Los Angeles County
Biographies
JOHN HENRY
WILBERT MYERS
MYERS, JOHN HENRY WILBERT,
Capitalist, Los Angeles, California, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania,
January 27, 1874, the son of E. H. Myers and Amelia S. (Landwer)
Myers. He married Lillian Robertson on Pittsburg, February 2, 1897, and to them
there has been born a daughter, Laura Irene Myers.
Mr. Myers, who is descended
of an old Pennsylvania family, received the early part of his education in the
public schools of Pittsburg, later attending Shadyside Academy, of the same
city, and Hiram College, at Hiram, Ohio. At the latter institution he earned a
reputation as one of the greatest all-round athletes the college had ever
boasted, and was one of the active factors in the development of athletics at
the institution. He played on both the varsity football and baseball teams.
Following the completion of
his studies at Hiram, Mr. Myers returned to Pittsburg and became associated in
business with his father, who was one of the substantial business men of the
city and a veteran pork packer. The firm was known as E. H. Myers & Co.,
and for about ten years, or until 1902, Mr. Myers aided his father in the
conduct of the business. He worked in various capacities and, learning the
business, was finally given a responsible position in the managerial end of the
company.
In 1902, Mr. Myers, who had
been a keen observer of the trend of realty values in Pittsburg, resigned his
connection with the packing company of his father and went into the real estate
business, having his main offices in Pittsburg. He was
one of the successful operators there for about four years, but in 1906 sold
out his interests in the city of his birth because of the illness of his little
daughter, and determined to move to the balmy climate of Southern California in
order to rebuild her health. He arrived in Los Angeles in March, and after
locating his family, entered the employ of the Llewellyn Iron Works of Los
Angeles, with whom he remained for nearly three years.
As in Pittsburg, Mr. Myers
observed business conditions and opportunities very closely during this first
period of his residence in Los Angeles and finally decided that the oil
business promised the greatest opportunity for investment. He resigned his
position with the Llewellyn Iron Works and entered into the oil refining
business as one of the organizers of the United Oil Refinery Company of Los
Angeles. He was elected Vice President of the company and was one of the active
managers of its affairs. He continued as such for nearly three years, but sold
out his interest in May, 1992, and since that time has been engaged in general
investment enterprises. Among other interests he holds stock in various oil and
mining properties which attracted his attention in Arizona and Mexico.
There is and will be for
ages to come a tremendous amount of development work going on in the
Southwestern part of the United States, but there also is a vast amount of
virgin territory consisting of copper, gold, oil and other mineral products.
Capitalists in all parts of the United States and even in foreign countries
will be turning their attention constantly to this territory and it will be one
of the most prosperous and thriving sections, from an industrial standpoint, in
the entire Union. Mr. Myers, like these others, realizes that the country
possesses untold wealth which has remained untouched through the centuries and
it is his intention to do his part in helping to develop the resources of the
land.
Though comparatively a very
young man, Mr. Myers has a wide knowledge and experience and is employing them
to the best advantage for himself and associates.
He is a member of several
of the leading clubs, including the Jonathan and the Los Angeles Country Club.
He also is a member of the B. P. O. Elks, L. A. Lodge No. 99.
Transcribed
3-26-11 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 614, International News Service, New York, Chicago, San
Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta.
1913.
© 2011 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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