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Biography of John W. Byers

From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]

JOHN W. BYERS, deceased. The first of this name of whom any definite account can be given was Thomas Byers, who, with his son James, both natives of Scotland, emigrated from their native country to escape the persecutions their people were subjected to in that country, and made their home in Ireland, where they suffered in the siege of Londonderry. James, with his three sons, Thomas, Andrew and Samuel, emigrated to America at an early day, with other Scotch-Irish Covenanters. Andrew settled in Pennsylvania in 1791 or 1792, where he raised a family of children, of whom one son, James, married in Fayette County, Penn., and had four children, one son and three daughters. His wife died, and he was married the second time, to Elizabeth Watson, by whom he had seven children, five girls and two sons, John and Moses. In 1807, he moved to Ross County, Ohio, where he lived nine years. He then purchased land in Fayette County, and, four years later, finding his title defective, he was persuaded to relinquish this land, receiving 300 acres in the wilds of Madison County as an inducement to peaceably give up possession. He located in Madison County in 1820. His son, John W., was born near Uniontown, Fayette Co., Penn., May 9, 1800, and, in 1825, married Matilda Hunter, by whom he had three children, of whom one survives -- Matilda, wife of Samuel Truitt. Mrs. Byers died in 1831, and, in the fall of 1833, he married Sarah Painter, by whom be had ten children -- Mary R., wife of N. P. Gardner; Louisa J., wife of Thomas Price; Missouri, deceased, wife of George Truitt; Joel M., who married Louisa Fitzgerald; James W., whose sketch appears elsewhere; John C., who married Josephine Rickabaugh; Andrew, who married Ida Bidwell; Mary E., deceased, and Laura and Kate, at home. Mr. Byers retired from active life nine years before his death and, after six weeks illness, died, February 2, 1831, his remains being interred in Kirkwood Cemetery. Mrs. Byers' grandparents McGrew emigrated from Virginia to Westmoreland County, Penn., at a very early day, but the Indians were so hostile that they were obliged to bury their possessions and return to Virginia several times, until finally they resorted to block-houses for safety. He was a surveyor in Pennsylvania and Kentucky. They had seven children, three sons and four daughters. The youngest, Rossanna, was Mrs. Byers' mother. Thomas Painter, Mrs. Byers' grandfather, had three sons and seven daughters. Of these, Joel, her father, was born in 1787, and moved to Pennsylvania from Harper's Ferry, Va., when he was quite small. In 1809, he married Rosanna McGrew, and had four sons and two daughters. Of the latter, Sarah was born in 1813, and when eleven years of age her mother died. In 1825, her father married Jemima Allen. On March 21, 1826 or 1827, they started for Cincinnati on a family flatboat, arriving April 12, 1832. They then went to Dayton on a canal boat. Soon after, they returned to Cincinnati, and from there Mrs. Byers went to Jefferson in a stage. Mrs. Byers was married to Mr. Byers November 28, 1833, by Rev. Allen. They lived on a farm, one mile from Lilly Chapel, thirty-eight years, and moved to London in March, 1872. She joined the Presbyterian Church in 1832. While at Brownsville, she saw the first steamboat launched on the Ohio River. It was called the Reindeer, and was built by Robert Fulton, and was sent to Pittsburgh. Mrs. Byers is descended from an old family of Quakers who lived in Virginia many years. The subject of this sketch united with the Presbyterian Church in 1829, being one of the original members in the organization of that church at London. For over fifty-one years, he continued a faithful, consistent member of the same church, with the exception of a few years, when he removed his membership to Jefferson to aid in organizing a church there. As a citizen and business man, the integrity, loyalty and generosity of his spirit were unquestioned. As a husband and father, he was affectionate and self-sacrificing to the last degree. He loved life and often expressed his gratitude to God that He had spared him to live so long but with great composure and assurance he awaited the invitation to higher joys The funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. G. Paterson at the family residence.