The Century Chest Collection

Myser Family Package - Letter from Minnie M. Myser

(Transcribed from the original)

Eulogistic Family History

Calvin Conrad Myser, oldest son of Joseph and Catharine Myser, was born on a farm in Coshocton County, Ohio January 17, 1841. He secured a good common school education and would probably have fitted himself for the ministry had not his country called him to service in the great Civil War. He enlisted in Company G, 122nd Regiment, Ohio Infantry Volunteers, August 14, 1862. He was wounded in the battle of Cold Harbor June 3, 1864. On the 18th of February, 1865, he was made 1st Sergeant of his regiment and on June 26 was discharged./

Calvin Conrad Myser and Sarah Barrick were united in marriage February 21, 1866. They engaged in general mercantile business in Canal Orange, Coshocton County, Ohio. Here their three oldest children were born: Alta Geneva, November 17, 1866, who died at the age of 1 year 8 months 14 days; Alva Francis, August 26, 1868; Luther Jacob, July 21 1870.

"Westward the Course of Empire takes its way" was the spirit of these times. So animated by the desire to be home builders in the wide West, and thus the [desire to] better provide for their children, this family came to Toledo, Chase County, Kansas, arriving My 17, 1871. Here an eighty acre farm was purchased and the new home established which today remains [in] their passion. History cannot record the cares, anxieties, privations that these pioneers of the West experienced. During these years Calvin Myser taught school, improved his farm, and reared his family while being a leader in the church, school, and social lives of the community. No stranger was ever turned hungry from his door, tho’ the larder was often low; he was a generous sympathetic friend to all in distress.

Four children were added to the Kansas home: Minnie Myrth, born September 2, 1874; Linwood Clifton, born October 25, 1876; Lillian Barrick, born April 16, 1878, Joseph Woy, born September 12, 1881. Five months later, on February 14, 1882, an all wise Providence saw fit to call this father from his earthly home to the heavenly one and the mother and her six fatherless children were left to struggle on. By hardest toil, undaunted courage, and wise management the widowed mother kept her little flock together in the home and saw her children, with the exception of Lillian who joined her father above February 15, 1887, attain their majority. No greater heroism was ever displayed; no more patient, faithful service was rendered; no truer devotion to family or country was ever shown than by this mother in the years of toil and responsibility following the husband and father’s death. The secret of her success is simply this: she trusted in God with a faith that did not shrink; she labored with an iron courage and will renewed daily by Divine Power; she accepted her lot with a cheerful content that put songs on her lips even tho’ her eyes were dimmed with tears. God’s loving hand kept her pure and true and has brought her down to her three score years and ten bearing the scars of battle in her aching limps but bearing also the wreaths of victory through faith and trust.

Calvin Myser was confirmed in the Lutheran Church early in his married life; Sarah Barrick was confirmed in the same faith in 1856 at the age of thirteen years. Pious parents will heed the injunction, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it;" so these parents were careful to rear their children in the fear of God and gratitude should well form every heart for early Christian example and training.

May we leave as rich a legacy as our parents have left; may we each and all of this and succeeding generations hear the final welcome, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things. I will make thee ruler over many: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

Minnie M. Myser
March 28, 1913
Saffordville, Kansas