Myers, Leonard, 1827-1905

<p>Leonard Myers, grandfather of Bert Bell and great grandfather of Upton Bell, was born in Attleboro (now Langhorne), Bucks County, PA, on November 13, 1827. He went on to serve six terms in the House of Representatives from 1863 to 1875.</p>

<p>He attended private academic schools and the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, though perhaps not completing his degree. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1848 and practiced in Philadelphia, PA. Myers held local offices and was a major of the Ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia in 1862.</p>

<p>Myers was elected as a Republican to Congress from 1863 to 1869. In 1869 he successfully contested the election of John Moffet, much to the bitterness of Moffet's supporters. He continued to serve from 1869 to 1875. He was chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Committee on Patents, and the Committee on Private Land Claims. Myers was an abolitionist and among the faction of "Radical Republicans" led by Ulysses S. Grant that opposed giving southern states access to power during Reconstruction. In 1874 he was defeated for reelection, the same year that Democrats took the majority in Congress. He then resumed his legal practice in Philadelphia. He died on February 11, 1905 and was interred in De Benneville family cemetery.</p>

<p>Leonard Myers (November 13, 1827 – February 11, 1905) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania during the American Civil War and the early years of Reconstruction.</p>

<p>Leonard Myers was born in Attleboro, Pennsylvania (now Langhorne, Pennsylvania). He attended the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia and studied law, but did not earn a degree.</p>

<p>He was major of the Ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, during the emergency service of September 1862 when Pennsylvania felt threatened by Robert E. Lee during the Maryland Campaign.</p>

<p>He was elected to Congress as a Republican in 1862. He successfully contested the election of John Moffet to the 41st Congress. He was reelected in 1868 and served until March 3, 1875. He served as Chairman of the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs (42nd United States Congress), United States House Committee on Patents (42nd Congress), and United States House Committee on Private Land Claims (43rd United States Congress). He was defeated in 1874.</p>

Family<br>
<li>Grandson John C. Bell, Jr. 1892-1974</li>
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Information Links<br>
Races<br>
<ul>
<li>11/03/1874 PA District 5 Lost 28.17% (-9.85%)</li>
<li>10/08/1872 PA District 03 Won 59.44% (+18.87%)</li>
<li>10/11/1870 PA District 03 Won 53.63% (+7.27%)</li>
<li>04/09/1869 PA District 03 - Recount Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>10/13/1868 PA District 03 Lost 49.77% (-0.46%)</li>
<li>10/09/1866 PA District 03 Won 52.09% (+4.18%)</li>
<li>10/10/1864 PA District 03 Won 53.44% (+6.87%)</li>
<li>10/14/1862 PA District 03 Won 50.13% (+0.25%)</li>
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MYERS, Leonard, a Representative from Pennsylvania; born in Attleboro (now Langhorne), Bucks County, Pa., on November 13, 1827; attended private academic schools and the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1848 and practiced in Philadelphia, Pa.; held local offices; major of the Ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, during the emergency service of September 1862; elected as a Republican to the Thirty-eighth, Thirty-ninth, and Fortieth Congresses (March 4, 1863-March 3, 1869); successfully contested the election of John Moffet to the Forty-first Congress; reelected to the Forty-second and Forty-third Congresses and served from April 9, 1869, to March 3, 1875; chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs (Forty-second Congress), Committee on Patents (Forty-second Congress), Committee on Private Land Claims (Forty-third Congress); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1874; resumed the practice of law; died in Philadelphia, Pa., February 11, 1905; interment in De Benneville family cemetery.