Biographies M
James Gwinn Myers
James Gwinn Myers, Muhlenberg County, was born in Logan County, Ky., near Russellville, on October 22, 1824. His early education was acquired in the schools of Russellville, Greenville and Franklin. In 1835, he came with his parents to Muhlenberg County. They located on Rocky Creek, where James G. resided until 1845. In that year he began to do a general merchandise trade in Skilesville, on Green River. In 1856, he erected a store-room and a tobacco warehouse one mile from Skilesville, where he continued the trade, and to that added the business of buying and shipping leaf tobacco, and in 1878 became, through the failure of other parties, a bankrupt.
In the same year, he took a homestead claim on 125 acres of land, where he now resides; his farm is well improved with frame cottage, two barns, tobacco warehouse, three wells, two good cisterns and orchard of 400 trees. His farm is all enclosed with good fences, eighty-five acres under high cultivation, pricipally in tobacco, corn and wheat.
Mr. Myers has been twice married; first to Miss Willis, whom he married in 1851; they had seven children, five of whom are living: David H., Bernard G., Martha E, Philip E., and Medora. Those deceased are Charles B. and James T. Mr. Myers' second marriage occurred on December 25, 1871, with Sarah C. Dill, of Muhlenberg County. She is a daughter of George Dill. To this marriage was born one daughter - Luroe - who died in infancy.
Mr. Myers on account of bad health did not enter the army, but during the years 1861 and 1862, enlisted many recruits in the Federal service. His sympathies were with the Federal Government, and he suffered much loss in consequence.
Mr. Myers has been during his life a man of business qualifications; he held for ten years the office of county examiner, and for two years was postmaster at Skilesville. He is a member of McLean Lodge, No. 120 of the I.O.O.F. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Althought not a Prohibitionist he is an advocate of temperance.
His youngest son, Philip E. Myers, has charge of the farm, and is known as a gentleman of sterling integrity and one of the rising young farmers of Muhlenberg County.
Source: Battle, J.H., W.H. Perrin, and G.C. Kniffen. Kentucky: A History of the State. Louisville, KY: F.A. Battey, 1885. Page 916.
Updated July 9, 2018