Presenting the chronicles of Mary Will Myers

Marion, Louisiana

*

1874- 1963 Timeline The Birth of Mary Lou Will

1874 Mary and John Miles marries

1892 The return to Marion 1904 The 1912 escape to Arkansas

and the name change from Miles to Myers

Life in Breckenridge, Arkansas 1912-1924

The children go west 1920-1924 The heartbreak years 1922-

1934 Mary’s life 1934-1963

Mary Will Myers

A Portrait Of Mary Will Myers

Mary Will Myers ca 1925, 51 years old

•Born Mary Lou Will on Saturday Feb 28, 1874•Daughter of William and Sinia Will•Place of Birth Marion, LA•The grandchildren Nicknamed her Deenie•The eleventh of thirteen children•U.S. Events during the time of Mary’s birth: Ulysses S. Grant was President, The Reconstruction Period was in process•Religious events: Jesus was suppose to appear in 1874•The year of the grasshopper

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The 1880 Census Of The Will family Marion, Louisiana

Father

Mother

Mary* Correct age is 6

*5 years old

Around 1891, 17 year old Mary Will Meets a 25 year old Lumberjack named John Miles

On Palm Sunday April 10, 1892 Mary age 18 and John Miles age 26 jumped the Broom in Marion, LA.They stayed in Marion and had two children. Around 1895 they moved to Arkansas, John’s home.

Upon their return from Arkansas nine years later and three additional children, John and Mary purchase landin Marion in 1904. They bought 120 acres for $150.00.

The Return Home

Three years after they bought the land, in 1907 there was a Boll Weevil infestation. A tiny insect pest devastated their cotton fields and forced farmers like John to pursue mixed farming and manufacturing. John and Mary had seven children to support and in need of income. They sold 80 of their 120 Acres to the Union Saw Mill Company On Thursday October 22, 1908 to support the family.

The Southern Lumber Company and Union Sawmill were purchasing land. John and Mary entered the market. They originally paid $1.25 an acre for their land and sold at $1.87 an acre, a profit of 62 cents. They got their $150.00 back by selling 2/3rd of the land.

The Miles Family 1910 Marion, Louisiana

Shelly died in Breckenridge Township, Arkansas before she could take a picture in Los Angeles…

John Allen Emma Ora Edna Columbus

Jack Oliver Trudy Shelly Hazel Lou

1893- 1895- 1897- 1899-

*1902- 1904- *1907- 1909-

Mary and John’s Children

Around 1912 John and Mary abandoned their 40 acres and moved back to Arkansas. The abrupt move was brought about by a slapping incident between Mary and a White Man in Marion.When they arrived in Breckenridge, Arkansas, John changed his name to Sam and the family surname to Myers.

1920 Census Breckenridge, Arkansas

Sam MyersMaryColumbusOliverTrudyShellyHazel

The depressed economy around 1920 was creating hardship in Arkansas. Work was becoming scarce and times were tight. Mary and Sam gets word from older son John Allen that there is work out west. Mary and Sam sends the children one by one to Los Angeles to stay with their elder son John Allen. Daughter Shelly develops TB and dies around 1922 before she could go. Before Mary and Sam could pack up and move, Sam dies around 1924. Mary, heartbroken of the deaths moves with younger daughter Hazel to LA to be with the other children. Emma the oldest daughter remains in Arkansas with husband and children.

The family goes west

John Allen Myers

The Myers Children -1925

John Allen

Emma

Ora Edna

Columbus

Jack Oliver

Trudy Hazel Lou

1893-1934

1895-1928*

1897-1967

1899-1927*

1902-1975

1904-1925*

1909-1931*

Life Span

When Mary Myers arrives in LA the heartbreak continues.The children were getting sick and dying randomly.

By 1934 only two were living, Mary lostSix children and a husband within 12 years

Mary Myers and surviving Children

Great.. Mary

My Father Harold

1930 Census

Edna

*HazelJack

Breckenridge to Boyle Heights

1930 Census

1930 Census for Los Angeles County

Mary Myers and family in Los AngelesMary Wills Myers Odessa Will Carr (Niece)

Jack Myers (Son)Edna Magness (Daughter)

ca 1950 Thanksgiving Dinner

* * ***Grandchildren

Mary Myers, 76 years oldEdna Magness, 53 years oldJack Myers, 48 years old

Mary Wills Myers 1874 - 1963

Mary Lou MyersOn Tuesday June 4,1963 Mary Myers dies on a Los Angeles City Bus

……Thank you, slides presented by Rodney Walters