A. M. Byers, deceased, one of the pioneer settlers of Navarro County, was born in the State of Alabama [some sources claim York Co. SC].  He received only a limited education, and came to Corsicana, Texas, in 1847, where he was the first merchant of the place.  He hauled his goods from Houston in a wagon and did a profitable business until the opening of the late war.  He owned most of the land on which Corsicana now stands.  In 1859 he sold his interests in this city and moved to Mount Pisgah, where he opened the first store, but lost heavily during the war, having at one time lost his sore by fire and also suffered from the depredations of the cowboys.  While a resident of Corsicana, James Kerr of this city was in his employ a number of years.  After the close of hostilities, Mr. Byers added farming to his mercantile interests, owning a fine farm of 250 acres, where he also followed stock-raising.  He was a prominent member of the Masonic order of Corsicana, and was a man much loved by the people of the county.  After selling his home at Mount Pisgah, he died in this county on his way to Carroll county. He was three times married, first to Mary Millard, a native of Alabama, and they had two children; J. E., our subject and Bettie, deceased, who was the wife of George Tankersley.  The mother died in 1846, and in 1850 [14 MAR 1849] Mr. Byers married Nancy Kemp, and after her death he married Fannie White [Frances E. White m. 10 Aug 1862 in Navarro Co. TX].  Two children were born to this union, Lerna, deceased and Leora, married.

J. E. Byers was born in Red River county Texas, in 1845, and at the age of seventeen years he joined Captain Melton's company, and served with his brigade at Velasco.  He was then transferred to Captain Brown's battalion and while serving on the coast, participated in several skirmishes.  He was next transferred to Mosley's Light Artillery, and took part in in the battles of Mansfield, yellow Bayou, Pleasant Hill and in all the engagements fought by Banks while making his celebrated raid up Red river to Shreveport.  Mr. Byers was then discharged from the Confederate service, and after returning home, engaged in the stock business, in buying and riving to Shreveport and New Orleans.  Ten years later he began agricultural pursuits, and now owns a farm of 200 acres, 100 acres of which are under a fine state of cultivation, with splendid residence, outbuilding, etc.  in 1889 Mr. Byers embarked in business in Wortham, which in connection with his farm, he has since successfully conducted.

Our subject was united in marriage in 1865, with Miss Mary F. Nash, [daughter of Eleazer & Sarah Logan (Nesbitt) Nash] a native of this county, and a sister of H. C. Nash [Henry Claude Nash]; also a half-sister of Captain C. Fouty [Clinton Fouty], the histories of whom will be found in this work.  Mrs. Byers is one of the eldest ladies now living, who was born in Navarro County.  Our subject and wife have ten children, seven of whom still survives: Zora, wife of Benton Bates, a farmer of Freestone county; Victoria, now Mrs. David Strickle, of Navarro County; Lee, Edgar, Nora and Henry.

Notes:

• Text in Green added by Ed Williams
• See also Ancestry.com entry for Adam Meek Byers