Darius Myers was born Dec. 18, 1816, near Minetto, Oswego County, New York and lived in a large, two story house with a high stone foundation, surrounded by rolling, rocky farmland. Each springtime, rocks were picked up to make room for plowing, and built into rock fences. Beside the house was a "Harvest Sweet" apple gree, which still bore luscious fruit in 1901.
At twelve, Darius became interested in the Millerite movement which claimed the second coming of Christ would occur in 1844. He began a lifelong study of the bible, but he was also interested in education, and taught school as a young man. He had so many pupils that many had to sit on the floor. His future wife, Melissa, was one of his students. (She was 16 or 17, and he was 35 when they married). He also played the flute.
In 1850, Darius went overland to California in search of gold. He returned by ship, with about 1,000 dollars in gold that he hung the gold in a bag over his berth. With the gold he bought land in Pleasant Valley Illinois, and married Melissa in 1853.
It took six years to build the first Illinois house. It was of rock which he got himself -- a large two story building with thick walls and deep window seats. In time, and seven children later, he sold that house and bought more fertile land down in the Valley near Plum River. A stone schoolhouse was built nearby where the children began their education.
As the children were getting older, Darius decided to sell the farm and move about 20 miles away to Nora, where there were higher grades at the school. Before that move however, he took the family to Florida to see if the climate would help Melissa's asthma. However fevers were prevalent there, the climate was disagreeable, and they returned to Illinois. (Oldest daughter Rebecca would marry in Florida and stay).
Darius had remembered the California fondly, and wanted to spend the rest of his days in that warmer climate. He made several trips out, and finally bought a 120 acre ranch in Malaga, a small settlement near Fresno, California. The family moved in January, 1890. Darius was then 74. The land was divided so as to give each son a home. Darius keep 40 acres for himself. This became known as the Myer's colony. The children of Rebecca were also brought out to California, after her death.
Darius died in 1897, age 81. He was buried at the family cemetary at the colony. When the land was sold, all the family graves were moved to Mountain View Cemetary in Fresno.
By Phil:
Father was always hospitable to strangers. He never turned anyone away so far as I know, but always found a place for them to sleep. He was born in York State. He went out to Adrian, Michigan, about the time he was of age, and there's where he cleared about 40 acres of heavy timber. He built two houses there. He was very handy with tools.
Then he must have gone back to York State, because in the '43-'44 movement he lectured. Great multitudes of people expected the coming of Christ and the end of the world, the Millerite movement. He was a lecturer on religious topics up to within a few years of his death.
I think he taught school in Oswego before he went back to Illinois. On the first trip, he walked a thousand miles in thirty days. He made expenses by peddling pills he made himself in a little tin box. Father taught school later in the Townsend district in Jo Davies County, Illinois.
In the spring of 1850 he started for California. Coming home for three days and nights on the boat from San Francisco to Nicaragua, they had a very fierce storm, and had to batten down all the hatches. He crossed the Isthmus by Nicaragua afoot, and took boat to New York on the Mexican Gulf side.
Father made his money from gold-mining. about $1,500. Then from farming.
At twelve, Darius became interested in the Millerite movement which claimed the second coming of Christ would occur in 1844. He began a lifelong study of the bible, but he was also interested in education, and taught school as a young man. He had so many pupils that many had to sit on the floor. His future wife, Melissa, was one of his students. (She was 16 or 17, and he was 35 when they married). He also played the flute.
In 1850, Darius went overland to California in search of gold. He returned by ship, with about 1,000 dollars in gold that he hung the gold in a bag over his berth. With the gold he bought land in Pleasant Valley Illinois, and married Melissa in 1853.
It took six years to build the first Illinois house. It was of rock which he got himself -- a large two story building with thick walls and deep window seats. In time, and seven children later, he sold that house and bought more fertile land down in the Valley near Plum River. A stone schoolhouse was built nearby where the children began their education.
As the children were getting older, Darius decided to sell the farm and move about 20 miles away to Nora, where there were higher grades at the school. Before that move however, he took the family to Florida to see if the climate would help Melissa's asthma. However fevers were prevalent there, the climate was disagreeable, and they returned to Illinois. (Oldest daughter Rebecca would marry in Florida and stay).
Darius had remembered the California fondly, and wanted to spend the rest of his days in that warmer climate. He made several trips out, and finally bought a 120 acre ranch in Malaga, a small settlement near Fresno, California. The family moved in January, 1890. Darius was then 74. The land was divided so as to give each son a home. Darius keep 40 acres for himself. This became known as the Myer's colony. The children of Rebecca were also brought out to California, after her death.
Darius died in 1897, age 81. He was buried at the family cemetary at the colony. When the land was sold, all the family graves were moved to Mountain View Cemetary in Fresno.
By Phil:
Father was always hospitable to strangers. He never turned anyone away so far as I know, but always found a place for them to sleep. He was born in York State. He went out to Adrian, Michigan, about the time he was of age, and there's where he cleared about 40 acres of heavy timber. He built two houses there. He was very handy with tools.
Then he must have gone back to York State, because in the '43-'44 movement he lectured. Great multitudes of people expected the coming of Christ and the end of the world, the Millerite movement. He was a lecturer on religious topics up to within a few years of his death.
I think he taught school in Oswego before he went back to Illinois. On the first trip, he walked a thousand miles in thirty days. He made expenses by peddling pills he made himself in a little tin box. Father taught school later in the Townsend district in Jo Davies County, Illinois.
In the spring of 1850 he started for California. Coming home for three days and nights on the boat from San Francisco to Nicaragua, they had a very fierce storm, and had to batten down all the hatches. He crossed the Isthmus by Nicaragua afoot, and took boat to New York on the Mexican Gulf side.
Father made his money from gold-mining. about $1,500. Then from farming.
John Nathan Myers - Darius' father.
By Phil (Epaminondas Philo Myers)
John Nathan Myers was my father's father. In Mother's time they spelled it Meyers. First it had been Mayer, then Moyer. It was after I was born they came out from York State. They had come with the Applebys.
I have a dim remembrance of Grandfather Myers --- nothing like my father but the prominent nose. His head was as bald as anything except a little fringe that came up around in front of his ears. He was smooth shaven. Grandfather was kind to children. He had to go around with a cane; his eyes were kind of dim.
By Phil (Epaminondas Philo Myers)
John Nathan Myers was my father's father. In Mother's time they spelled it Meyers. First it had been Mayer, then Moyer. It was after I was born they came out from York State. They had come with the Applebys.
I have a dim remembrance of Grandfather Myers --- nothing like my father but the prominent nose. His head was as bald as anything except a little fringe that came up around in front of his ears. He was smooth shaven. Grandfather was kind to children. He had to go around with a cane; his eyes were kind of dim.