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Levi W. Myers is 85
Former Editor and ex-Consul to Observe Anniversary.
Mind Vigorous as of Yore
War Correspondent of 1861 Will Be Guest at Family Gathering Today
Opinions on Past and Present Are Given Freely
Vigorous in mind, and little less so in body, than he was in 1853, when he began newspaper life as an editor; in Illinois, or in 1861 to 1865 as a war correspondent, or in 1890 to 1895, when he was United States Consul at Victoria, B. C..
Levi W. Myers, of Portland, today celebrates his eighty-fifth birthday anniversary.
He will be the honor guest at a family gathering at the home of his son, Oak P, Myers, 681 East Ankeny Street.
"While passing his later years in Portland in retirement, so far as business is concerned, his mind scorns inaction.
With his force as a public speaker many Portland audiences are acquainted.
Mr. Myers has positive views on public questions, and he has always exercised the right to express them.
“I have observed several instances where business men who were free spoken were warned to keep still, or their business would suffer.” he said.
"But they did not .lose business. They prospered. Let no man fear to express, his honest opinions.
One of the glories of my life is that so many of the reforms I advocated in early years have been partly or completely triumphant.”
Abolition Teachings Adopted Early
Born on a farm in Wayne County, Indiana, July 15, 1830, the son of Colonel Andrew Myers, he was taken by the family migration to Mercer County, Illinois, six years later, and there grew to manhood, attending Knox College at Galesburg: for two years.
He early adopted abolition teachings and in 1853 took editorial charge of the Golden Age at New Boston, Illinois, a town on the Mississippi River surveyed and platted by Abraham Lincoln.
While conducting this paper he was threatened with hanging because of his anti slavery views.
In 1856 Mr. Myers was the only delegate from Mercer County to the historic Bloomington convention, preceding the nomination of Fremont for President, in which the great figures were:
Governor Yates O. H. Browning Abraham Lincoln Owen Lovejoy
Consulship at Victoria Held
In 1861 he went to St. Louis and began work as a reporter on the Democrat, and among other assignments re ported the return of General Fremont when the latter was relieved from command in Southwest Missouri.
He was the only newspaper man present at the battle of Fredericktown, Missouri, on October 31, 1861.
Next he went to Cairo, Illinois, for the St. Louis Dispatch.
Returning to St, Louis because of his health Mr. Myers acted as financial and commercial editor of the Dispatch until the close of the war.
Then he went to Wapello, Iowa, to edit a newspaper of his own.
He was there 24 years. He was made Consul at Victoria, B. C, and sold out his Iowa interests.
Returning East from Victoria in 1895 Mr. Myers was badly injured in a railroad wreck.
In 1898 he came to Portland, residing with his only son, Oak P. Myers.
His wife died nine years ago, after a married life of 52 years.
Oregonian – July 15, 1915
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