Mrs. Myers moved to London where he assumed the position of Managing Director and a member of the Executive Committee of the Esso Petroleum Company Ltd. He was directly responsible for the construction, organization and early operations of Fawley Refinery near South Hampton, then the largest in Europe with a capacity of 130,000 barrels per day. This project cost 30 million pounds, and saved the British economy over $100 million per year .
In 1958 the Myers moved to Oslo, Norway. Mr. Myers was chairman and managing director of Esso Norge which required the formation of a new company. He was directly responsible for the financing, construction, organization and early operations of Slagen refinery on Oslofjord. This was the largest foreign investment made in Norway and has proven very successful, saving the Noregian economy over eighty million kroner per year .
Since his retirement from Exxon, Mr. Myers has been active in the investment field and has served as a director or executive consultant to such companies as Massachusetts Broadcasting Company, Audio Electronics Company, Newark Air Service and Marine Colloids. He has also given much of his time to civic organizations. He was a vestryman and warden of Christ Church in Short Hills. He was a founder and the first chairman of the Millburn-Short Hills Fund and has served on the Boards of the Red Cross, the Hartshorn Arboretum, the Council of the Short Hills Association, and the area council of Boy Scouts. His clubs included Royal Norweigan Yacht Club (Oslo), the American Club (London) and the Short Hills club.
If there is a message to be found in these brief biographies it is: Appreciate your blessings and work as hard as you can.
Source - The Goodly Heritage
