"History of Southern Oregon, Comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and
Coos Counties.  Compiled from the Most Authentic Sources."  A. G. Walling,
Publisher.  Portland, OR.  1884.  pg. 534.

W. C. MYER

     W. C. Myer and Elizabeth Nessly were born in Jefferson county, Ohio, the
former April 22, 1818, and the latter June 17, 1820.  They were married on the
3rd of April, 1849, and set out immediately for Iowa, to which place Mr. Myer in
company with his father's family, had removed in 1843.  In 1853 the numerous
Myer family, including the subject of this sketch, took up the line of march to
the Pacific, arriving in Rogue river valley on September 3rd, of that year, and
settling three miles north of Ashland.  Engaging in the stock business Mr. Myer
soon found himself surrounded with a large herd of horses.  Wishing to improve
the stock of this herd he went East in 1865, and brought out the noted horse
Capt. Sligart.  In 1869, not altogether satisfied with his adopted home, and
desiring to find a market for his rapidly increasing stock, he determined to
return to the Western states, which he reached in the autumn of that year and
settled in Kansas.  Here he disposed of his horses and betook himself to
farming.  One year, however, of the climate of that country, with its doubtful
crops satisfied him that he had made a great mistake and turned his longing eyes
and glad feet again toward the Pacific.  During his Kansas experience however he
never for a day even -- forget his favorite -- the horse.  Industriously
searching the records and the country, he found his ideal in the Percheron, and
hastily selling his Kansas farm, bought White Prince, Doll, Maggie and Perche
and returned to this country December, 1870.  So rapid was the increase of this
stock and so great the demand for it, that Mr. Myer found it necessary to make
new importations.  In 1872 he returned East and brought out Napoleon.  With this
importation he also brought out four Jersey cattle:  one bull St. Louis, one cow
Nacky, and two heifers.  To these he has added from time to time by importations
from the best milkers in California as the nature of the case demanded.  Mr.
Myer's fourth importation of stock from the Atlantic to the Pacific was made in
1876 when he brought out Pride of Perche, Gen. Fleury, White Rose and Jennie. 
In 1878 the fifth importation, consisting of an Arabian Percheron, named Arabian
Boy, and the filly Juanita, was made.  This filly which appears elsewhere in the
book, in Mr. Myer's group of fine stock, was raised by Colon Cameron of
Brickersfield, Penn.  Arabian Boy was sired by the pure blooded Jenifer Arabian
imported from Arabia by Col. Jenifer and American Officer of Egyptian Cavalry
fame.  He is the only Percheron Arabian in the United States.  He may be seen in
the group.  With this importation Mr. Myer brought out a small lot of Cotswold
sheep for J. P. Walker and a small lot of Durham cattle for E. F. Walker.  Also
for himself four Shetland Ponies.  Two of these were brought from the Shetland
Islands that year and two were bred in the United States, the Stallion -- Bobby
Burns -- by Alexander, of Kentucky.  Taking advantage of the invitation given by
the N.P.R.R. Co., in the autumn of 1883 to the pioneers of the Pacific, Mr. Myer
made his sixth importation of fine stock, bringing the celebrated horse Gambetta
and a Shetland stallion both imported to America the same year and both of which
also appear in his group.  In this importation there were six Jerseys, one bull
and five heifers, all directly descended from the best butter producers in the
United States.  Some of their ancestors have sold as follows:  several for
$2,000 each and one for $12,500.  These Jerseys also appear in the group. 
Percheron horses bred from Mr. Myer's importations have found their way to
British Columbia and Southern California, and from the Pacific throughout Oregon
and Washington and Montana territories, and in all this territory are giving the
very best of satisfaction.  As additional evidence of the enterprising character
of this gentleman we record the fact that to him belongs the credit of
introducing to Rogue river valley the first gang-plow, the first improved Haines
header and the first screw pulverizer; and to him and his brother Frank the
first horse fork for hoisting and stacking hay.  Though more than a decade past
the meridian of life, Mr. Myer is more active and energetic than many other men
at that very desirable epoch.  The children of Mr. and Mrs. Myer are Frances,
now Mrs. Billings, and William.
 

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2005 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.