James P. Byers    

JAMES P. BYERS, farmer, post-office Pulaski, Penn., is a son of John and Jane (Porter) Byers, and grandson of William Byers, the first sheriff of Mercer County. The father of our subject was, a native of this county, and a farmer by occupation; was active in county affairs; served as commissioner one term, being elected in 1849, and was also justice of the peace for many years. He died in 1851, his wife surviving him till 1871. They had nine children: Isabella, Mrs. Josiah Gibson; William, deceased; J. P., John T., Walter P., Mary J., Mrs. Ebenezer McFarland; Ebenezer, Esther, Ellen, Mrs. Peter West, of Albion, N. Y. Our subject was born in May, 1828, and received his education in the public schools of the township. Mr. Byers enlisted in August, 1861, in Company B, One Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers, his regiment being known as the “Roundheads,” being so named from the fact that the members were nearly all descendants of Scotch families, who were followers of Cromwell. Mr. Byers followed the fortunes of his regiment for three years, and participated in the following engagements: Port Royal, Port Royal Ferry, James Island, second Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Weldon R. R. While in the service Mr. Byers contracted the small-pox, which has resulted in depriving him of his hearing. Our subject is engaged in general farming. He was married February 2, 1857, to Miss Eliza J. McMillin, daughter of Robert and Margaret (Hulse) McMillin, of Beaver County, Penn. By this union they have had eight children, of whom five are living: Ellen F., John P., married Tilla Pomroy, and has two children, Harvey and a daughter; William W., Eliza A. and Hattie B. Mr. Byers is a member of the G. A. R., and a good, enterprising citizen.

History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present : including its aboriginal history, its early settlement and development, a description of its historic and interesting localities, sketches of its boroughs, townships and villages, neighborhood and family histories, portraits and biographies of pioneers and representative citizens, statistics, etc. : also, a condensed history of Pennsylvania. Chicago, Ill.: Brown, Runk & Co., 1888, pages 849-850.  Read this book on line - Free Trial  Search Hundreds of 1880s-1890s Pennsylvania County History Books for biographies and historical information on your ancestors.  View the book page images on line and print them out for your genealogy file!  Free Access to the old history books - plus birth & death records, census images and ALL other records at ancestry.com

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