OBIT: Benjamin F. MEYERS, 1918, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JudyBoo Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/ _________________________________________ BENJ. F. MEYERS, VETERAN EDITOR, IS DEAD AT 85 BENJAMIN F. MEYERS [photo] Benjamin F. Meyers, veteran editor former Congressman, poet and traction promoter, and for many years active in Democratic politics, died yesterday morning at his home, 41 North Front street, in his eighty-sixth year. Death was unexpected, for while he had been growing feeble his recent appearance as chairman of a political meeting showed that he was still remarkably vigorous for his advanced age. An attack of acute indigestion Saturday night, lasting over into yesterday, was the direct cause of his death. Funeral services will be held at the residence Wednesday morning at 10.30 o'clock. The Rev. Rollin A. Sawyer, rector of the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, will have charge of these services to which all the friends of Mr. Meyers are invited. The services at the grave in the Harrisburg Cemetery, will be in charge of Perseverance Lodge, No. 21, F. & A. M., and these will be private. Mr. Meyers is survived by the following children and grandchildren; Mrs. B. F. Africa, a daughter, residing at 11 North Front street; William K. Meyers, a son, residing in this city; and Harry, another son, living in Philadelphia. The grandchildren are: J. Simpson Africa, now at the U. S. Marine Corps O. T. C. at Quantico, Va.; B. Meyers Arrica, Mary Elizabeth Meyers, Winifred Meyers, William K. Meyers, Jr.; Benjamin F. Meyers, Jr., Mt. Vernon, N. Y., and Mrs. Suzanne Simpson, Mt. Vernon O. Past 85 Years Old Mr. Meyers was born in Milford township, Somerset County, July 6, 1833, and celebrated his 85th birthday quietly last month. After attending the schools of New Centerville, Somerset County, he went to the Somerset Academy and then spent two years at Jefferson College, Canonsburg, whence he left for Yale, but ill health prevented his taking his course of studies there. He read law with the late General William H. Koontz and was admitted to the bar of Somerset County in 1855. Newspaper work attracted him from his earliest days and while reading law he devoted much time to writing. A year prior to his being admitted to the Somerset bar he was engaged in newspaper work, and in 1857 he moved to Bedford where he became the editor of the Bedford Gazette. Shortly after that he became vitally interested in politics. Nine years after he took over the Bedford paper he became the editor of the Harrisburg Patriot and until 1873 he conducted both newspapers. In the latter year he sold the Bedford paper and removed here. Merged Local Newspapers Mr. Meyers continued as the editor of The Patriot until 1891, when he sold his interest in it and purchased the Star. Later he bought the Independent and merged his two papers under the name of the Star- Independent. He was active in the management of this newspaper until 1912 when he formed a company of which he was president and retired from active participation in the work of the paper. However, he kept up his "Snap Shots" - editorial comment that was read by a wide following. In the early part of last year the Star-Independent physically went out of existence when it was purchased by the Telegraph. During his early days as a lawyer and later as an editor, Mr. Meyers wrote numerous poems of worth and issued several books of poetry, one of them being "A Drama of Ambition." In 1863 he was elected as a Democratic member of the General Assembly from Bedford County, and in 1870, he was elected to Congress from the old Sixteenth district, comprising the counties of Bedford, Adams, Franklin, Fulton and Somerset Counties. Before that, however, and during the Civil War, Mr. Meyers went to Washington and saw President Lincoln in behalf of a relative, a wounded Union officer, who was sent to a camp near Washington. The officer's friends desired to have him sent back home. Mr. Meyers went direct to President Lincoln with a request that the officer be released from camp. Incident With Lincoln According to the story Mr. Meyers frequently told, President Lincoln said that Secretary of War Stanton had issued orders against removal of any of the men from the camp for the wounded. The President refused to set aside this order in the case of Mr. Meyers' relative. Mr. Meyers went to see the Secretary and found he was engaged at a conference. Returning to the White House he again took the matter up with the President. The President said he did not desire to go over the head of his secretary, but he added: "Of course, there have been wounded officers sent to camp who have disappeared mysteriously and nothing has even been heard of them since." With this as a cue Mr. Meyers went to the camp, saw the commandant and told him what the President had said and the wounded officer was placed in Mr. Meyers' care and was brought back to Pennsylvania. While Mr. Meyers never ceased to be interested in politics up to the time of his death, his last active participation in the political game as a candidate was in 1895 when he was Democratic candidate for State Treasurer. He was chosen as a delegate to numerous National and State conventions and he was postmaster of Harrisburg from 1887 to 1892. He was treasurer of the Democratic State Committee for three terms. Until in recent years he took an active part in Local Democratic politics and through his personality and his wide knowledge of political conditions had a large following for years. Pioneer Trolley Promoter Mr. Meyers had large holdings in numerous local business enterprises and was one of the first men in the city to invest in trolley stock in the days when the trolley car was a novelty. He was for many years vice president of several of the underlying companies of the Harrisburg Railways System. He was one of the large stockholders of the old United Telephone Company and the Brelsford Packing and Storage Company. He was a member of the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church for many years, having served as vestryman and senior warden for several terms. He was also a member of the standing committee of the Harrisburg diocese. Mr. Meyers was a thirty-second degree Mason, a past master of the Bedford Lodge, a member of Zembo Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., and of Perseverance Lodge, No. 21, F. & A. M. of this city. MEYERS - On Sunday, August 11, 1918, Benjamin F. Meyers, died at his late residence, No. 11, North Front street. Funeral services will be held at the above address on Wednesday forenoon at 10.30 o'clock. Friends are invited to attend. Body may be viewed Tuesday evening after 6 p.m. Interment private. The Evening News, Harrisburg, Penna., Monday, August 12, 1918 DEATHS MEYERS - On Sunday, August 11, 1918, Benjamin F. Meyers, died at his late residence, No. 11, North Front street. Funeral services will be held at the above address on Wednesday forenoon at 10.30 o'clock. Friends are invited to attend. Body may be viewed Tuesday evening after 6 p.m. Interment private. The Evening News, Harrisburg, Penna., Tuesday, August 13, 1918