Source: History of Oakland County, by Samuel W. Durant - 1877

Moyers, John

Among the sturdy, well-to-do farmers of Oakland County, the subject of our present sketch takes his place. He is of German parentage, his grandfather, Peter Moyers, being born in Germany, and emigrated therefrom to Maryland, where the father of John Moyers, Henry, and mother, Margaret Clark, were born, the former June 9, 1783. His father, who was a farmer, and blacksmith as well, when a young, man removed to Geneseo, New York, where he remained a few years, and removed thence to Monroe county, New York, and located near East Bush, where John was born May 7, 1819, being the second son in a family of seven sons and a daughter. When John was six years of age his father and family removed to Michigan, where, two years previously, his father had journeyed, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land near Romeo, Macomb county. The family came from East Rush to Buffalo by team, bringing farm utensils and household furniture. From Buffalo to Detroit they came on the steamer "Superior," the second steamer that plowed the lakes, being a tainted at Buffalo three days on account of a heavy gale. At Detroit, the father purchased a yoke of oxen and some cows, and, taking an Indian trail, went to Romeo via Royal Oak and Rochester. The family arrived at their journey's end in June, and a log house was at once rolled up, a little patch of ground cleared off and planted to potatoes, and thus was the home begun in 1825, which the father occupied until hb death, which occurred in his sixty-third year. The mother died in her eighty-second year. John Moyers lived on the old homestead until June 24, 1839, when he removed to Oxford township, Oakland County, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres. At that time the township was almost an unbroken forest, one log house only being then standing in Oxford village ; but from this small banning he has enlarged his possessions, until he owns at the present time six hundred and forty acres, and is the heaviest land holder in the township. His farm, too, is one of the meet productive in the county, and he has frequently raised from one thousand to two thousand bushels of wheat in a single year, all of which he hauled to Pontiac or Detroit previous to the building of the Bay City road. In politico Mr. Moyers was formerly a member of the Whig party, but early became an abolitionist, and was one of the three voters who cast their ballots for James G. Birney in 1840. He is now a member of the Republican party, and has served his township as supervisor several terms. On the 16th day of September, 1851, Mr. Moyers was united in marriage to Miss Eliza, daughter of Joseph and Emily Ferguson, who were pioneers of Oxford, having immigrated to Oakland county in 1835. The fruits of this union have been the following children : Adella J., born October 10, 1852 ; John T., born October 6, 1856 ; John Charles, born February 11, 1859 ; Belle Hortense, horn June 1, 1861 ; and Henry Dayton, born June 3, 1862; all of whom are living except John T., who died November 26, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Moyers are members of the First Christian church of Oxford. Mr. Moyers' education, obtained at schools, was all gained by attending the common schools about four months each year between ten and eighteen years of age, but being of an enterprising and observing nature, his acquirements in the practicalities have been such as to give him sound judgment and practical business abilities, which he has used to good advantage for himself and others. He was largely interested in the construction of the several railroad-routes projected through Oxford, and was a director of the Air-Line railroad, and aided liberally in the construction of the Bay City road, which has given to Oxford much of its prosperity. His attention has also been given to school matters, having been a director or member of the school board of Oxford ever since the school was graded. He has occupied his present home since 1862, and it is with pleasure we present our readers with the portraits of this worthy citizen of Oakland county and his amiable helpmeet.