Jackson County, Ohio

History of Byer

By Mrs. H.E. Walsh

This community was settled by several families of Byers. We have no date as to when the first families came here. The first date we have was 1851 when the first railroad was built, that is the B & O. Byer post office was established in 1871. W. H. Connery became post master under President Benjamin Harrison in 1889 and to the date 1928 he has served longer than any post master in Ohio. Byer post office was discontinued May 28, 1858. Eight passenger trains stopper here daily, four going each way; also seven mail trains brought mail each day. These were on the B & O and the CH & D roads.

Byer was known as the town of Ellsworth and is so listed on county records. The post office has always been Byer; the railroad station as Byers. There are two additions, the Rawlins addition and the Scully addition. Main Street is the dividing line.

Our village has been called "Mud Town" and at one time that was appropriate. Byer was a busy little town with three stores, two churches, a school house; at one time two doctors, a broom factory and blacksmith shop. Before my time there were two saloons, a Catholic Church and I can recall three millinery stores at different times; also a livery stable.

The following doctors have cared for the sick here: Dr. Stires, Dr. Williams, Dr. Black, Dr. Ray, Dr. Burrett and Dr. Ice. There were five secret organizations in Byer. John Cozad, Fred Groves, Vernor Bell had huckster routes out of Byer. Many of us remember that many men worked in the timber to earn a living. Railroad ties, bank props and caps were loaded on freight cars and shipped away. The railroad also employed a number of men. Another industry was " Nebraska and Ohio Coal Co." known as the "Neb. & O." So on Sept. 15, 1895, a meeting was called and declared their credit could not survive.

The first school house we have any history of was later the home of the late Mr. and Mrs. Cleet Ray or the late George and Mayme Harper. This also served as the Methodist church. The next building we can all remember. Now it is the store and dwelling of Mr. and Mrs Ray Hamilton.

On Saturday, May 7, 1938 a fire destroyed both churches, a dwelling and store building. Two years later this church where we are now assembled was built and so we have tried to give you a glimpse of Byer of yesterday. Byer has been a prosperous little village and folks like to come back---for here the sun shines just a little brighter, the breeze blows just a little softer---and when rain comes, it's just a little more gentle, and it's easier to wear a smile here, than most any where in the wide, wide world.