BIO: Benjamin F. MEYERS, Dauphin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm
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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 344-345.
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  MEYERS, HON. BENJAMIN F., lawyer and journalist, was born July 6, 
1833, in Somerset county, Pa.  He was educated at the Somerset Academy 
and Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pa.  In 1853 he was made principal 
of a select school at Somerset.  In 1854 he was married to Miss Susan 
C. Koontz, of Somerset, and soon after removed to Bloomington, Ill., 
where he engaged in journalism, one of his first experiences there 
being the reporting of a speech delivered at Bloomington by Stephen A. 
Douglas, on the Kansas-Nebraska bill.  The climate did not agree with 
him, and in one year he returned to his native county, where he read 
law and was admitted to the bar.  He at once began the practice of his 
profession, which he diligently pursued for a number of years.  
  When the presidential canvass of 1856 opened Mr. Meyers determined to 
oppose General Fremont and espoused the cause of James Buchanan, taking 
the stump for that candidate and casting his first vote for the 
Democratic electors.
  In 1857 he was unanimously elected chairman of the Anti-Know-Nothing 
committee of Somerset county and did effective work.  In August of the 
same year Mr. Meyers became one of the proprietors of the Bedford, Pa., 
Gazette and later removed with his family to the town of Bedford.  Here 
he remained as editor of that journal for a number of years.  In June, 
1868, he purchased an interest in the Harrisburg Patriot and was made 
its editor-in-chief.
  In 1863 Mr. Meyers was elected to the lower house of the Legislature 
as a representative of Bedford county.  While a member of that body he 
made a reputation as a debater and speaker and his services were so 
satisfactory to his constituents that while absent from home he was 
unanimously renominated.
  In 1870 he was the Democratic candidate for Congress in the district 
composed of the counties of Adams, Bedford, Fulton, Franklin and 
Somerset, and was elected by a majority of fifteen votes, overcoming a 
Republican majority of several hundred.
  Mr. Meyers has always been a consistent tariff reformer, and while in 
congress voted for the repeal of duties on coal and salt.  He was 
district delegate to the Democratic National conventions of 1864 and 
1880, and was elected delegate-at-large to the convention which 
nominated Grover Cleveland in 1884.  In 1875 he was elected president 
of the Pennsylvania Editorial Association and was re-elected in 1876.  
During the Cleveland-Harrison campaign of 1888 he was designated by his 
party to represent it in several joint discussions, and always emerged 
from such contests with the respect of his adversaries and the plaudits 
of his auditors.
  Mr. Meyers was appointed postmaster at Harrisburg March 9, 1887, and 
served one term with much credit to himself and satisfaction to all 
concerned.
  In religion Mr. Meyers is an Episcopalian and has been for years a 
vestryman of St. Stephen's church, Harrisburg.  He has five children 
living:  Mrs. Ellis L. Mumma, Edwin K., Harry S., Mrs. B. F. Africa, 
and W. K.  Mr. Meyers is now the editor and proprietor of the 
Harrisburg Star-Independent.