William R. Myers
William Ralph Myers | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 6th district | |
In office March 4, 1879 – March 4, 1881 | |
Preceded by | Milton S. Robinson |
Succeeded by | Thomas M. Browne |
Secretary of State of Indiana | |
In office January 16, 1883 – January 16, 1887 | |
Governor | Albert G. Porter Isaac P. Gray |
Preceded by | Emanuel R. Hawn |
Succeeded by | Charles F. Griffin |
Secretary of State of Indiana | |
In office January 17, 1893 – January 17, 1895 | |
Governor | Claude Matthews |
Preceded by | Myron D. King |
Succeeded by | William D. Owen |
Personal details | |
Born | Wilmington, Ohio, U.S. | June 12, 1836
Died | April 18, 1907 Anderson, Indiana, U.S. | (aged 70)
Resting place | East Maplewood Cemetery |
Political party | Democratic |
Military service | |
Branch/service | Indiana Volunteer Infantry |
Battles/wars | American Civil War |
William Ralph Myers (June 12, 1836 – April 18, 1907) was an American attorney, educator, and politician who served as the two-time Secretary of State of Indiana and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana.
Early life
Born near Wilmington, Ohio, Myers moved with his parents to Anderson, Indiana in October 1836. He attended public schools and later worked as a teacher. He was surveyor of Madison County from 1858 until 1860.
Career
Military service
During the Civil War, he enlisted as a private in Company G, Forty-seventh Regiment of the Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to orderly sergeant, second lieutenant, first lieutenant, and captain, and served four years and three months.
Teaching and legal career
After returning from the Army, Myers returned to teaching. He became Superintendent of the public schools of Anderson, Indiana in 1868 and 1869, and served as member of the school board of Anderson from 1871 to 1879. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1871. He established a private legal practice in Anderson.
Politics
Myers was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1880 to the Forty-seventh Congress.
Myers served as Secretary of State of Indiana from 1882 to 1886. Afterwards, he purchased the newspaper "The Anderson Democrat" in 1886 and worked as its editor. He was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Governor of Indiana, but again became Secretary of State 1892-1894. He resumed the practice of law thereafter.
Death
Myers died in Anderson, Indiana on April 18, 1907. He was interred in East Maplewood Cemetery.
References
- United States Congress. "William R. Myers (id: M001133)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- 1836 births
- 1907 deaths
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana
- Indiana Democrats
- People of Indiana in the American Civil War
- Secretaries of State of Indiana
- Politicians from Anderson, Indiana
- Union Army officers
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- 19th-century American politicians