Rudolph Myers was born on February 28, 1833, in Juniata County, Pennsylvania. Rudolph married Harriet E Musser on November 29, 1855, in Juniata County, Pennsylvania. Rudolph Myers died on August 20, 1907, in Sabetha, Nemaha County, Kansas.
Rudolph Myers was born on February 28, 1833, in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, the 5th of 12 known children of David Myers and Elizabeth Holtzapfel. Rudolph grew up on his father's farm in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, about 1 mile west of McAlisterville. In addition to being a farmer, Rudolph's father was a Reverend in the German Brethren Church. Like his father, Rudolph became a farmer and a member of the German Brethren Church, later known as the German Baptist Church or Dunkard Church.
Rudolph married Harriet E Musser, daughter of John Musser and Anna Sausman, on November 29, 1855, in Juniata County, Pennsylvania. Rudolph was 22. Harriet was nearing her 17th birthday. Rudolph and Harriet's families had adjoining farms and likely they knew each other from childhood. Rudolph's older brother Enoch was married to Harriet's older sister Nancy.
The following year, on April 29, 1856, Rudolph Myers “county of Juniata State of Pennsylvania” purchased 160 acres of land in Nora Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois. There was a growing presence of German Brethren in northern Illinois. Rudolph's cousin William Henry Myers, son of Samuel Myers, moved to Jo Daviess County in 1853. Rudolph's land was across the road from William Myers. On the same day Rudolph, together with his older brother Enoch, purchased 80 acres adjacent to the northern half of Rudolph's property. Enoch then purchased 80 acres adjacent to the southern half of Rudolph's property. Between the 2 brothers they owned 320 acres, the entire east half of section 16 in Nora Township.
Rudolph and Harriet moved to Jo Daviess County, Illinois, where their first child was born in November of 1856, while Rudolph's brother Enoch and his wife Nancy moved to Ohio prior to arriving in Jo Daviess County around 1861.
Rudolph and Harriet had the following known children all born in Jo Daviess county, Illinois:
Daughter Jennie did not survive more than a year and was buried in the Chelsea Brethren Cemetery near the family's farm.
On January 13, 1868, Rudolph sold 80 acres of the southern half of his farm to his brother Enoch. On January 15, 1868, he sold the northern 80 acres to Lewis Woody. Rudolph then purchased 160 acres located on the southwest corner of section 16, adjacent on the west side to the farm that his brother Enoch initially purchased in 1856.
On July 16, 1874, Rudolph purchased a tract of land in Franklin County, Iowa, 80 acres south of the town of Hampton. The family does not appear to have moved to Iowa until later, around 1878.
On August 11, 1874, Rudolph and Harriet sold 1 acre of their Jo Daviess County farm to the German Baptist Church so a meeting house could be built. A 32 by 40 foot structure was erected reportedly by Rudolph's brother Enoch along with George Eby. The meeting house was located where today's N. Tiger Whip Road intersects with E. Chelsea Road, the northeast corner. Prior to building the church on the corner of Rudolph's property, the German Baptists met in homes and school houses.
In 1878 daughter Minnie married Josiah Kepner, son of Benjamin Kepner, their neighbor across the street. Benjamin Kepner was a preacher in the German Baptist Church. The Kepner farm is still in the hands of Kepner descendants today.
On March 13, 1878, Rudolph and Harriet sold their 160 acre farm to James and Anna Hynes for $8000. The family then moved to Franklin County, Iowa, Minnie remained in Illinois with her husband Josiah.
In October of 1887 daughter Cora married William F. Bullis. William was a neighbor of the Myers in Iowa and had been for many years. Curiously the wedding took place in Cherry County, Nebraska, about 400 miles west of Franklin County, Iowa.
Between 1887 and 1890, the Myers moved from their farm to the town of Hampton. During this same period, son Alfred, known as Clinton, moved to Bishop, California. On May 19, 1890, it was reported in the Bishop newspaper that “Clinton A. Myers, aged 30 years, committed suicide here by taking strychnine yesterday morning. He was a popular young man of steady habits. The cause was disappointment in love.”
Rudolph and Harriet remained in Hampton until 1893, when Samuel and Margaret were adults, then moved to Sabetha, Kansas, where daughter Minnie's family had moved. Rudolph together with Minnie's husband Josiah purchased a furniture and undertaking business. Son Edward, 33 years old, stayed behind in Hampton. Son Samuel was studying to become a professor and daughter Margaret had taken a contract to teach school in South Dakota.
Weeks after their arrival in Sabetha, tragedy struck again. Rudolph and Harriet received news of son Edward's “self-murder” in Hampton, Iowa. Edward shot himself in the head following a marriage refusal. Sadly Rudolph received the telegram too late to attend his own son's funeral. Kindly, the town's newspaper the Sabetha Herald reported the death as accidental.
After Edward's death, daughter Margaret arrived from South Dakota for a visit with her parents. She stayed in Sabetha where she taught school and met Robert Bressem, whom she wed in 1894 in Rudolph's and Harriet's home. Rudolph sold Robert Bressem a piece of his property prior to the marriage and Robert built a house right next to the Myer's house.
In August of 1894 Rudolph's niece Alice Muthersbough, daughter of his sister Elizabeth, visited Rudolph and Harriet for several weeks. The following August two of Rudolph's sisters visited from Pennsylvania, his oldest sister Mary McAllister and his youngest sister Jane Fisher.
Son Samuel, or “Professor Myers” as he was referred to in the Sabetha Herald, routinely visited his parents during summer breaks.
In late May of 1897 Rudolph traveled back to Jo Daviess, Illinois, for several weeks where his brother Enoch was extremely ill. Enoch died on June 17th.
By 1902 Rudolph and Harriet had 4 Bressem grandchildren next door and 2 Kepner grandchildren a few doors further. Rudolph retired and daughter Margaret took care of her parents as they aged.
Rudolph's health began to decline as he struggled with dropsy and Bright's disease. In 1904 he wrote his Will leaving his entire estate to his wife Harriet.
In the summer of 1907 son Samuel visited his parents from California where he now lived, and then returned to California before the fall term began.
On August 20, 1907, Rudolph Myers died in his home in Sabetha, Kansas, at the age of 74. The funeral service was held at his home. He was buried in Sabetha Cemetery.
Genealogical Research and Life Sketch Updated: January 2024
Sources:
"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch, Rudolf Myers in household of David Myers, Fayette Township, Juniata, Pennsylvania, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch, Rudolph Myers, 1860.
Heckman, John and John Ezra Miller. “Brethren in Northern Illinois and Wisconsin”. Brethren Publishing House, Elgin, IL. 1941.
“The History of Jo Daviess County, Illinois: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, Etc., Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men”. Chicago, H.F. Kett & Company, 1878., pg 677.
"Illinois State Census, 1865," database with images, FamilySearch, Rudlph Myers, , Nora, Jo Daviess, Illinois; citing , Nora, Jo Daviess, Illinois, Census, p. , Illinois State Archives, Springfield; FHL microfilm.
"United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch, Rudolph Myers, 1870.
"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch, Rodoph Myers, Grant Township, Franklin, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
"Iowa State Census, 1885," database with images, FamilySearch, Rudolph Meyers, Grant, Franklin, Iowa; citing p. 31, 1885, State Historical Society, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,021,468.
"Kansas State Census, 1895", database with images, FamilySearch, Rudolph Myers, 1895.
"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch, Rudolph Myer, Rock Creek Township Sabetha City, Nemaha, Kansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 127, sheet 10A, family 208, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,492.
"Kansas, Deaths, 1811-1940", database, FamilySearch, Rudolph Myers, 1907.
“Deeds, ca. 1829 - 1902,” images, FamilySearch, Jo Daviess County, IL. Book Z Folios 156, 176 & 240. Microfilm 008336168. FHL, Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Deeds, ca. 1829 - 1902,” images, FamilySearch, Jo Daviess County, IL. Book 26 Folios 357 & 358. Microfilm 008336185. FHL, Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Deeds, ca. 1829 - 1902,” images, FamilySearch, Jo Daviess County, IL. Book 40 Folio 10. Microfilm 008336178. FHL, Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Deeds, ca. 1829 - 1902,” images, FamilySearch, Jo Daviess County, IL. Book 43 Folio 635. Microfilm 008336179 . FHL, Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Deed Records Lands, 1854 - 1936,” images, FamilySearch, Franklin County, IA. Book N Folio 435. Microfilm 008594733. FHL, Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Myers, Clinton A”, news item. The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, California), May 20, 1890.
“Myers, Rudolph”, news item. Sabetha Herald (Sabetha, Kansas), February 3, 1893.
“Myers, Ed L.”, news item. Eldora Ledger (Eldora, Iowa), June 15, 1893.
“Myers, Rudolph”, news item. Sabetha Herald (Sabetha, Kansas), June 16, 1893.
“Myers, Rudolph”, news item. Sabetha Herald (Sabetha, Kansas), April 7, 1893.
“Myers, Rudolph”, news item. Sabetha Herald (Sabetha, Kansas), August 10, 1894.
“Myers, Rudolph”, news item. Sabetha Herald (Sabetha, Kansas), August 10, 1894.
“Myers, Rudolph”, news item. Sabetha Herald (Sabetha, Kansas), June 21, 1895.
“Myers, Rudolph”, news item. Sabetha Herald (Sabetha, Kansas), August 22, 1895.
“Myers, Rudolph”, news item. Sabetha Herald (Sabetha, Kansas), May 20, 1897.
“Myers, Rudolph”, news item. Sabetha Herald (Sabetha, Kansas), August 5, 1897.
“Myers, Rudolph”, news item. Sabetha Herald (Sabetha, Kansas), July 4, 1907.
“Myers, Rudolph”, obituary. Sabetha Herald (Sabetha, Kansas), August 22, 1907.
“Probate Records,” images, FamilySearch, Nemaha, KS. Record of Wills, V. I 1905-1913 Folio 328. Microfilm 007667287. FHL, Salt Lake City, Utah.