My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM BYERS, capitalist, Joplin, was born in Franklin county. Pa., Nov 14, 1828. His parents, Frederick and Anna (Eby) Byers, were also natives of the Keystone State. His father was born in 1780, and died in 1854; his mother died in 1823. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in the county of his nativity; was raised principally on a farm, and attended the common schools. When about seventeen years of age he entered the Chambersburg Academy, Chambersburg, Pa., graduating from that institution in the spring of 1848. After quitting school he was engaged for three years as a clerk in the mercantile business for his brother. Eby Byers. He then engaged in farming and stock-raising in Franklin county until the year 1860; then came west to Iowa and engaged in the hotel business at Iowa City, but shortly after commenced dealing in real estate, which business he followed several years. He moved to Marion county, same state, where he engaged in the mercantile business until the spring of 1866; came to Carthage, this county, in the last named year, and in February, 1872, to Joplin. Since coming here he has dealt largely in real estate and mining. In the spring of 1873 Byers & Murphy’s addition to Murphysburg (now Joplin) was laid out, and in 1877 he and others laid out Byers & Murphy’s first addition to Joplin proper. In August, 1879, was laid out Byers & Murphy’s second addition, now known as Byersville, and named in honor of our subject. Judge Byers was married in Franklin county, Pa., March 20, 1854, to Miss Martha L., daughter of Samuel and Ruth Jeffrey, of Chambersburg, Pa. In 1875 Mr. Byers was appointed judge of the county court for this county by Governor Harden; served two years, and in November, 1878, was elected to the same position for a term of four years. Judge Byers is extensively engaged in mining operations: also interested in the Joplin Woolen Mills, of which company he is vice-president; also secretary and treasurer of the Joplin Zinc Company. He is a man of energy and enterprise, possesses excellent business qualifications, and is counted among Joplin’s most respected and worthy citizens.