Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Myers, George Louis |
Othernames |
George Meyer/Meyers ? (he signed a couple of his folk art pieces this way) |
Born |
Apr. 13, 1897 |
Birthplace |
Sullivan Township, Grey County |
Places of residence |
Sullivan Township, Grey County Brant Township, Bruce County Hanover, Grey County Walkerton, Ontario |
Father |
Henry Myers |
Mother |
Augusta Myers (nee Drew) |
Nationality |
Canadian |
Education |
Batterman's School (Sullivan Township) |
Notes |
George Louis Myers was a farmer when he was young. Later in life, after he retired from farming he moved to Hanover, Grey County. In 1956, he began to make a collection of wood carvings that depicted old-fashioned vehicles and equipment. He also did a few building models, including one of St. Matthews Lutheran Church (of Hanover, and one of St. Peter's Lutheran Church (Sullivan Township). He also did a model of his former farmhouse. George and Hilda Myers lived at 482 - 17 Ave., in Hanover, Ontario. His obituary reads: GEORGE MYERS George Louis Myers, 88, of Brucelea Haven, Walkerton, and formerly of Hanover and Brant Township died Sunday, June 30, 1985 at the County of Bruce General Hospital, Walkerton. He was born in Sullivan Township, son of the late Henry Myers and the former Augusta Drew. He is survived by his wife, the former Hilda Gateman, daughter-in-law Joyce Myers of Hanover, and one brother, Bill, of Cambridge. He was predeceased by one son, Maurice, and one daughter in infancy, and five brothers Ed, John, Herb, Norman, and Steve, and one sister, Lydia Glasser. The family received friends at the Mighton Funeral Home, 123 10th Street, Hanover. The service was held at First St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Hanover on Wednesday July 3, 1985, Rev. Tom Zumbrock officiated. Interment was in Hanover Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jerry and Jim Gateman both of RR#3 Chesley, Don Gateman of RR#3 Elmwood, Paul Schmidt, Carl Frook both of Hanover and Calvin Frook of RR#1 Elmwood and Allan Engel of RR#1 Elmwood. Memorial donations to the Lutheran Hour would be gratefully acknowledged as expressions of sympathy". Mrs. Susan Haig recalls that her father, John Vetter, was a friend of Maurice Myers, and also a friend of Mr. and Mrs. George Myers and often visited. She says that Mr. Myers did not begin carving until after he moved to Hanover. She remembers that there was a newspaper article in the Hanover paper that mentioned his carving work. Unfortunately, the date is not on the clipping: "Woodcarving Can be a Rewarding Hobby" George Meyers, now a resident of Chateau Gardens, Hanover, farmed in Brant Township for many years before retiring in 1956. After moving to Hanover, he found time hanging heavy on his hands. "I didn't want to just sit around doing nothing", he says. After giving the matter a lot of thought, he decided that woodworking was a hobby that would suit him very well. Although woodcarving was new to him, he taught himself, learning by trial and error. He also made most of his own tools and machinery, buying the rest. An excellent example of his handiwork is a perfect replica of First St. Matthew's Church, Hanover, complete with tiny pews and altar. The replica was placed in the church and is still there for all to see and admire. He also made a similar replica of St. Peter's Church, Sullivan. Much of the inspiration for his woodcarvings has come from the years he spent working the land. He has made working models of all kinds of farm machinery and equipment, installing miniature motors in threshing machines, separators, tractors, mills, steam engines and other farm-related implements. Other woodcarvings include model farms complete with barns, houses, horses, oxen, cattle, pigs and other farm animals, even tiny wooden people appropriately clothed in country-style garb. One of his masterpieces is a carved replica of his farmhouse. Until three or four years ago, he exhibited his work at fall fairs in Hanover, Durham, Walkerton, Ayton, Port Elgin, Southampton, Tiverton, Lucknow and other centres in the area. Mr. Meyers and his wife, the former Joyce Corlett [NOTE: THE REPORTER MADE A MISTAKE, JOYCE IS HIS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, it should read Hilda W. Gateman instead], moved to Chateau Gardens a couple of years ago. Mr. Meyers, confined to a wheelchair now, has finally given up his hobby, but some of his woodcarvings are displayed in his livingroom, reminders of many happy hours spent creating them." We were not able to find his birth registration, but the 1901 census provides his date of birth as April 13, 1897. In 1901, the Henry Myers family farmed at Lot 17, Concession 4, Sullivan Township. Henry Myers was 29 years old, and was of Germanic background. He was born Nov. 20, 1871 in Ontario. His wife Augusta was born on July 25, 1872 and her parents were German-born and apparently emigrated in 1868. She was 28 years old in 1901. In addition to George, the family then included Edward (b. Feb 1899) and John A. Myers (b. May 22, 1900). In the 1911 Census of Sullivan, Henry & Augusta's family included: George (age 14), Edward (age 12), John (age 11), Norman (age 9), William (age 6), Lydia (age 5), and Harvey (age 3). When he was 21 years old, George was among the farmers who were conscripted (drafted) in the last year of the Great War. He was signed up in May, 1918, at Toronto. His M. S.A. regimental number was 3038852. His next-of-kin was his mother, Augusta, so his father was likely deceased by then. Their address was RR#2, Chatsworth, Ontario. More research is needed to find out what military unit George served with. THE HISTORY OF SULLIVAN TOWNSHIP book of 1975 spells his name as Meyers: "George Meyers, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry Meyers was born on Con. 2, Sullivan, across from where the Fish Hatchery is now. Later they moved to Con. 4, where he attended Batterman's school. During World War 1 he served overseas and when he returned he married Hilda Gateman of Bentinck and farmed in Bentinck and Brant townships until he was injured in a tractor accident. In 1966 he was forced to retire from farming and they moved to Hanover. As George found the time long, he started wood carving as a hobby. Much of his time is now spent in a wheelchair but he is still able to enjoy his work. George is in great demand to display his exhibits at Craft Shows and Fall Fairs in the surrounding district. He has carved horses, oxen, covered wagons, all types of farm implements, St. Peter's Lutheran Church and Educational Building in Sullivan and at present is working on one of the Hanover churches. In June 1974, Mr. and Mrs. Meyers celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary." |
Occupation |
Farmer Woodcarver / Folk Artist WW#1 veteran |
Publications |
-HANOVER POST, (date not present on the clipping) "Woodcarving Can Be a Rewarding Hobby", by Isabel Oehm. -THE HISTORY OF SULLIVAN TOWNSHIP 1850-1975, pp. 404-405 |
Relationships |
In-laws: John Gateman and Caroline Gateman (nee Beeman) of Bentinck Township |
Role |
Artist |
Spouse |
Hilda W. Gateman, m. 19__ |
Children |
Maurice H. Myers (married E. Joyce Corlett ). Maurice died as a result of a fire at the Hanover furniture plant in 1969. A daughter who died in infancy |
