The farm is located on section 15, Verona
Township, and for the beautiful and
appropriate buildings, and the careful attention which has made the place noted,
much credit is due the subject of this sketch. He took charge of the farm 25 March 1879, and at that date the
buildings were old, dilapidated and inadequate, and lacking in and out of
doors, needed facilities for providing proper care for the inmates. These unfortunate
persons were kept in miserable outbuildings, as if their added misfortune was
one for which they should be punished; in fact the whole place presented the
appearance of a neglected old locality to be shunned.
Immediately upon taking charge, Mr. and Mrs. MEYERS set to
work clearing up both house and buildings, and before long all was remodeled
and enlarged. In 1882 an asylum for the chronically insane was built, and on 24 March 1883, this large, handsome
and conveniently arranged structure, costing $35,000, was ready to receive
inmates. Here 100 persons can be well cared for. For several years this place
was well filled by unfortunates from other Wisconsin counties* which had no
suitable place in which to care for them, but at present there are 108 inmates,
105 of whom belong to Dane County. [* One WI county history records an early
solution some counties used to solve the problem of caring for and supporting
unfortunates: giving them a ride to the next county.]
The poor house has an average of sixty inmates, and all are
comfortably cared for. Mr. MEYERS is one of those men who are built on a broad
gauge, his sympathy and kindness of heart being tempered with firmness and good
judgment. He has introduced many reforms in the institution, one of these being
the opening of the doors of the asylum during all hours of the day, so that the
inmates can in and out at will. Many thought that this would not be feasible,
but he has long ago proven to doubters the great benefit derived from such
liberties, and it is now done in many institutions of the kind. Mr. MEYERS is a
thorough business man, his books are carefully kept, and he has always received
the highest encomiums from the county [p 143] officers and the State Board of
Charities. The poor farm contains 331 acres of land with 120 more of timber
land. The poor house is heated by hot water and the asylum by hot air.
Jesse S Meyers was born in Northampton
County, Pennsylvania, 06 Feb 1843, a son of John Meyers and Deborah (Flick) Meyers, also natives of that county. The family came to Wisconsin
in 1847, and settled in the township
of Verona [Dane
County], where the father entered
200 acres of land. Here he [John MEYERS] pursued farming until a few years
prior to his death, when he removed to Verona
village, where he lived a retired life until his death, 30 June 1865, at the age of fifty-eight . The
mother is still living in Verona
village.They [John and Deborah (FLICK) MEYERS] had eleven children, eight of whom attained maturity: Aaron J Meyers, Reuben J Meyers, Caroline Longstreet, Jesse S. (our subject), and Barbara E Myers Gordon, all of whom live in Verona [Dane County, WI]; Lydia Meyers Pitman, now Mrs. George W Pitman, who lives in Madison [Dane County, WI]; Hanetta, now Mrs. George PEHLE, who lives in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and Johnson Meyers, now deceased. [The three children who did not attain maturity are not named.]
Jesse S Meyers was only four years of age when the family
came to Wisconsin. He passed his
early life on the home farm, and the first school that he attended stood on the
present site of the poor farm. He attended a district school and spent a short
time at the State University,
but discontinued his studies on account of ill health. He enlisted in the late
war on 14 August 1862, and
was mustered into service in Company I, 23rd Wisconsin Volunteers, with the
rank of Sergeant. From Camp Randall [in Madison, Dane County, WI] he went
South, and participated in the first attack on Vicksburg, after which followed
the battles at Arkansas Post, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, and Black River
bridge, the siege of Vicksburg, and the engagements at Jackson, MS, and Jackson,
LA, and Carrion Corow bayou, interspersed with numerous marches and skirmishes.
At the last fight he was taken prisoner, and was held two months at Alexandria,
when in May 1864 he was exchanged. He then rejoined his command, with which he
continued until the last fight at Spanish Fort and Fort
Blakely, AL.
After the war Mr. MEYERS returned to his home in Verona
[Dane County, WI], after a three years' faithful army service, and found that
the father whom he had left mourning the departure of a son three years before,
had died and been buried two weeks prior to his arrival from the war. He at
once stepped into the place made vacant by his father, until business and other
matters, late in progress, were straightened up. He then engaged in farming, carpenter
work, and teaching, attempting by his efforts to gain for himself a university
education, in which he failed on account of ill health.
He [Jesse S. MEYERS] was married 30 June 1873 to Adelaide M. SHULTS, daughter of
Daniel and Louisa (SANFORD) SHULTS.
His wife was born near Terre Haute [Vigo
County], Indiana,
03 Sep 1850. On 25 Mar 1879 he received his appointment
as Overseer of the Dane County Poor House and Farm, and in the spring of 1883
was also appointed Superintendent of the Dane
County Asylum. During the time of
service in these institutions, Jesse S. and Adelaide
M. (SHULTS) MEYERS had born to them two children: Jessie Josephine Meyers, who died when
ten months old; and Idella May, now nine years of age.
Jesse S. MEYERS has a farm of 240 acres, well improved, on
which he expects to raise horses. Politically he is a Prohibitionist, and has
always been independent. Socially he is a member of Sylvester Wheeler Post No.
75, G. A. R. In religion he is a Baptist, and [p 144] has always been
interested in church and Sunday school work, of which latter he has been
Superintendent for many years. In all the various walks of life Mr. MEYERS has
always been characterized by integrity, fidelity, and capability, and justly
enjoys the favorable regard of his fellow men.
Biographical Review of Dane County,
WI.
Chicago:
Biographical Review Pub. Co. 1893, Vol I, pp 142-144
