The Washington bee., 1897-08-07

George A. Myers was born i'll Balti-
more Md, on March 5th 1859, of Isaac
and Emma V. Myers, being the eld-
est of the children, after the death OF
his mother, who died in June 1869, he
was sent to Providence R. |. where he
attended the public schools, living
with Rev, !. H. w. Burley (now de-
ceased) from Providence he went to
Lincoln University, Chester Co., Pa.
where he entered the Preparatory
Dept. Being too young to take the
collegiate course, he was sent TO
Washington, D. c. where he attended
the Bowen school under Miss Briggs
and the John F. Cook school under
Miss Emma V. Brown. Upon the
second marriage of his father Isaac
Myers to Miss Sarah E. Deaver, he
returned to Baltimore and entered the
public schools, and he was one of the
first to gain admission to the first col
ored grammer school given to the col
ored children in Baltimore. After 60
| ing through the grammer school and
being unable to gain admission to the
Baltimore city college by reason of his
color, he returned to Washington
and entered the employ of the vener-
able Thomas James to learn the trade
of "house and sign painter" the
| business not agreeing with his health,
he returned to Baltimore and learned
the trade Of a barber, much against
his fathers will, who desired to enter
him at Cornell College. In 1879 young
Myers came to Cleveland and entered
the employ of Mr.. ]. E. Benson at the
Weddell House Barber Shop, where he
worked steady for nine years, as fore
man. In Sept 1888 Myers opened the
"Hollendon Hotel Barber Shop" and
through wise and judicious manage
ment, has made it, not only one Of the
largest, but best equipped barber
shops in the United States and second
to none giving employment to elgh-
| teen hands etc. and, incidentally,
furnishing support to about fifty per-
| sons
George A. Myers like his noble
scion" is a born politician and organi-
zer and from his advent in Cleveland
has been a factor in city, county and
state politics. He has stood always
ready to assist, never asking place,
except as a delegate to some conven-
ton, or something purely honory IN its
nature. 1t is an undeniable fact that,
he has secured more recognition for
his race than any other one man in
northern Ohio and perhaps in the
state. He considers the success of his
party and the welfare of his people his
greatest reward.
George A. Myers first came into
National prominence when he was
elected an alternate to the Minneapo-
| lis National Republican Convention
Through the enforced absence of Col.
Louis Black, the delegate, Myers
served as delegate and represented
the 2Ist Ohio Congressional Dist and
he it was who saved the Sherman Nc
Kinley contingent from defeat in their
selection Of the National Committee
man from Ohio. His vote it was that
elected VIM. NJ. Hahn as the recently
appointed u. s. MARSHALL for the Dis
trict of Columbia) as committeeman at
that time. So honorable was he, so
true to all his promises that he earned
the lasting good will of those under
whose banner he fought and the res
pect Of those to whom he was oppos.
ed" He was elected as one of the
two Delegates-at-Large to represent
Cuyahoga Co. at the GAINESVILLE State
Convention Oune ISos) that nominated
Gen. A. S. Bushnell for Governor of
! Ohio. 1t was great honor, and he
| bore il with the becoming modesty
that has been so instrumental in as
sisting him to reach his present high
status in politics.
when Hon. M. A Hanna sought
| for men to 60 TO St. Louis, in whose
| hands the interests of Maj. Mckinley
would be safe, he chose Bishop Arnett
and George A. Myers; and the direc-
ton Of his interests among our people
were almost entirely given into their
hands, what they said went, as such
men as Hon. lanes Hill of Miss. Hon.
Henry Demas and Hon. J. Madison
Vance of La. Hon. Robt. Smalls of S
c. Hon, B. K. Bruce and scores Of
others can testify" Myers organized
the Ohio Colored Delegation, o.
which he was the Treasurer and Bish
op Arnett the chairman, which render
ed such yeoman services to Major
Mckinley at the ST. Louis Convention
He was also the Chairman of the En-
tertainment Committee of the colorec
delegates at St. Louis and many foo
sore and weary traveller was rejuve
mated through the hospitality of thi:
committee His work at St. Loui:
will never be fully known; will per
haps never be justly appreciated by
his people, yet Major Mckinley came
personally to thank him for his effort:
in his behalf at ST. Louis and inquired
what he could do for him to further
show his appreciation. MIR. Myers in
formed him there was no Office he
desired, nor was there any office within
his gift that could tempt him to give up
his business. Myers is no mushroom
! politician. He is no novice. He is Z
man of the people and for his people
and by common consent is looked up
on, today, as the one deserving of the
greatest respect and confidence from
those who were directly benefited by
the result of the recent (nationaD cleo
ton. Had we few more such as he
in Ohio politics we would have less
noise, more representation and more
appreciable work" Geo. A. Myers
is the President of the Western Re.
serve Club of Cleveland, which at.
tracted national attention by appoint
ing committee of three consisting OF
Rev. w. T. Anderson, Hon. VIM. H.
Clifford and Frank Lee who waited
on President Mckinley, while he was
in Cleveland preparing his Inaugural