Short Biography of Israel G. Dyer

Among the men who have lived in Grand Pass township, Saline county, of recent years none have been more popular or better deserved the universal esteem in which they were held than Israel Grant Dyer, for he was a man of the highest principles and while laboring for his own advancement and the comforts of his family, he never lost sight of his duty to his fellow men, but was always doing something for his neighbors out of the altruistic impulses of his noble nature. He was born in Callaway county, Missouri, April 9, 1836, and his useful career was, on March 8,1909, closed by the fate that awaits all mankind. He was the son of John and Eveline (Warren) Dyer, the father a native of Virginia, where he was born in 1792, and his death occurred December 24, 1840. John Dyer was the son of Samuel Dyer, who was born in Bristol, England, October 8, 1756; he came to America in 1770, settled in Virginia and bought five hundred acres of land and at the time of his death he owned more than two thousand acres, an estate which was known as Plain Dealing. He was wealthy and influential in his locality and had served in the Revolutionary war as patriot. His father was John Dyer, who spent his life in England. The death of John Dyer, the father of the subject, which occurred in 1840, was due to cholera. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, namely; Sarah, Helen, Miriam, Emily, Ann, Israel, of this review; Celia and Samuel.

Eveline Warren was born in Kentucky and she came to Callaway county, Missouri, in a very early day. She and her husband were members of the Presbyterian church and highly respected.

Israel G. Dyer was reared to manhood in Callaway county, Missouri, on the home farm, which he worked when he became of proper age, and attended the common schools during the winter months. In the early fifties he made the arduous overland trip to California, experiencing many hardships and adventures. He maintained a stage house for a time, and there several people were killed. After spending some time in the West, he returned to Missouri and married, soon after which he settled on a farm which he purchased in Grand Pass township, Saline county. At that time his land was all wild, but he improved the same, making many important changes. He later sold this and bought the farm on which his family now lives in Grand Pass township; it consists of one hundred ninety-six acres of excellent land which has been well improved and skillfully tilled. At the time of his coming here he had but five hundred dollars, and he hauled the lumber with which to build a house from Miami, many miles away. He erected a modern eight-roomed house and a good barn and made many other extensive changes, developing one of the best farms in the township.

Politically Mr. Dyer was a Democrat and active in party affairs. He was a member of the old-school Presbyterian church and was a deacon and a pillar in the same, taking a great interest in church work.

Mr. Dyer was married in 1870 to Belle Palmore Irvine, who was born in Saline county, Missouri, the daughter of James and Mary E. (Clark) Irvine, the former a native of Rockingham county, and the latter of Augusta county, Virginia, where they grew to maturity and married, coming to Saline county, Missouri, in an early day, making the trip partly by boat and partly on horseback and by wagon. They landed in Saline county, Missouri, in 1838. The Irvine family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The father was a Democrat, a good and successful man, and he and his wife were the parents of eleven children, namely: Mary E., Joseph McDowell, Charles Albert, Robert R., Belle P., widow of Israel G. Dyer, of this review; she and Sarah Ellen were twins; the other two children died in infancy. The father of these children died November 20, 1856, and their mother, who was born in 1818, died March 30, 1882.

Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Israel G. Dyer, namely, Warren Irvine, deceased; Anna B., deceased; Mary Gertrude, wife of Lawrence Winslow and the mother of two children, Henry B. and Mildred; John Houston Dyer married Iona Smitherman; they live near Fairville and are the parents of two children, Israel G. and Virginia Belle; Ernest married Bessie Blackburn, living in Miami township on a farm, and they are the parents of two children, Dorothy and Evelyn Louise; Nelly Myrtle is single and living at home; Royal Homer is single and is a practicing physician in Marshall, Missouri; Emmett P. is a farmer in Miami township; Frank Leslie lives at home and runs the farm of his mother; Helen P. is also a member of the home circle; Emily is also at home and is attending school.

Mrs. Dyer and part of her children live on the home place, surrounded by every comfort and enjoying the respect of all who know them. No family in that part of Saline county is more prominent than the Dyers, and the memory of the late Israel G. Dyer is revered by all, owing to his industrious and honorable life.

Source: "Past and Present of Saline County, Missouri" ¹¹¹⁴⁷