Philander J. Myers

Philander J. Myers was born on October 5, 1844, in New York, the son of Henry S. (b. 1812) and Eliza (b. 1812).

Philander’s parents were both born in New york and presumably married there, probably sometime before 1834; in any case they resided in New York for many years. Henry eventually took his family and moved west, settling in Michigan. By 1860 Philander was attending school, living with his family and working for Thomas Shtoft in Hastings, Barry County.

He was 16 years old and probably still living in Barry County when he enlisted in Company D on May 13, 1861. He was admitted to E Street hospital in Washington, DC, on November 15 where he remained through at least early December. In August of 1862 he was reported as an officer’s waiter, and on January 18, 1863, he was transferred to the Third United States artillery at Camp Pitcher, Virginia.

After the war Philander returned to Michigan, eventually settling back into Barry County.

He was married to New York native Eunice (b. 1846).

By 1870 he was working as a farmer and living with his wife in Hastings, Barry County; his brother John and father Henry both lived near by.

In 1867 he applied for a pension (no. 126846) based on his service in the U.S. artillery.

Philander died of “lung fever” on May 8, 1877, probably in Hastings. He was buried on May 11 in Riverside cemetery, Hastings: block A-west, “free ground,” lot no. 60. (Two other individuals apparently share the same lot with him: Nellie, died at the age of 12 in 1871, and Donald died in 1910 at the age of 1 week.)