William R. Myers

William Ralph Myers (June 12, 1836 – April 18, 1907) was an American attorney, educator, and politician who served as the two-time Secretary of State of Indiana and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana.

William Ralph Myers
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 6th district
In office
March 4, 1879 – March 4, 1881
Preceded byMilton S. Robinson
Succeeded byThomas M. Browne
Secretary of State of Indiana
In office
January 16, 1883 – January 16, 1887
GovernorAlbert G. Porter
Isaac P. Gray
Preceded byEmanuel R. Hawn
Succeeded byCharles F. Griffin
Secretary of State of Indiana
In office
January 17, 1893 – January 17, 1895
GovernorClaude Matthews
Preceded byMyron D. King
Succeeded byWilliam D. Owen
Personal details
Born(1836-06-12)June 12, 1836
Wilmington, Ohio, U.S.
DiedApril 18, 1907(1907-04-18) (aged 70)
Anderson, Indiana, U.S.
Resting placeEast Maplewood Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
Military service
Branch/serviceIndiana Volunteer Infantry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Early life

Born near Wilmington, Ohio, Myers moved with his parents to Anderson, Indiana in October 1836. He attended public schools and later worked as a teacher. He was surveyor of Madison County from 1858 until 1860.

Career

Military service

During the Civil War, he enlisted as a private in Company G, Forty-seventh Regiment of the Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to orderly sergeant, second lieutenant, first lieutenant, and captain, and served four years and three months.

After returning from the Army, Myers returned to teaching. He became Superintendent of the public schools of Anderson, Indiana in 1868 and 1869, and served as member of the school board of Anderson from 1871 to 1879. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1871. He established a private legal practice in Anderson.

Politics

Myers was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1880 to the Forty-seventh Congress.

Myers served as Secretary of State of Indiana from 1882 to 1886. Afterwards, he purchased the newspaper "The Anderson Democrat" in 1886 and worked as its editor. He was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Governor of Indiana, but again became Secretary of State 1892-1894. He resumed the practice of law thereafter.

Death

Myers died in Anderson, Indiana on April 18, 1907. He was interred in East Maplewood Cemetery.

References
  • United States Congress. "William R. Myers (id: M001133)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Milton S. Robinson		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 6th congressional district
1879–1881		 Succeeded by
Thomas M. Browne
Political offices
Preceded by
Emanuel R. Hawn		 Secretary of State of Indiana
1883–1887		 Succeeded by
Charles F. Griffin
Preceded by
Myron D. King		 Secretary of State of Indiana
1893–1895		 Succeeded by
William D. Owen
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