Ancestors

David Rittenhouse Myres

1839-1920 · Pennsylvania
Born 1839, Washington County, Pennsylvania
Died 1920
Father: Samuel Myers
Mother: Mary A. Steepleton
Children include Samuel

David Rittenhouse Myres was born on 24 April 1839 in Washington County, Pennsylvania, in the southwest corner of the state. His Texas death certificate names his mother as Mary Steepleton. It leaves his father's given name blank.

He came to Texas and fought for the Confederacy. His government headstone records him as a private in Company G of the 10th Texas Infantry, a Confederate regiment raised in Texas. A biographical sketch of his son, published in the Historical Encyclopedia of Texas, calls him an officer in the Tenth Texas Regiment instead.

He married Mary Jane Dale, a Kentuckian ten years younger than he. In July 1871 they settled in Johnson County, south of Fort Worth, on the Brazos. Their first son, Samuel Dale, was born there that November. Five more children followed: Morris Carlos in 1874, Fannie Rice in 1878, Annie Earl in 1881, William E. in 1883 and Charles Clifton in 1887.

He farmed in Johnson County for the rest of his working life. The 1880 census lists him as a farmer with Mary J. and their children. In 1900 he was still farming in Justice Precinct 2. That year the household held his wife, their sons William E. and Charlie C., a married daughter entered as Sarrah Elliott with her husband Alford S. Elliott, and a Mamie Kelley.

Mary Jane died in 1908. David outlived her by twelve years. His eldest son became a famous saddlemaker and mayor of Sweetwater, and another, William E., became assistant county attorney at Fort Worth. David died a widower at Georges Creek on Wednesday, 8 September 1920. He was 81. He was buried in Georges Creek Cemetery, in Somervell County, in plot B-237, beside his wife.

Sources

Texas Bureau of Vital Statistics, state file no. 35438; index FamilySearch 1:1:K37Q-5FJ; image posted to Find a Grave memorial 113719102.
Georges Creek Cemetery, Somervell County, Texas, plots B-237 and B-238; photograph 2007, Find a Grave memorials 18079821 and 18079866.
Georges Creek Cemetery, Somervell County, Texas; photograph 2007, Find a Grave memorial 18079821.
Newspaper clipping, September 1920, paper not named; posted to Find a Grave memorial 18079821.
A Memorial and Biographical History of Johnson and Hill Counties, Texas (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1892), p. 553; typescript reprint, p. 243, archive.org item a-memorial-and-biographical-history-of-j.
A Memorial and Biographical History of Johnson and Hill Counties, Texas (1892), pp. 553-554; typescript reprint, p. 244, archive.org item a-memorial-and-biographical-history-of-j.
Texas death certificate index FS 1:1:K785-Z7T; 1880 census FS 1:1:MFNP-362; 1900 census FS 1:1:M3P9-YXT; Texas County Marriage Records FS 1:1:QV1C-L66X; Texas Marriages 1837-1973 FS 1:2:9MWG-H3LD; Charles Clifton Myres death certificate FS 1:1:K36Z-DWL; Historical Encyclopedia of Texas via TXGenWeb Nolan County; death notice, September 1920, paper not named; Find a Grave 18079821.

If David Rittenhouse Myres is in your family, start your own tree.

Cite: Heirology, "David Rittenhouse Myres (1839-1920)", https://heirology.com/ancestors/david-rittenhouse-myres-1839-1920-a05202.