BIO: Thomas W. MYTON, Huntingdon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lana Clark 
<myclarkhistory@hotmail.com>

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, page 34
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  THOMAS W. MYTON attorney-at-law, Huntingdon, Pa., was born in West township, 
Huntingdon county, February 13, 1842.  He is a son of Samuel and Eleanor 
(Montgomery) Myton, and is of English, Scotch-Irish and Quaker extraction.  The 
Myton family came from Sherman's Valley to Huntingdon county at the time of its 
early settlement, Thomas W. Myton's grandfather having become a resident of what 
is now West township in 1792.  Samuel and Eleanor Myton were the parents of ten 
children: John, born February 14, 1828; spent most of his life in farming in 
West township, Huntingdon county, and died leaving a widow and five children; 
Martha and Alexander, twins, born October 29, 1830, Alexander is a farmer of 
Miller township, Huntingdon county, and Martha, widow of Noble Gregory, resides 
in Nebraska; Isaac, born May 9, 1832, was a teacher and salesman, and died 
December 18, 1882; Mary Ann, born May 13, 1834, is the wife of David Forcey, of 
Philipsburg, Centre county; Jane Eliza, born February 5, 1836, is the wife of 
Henry Lightner, of West township; David B., born January 21, 1839, died in 
childhood; Thomas W; Samuel II, born July 18, 1844, is a hardware merchant of 
Winfield, Kas.; Caroline V., born May 28, 1849, wife of John Lane, of Newton 
Hamilton, Mifflin county, Pa. 
  Thomas W. Myton passed his earliest years at the homestead in West township. 
He was educated in the public schools of the county, and at Mooresville Academy, 
residing at home until he reached his eighteenth year.  At about this time he 
began teaching, and had charge of schools in both Huntingdon and Centre 
counties.  In the summer of 1862, he determined to render his country a more 
active and perilous, if not more useful, service.  On August 8, he enlisted in 
Company H, one Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers.  At the battle 
of Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863, his left arm was shot through and afterwards 
amputated, and he was wounded in the right shoulder and in the face.  In 
consequence of the loss of his arm, Mr. Myton received his discharge from the 
army, July 21, 1863, and returned home.  There he once more engaged in teaching 
until 1865, when he was elected county treasurer.  In 1866, Mr. Myton began 
reading law in the office of the late Hon. J. Sewell Stewart, and was admitted 
to practice in Huntingdon county at the August term, 1868.  He then spent two 
years in the West, and began legal practice in 1870.  In 1872, he was elected 
prothonotary and clerk of the criminal courts, and fulfilled the duties of his 
office efficiently for three years, afterwards returning to the practice of his 
profession.  During the session of 1883, Mr. Myton represented his district in 
the Pennsylvania Legislature.  He has ever since been actively occupied with the 
business, of his profession in Huntingdon, except during three years, 1887-1890, 
which he spent in Kansas, engaged in various duties.  Mr. Myton is serving his 
second term as a school director, and is now president of the board.  He holds 
pronounced Republican views in politics.  He is a member of George Simpson Post, 
No. 44, G.A.R. 
  Thomas W. Myton was married in Oneida township, Huntingdon county, December 
27, 1870, to Ella E., daughter of John C. and Eleanor Davis.  She was born in 
Huntingdon county, and is of Scotch-Irish ancestry.  Of their eight children, 
five died in infancy.  The survivors are: Walter R., an architect, and a 
graduate of Cornell University; John B. and Eleanor.  Mr. Myton and his family 
attend the Methodist Episcopal church.