David Myers

David Myers, the youngest of William Myers and Flora's ten children, was born in Kentucky after his parents moved there from Virginia. He married Letitia Reddish in 1820, moved with her to Indiana in 1829 and to Illinois in 1831, and became a well-established Baptist preacher. In 1843 he was ordained at Taylor's Creek Church in Jersey County, Illinois. Drawn by the prospect of free land in Texas, David and Letitia traveled south with their children and grandchildren and crossed the Red River into Texas on Christmas Eve, 1845. They settled on a land grant in Peters Colony 12 miles northwest of present-day Dallas. Myers soon became a religious leader in the pioneer settlements there and on May 10, 1846, organized Union Baptist Church, the earliest continuing Baptist congregation in Dallas County. He served Union Baptist Church until his death and helped establish other churches in the area, including Bethel, Rowlett Creek, Liberty, and Lonesome Dove. He died of pneumonia after exposure to cold rain while returning home from preaching in Collin County.

Farmers Branch, Texas · United States