Joseph Michael Hyer 1854-1919

Family of Thomas and Martha Hyer of Covington, Georgia

The pioneer Hyer families found in Orlando directories, histories, and census records were direct descendants of Thomas and Martha Hyer of Covington, Georgia.

The 1860 U.S. Census of Covington, Newton County, Georgia (NARA Series M653, Roll 133, Page 427) shows family of Thomas [Farr] Hyer age 42, wife Martha [Caroline Stewart] age 40, sons: W.S. [William Stewart] age 17, E.F. [Emory Few] age 15, Alex M [Alexander Means] age 13, Th [Thomas] Goodrich age 11, Edward H P [Henry Pringle] age 9, Joseph S age 7, Martha C [Caroline “Aunt Carrie”] age 5, Joseph O A age 1.

The 1870 U.S. Census of Covington, Newton County, Georgia (NARA Series M593, Roll 168, Page 67) shows family of Martha C, Hyer, widow age 49, with children Thomas [Goodrich Hyer] age 20, Edward P [Henry Pringle] age 17, Joseph M [Michael] age 15, Carrie [Martha Caroline] age 12, and Robert L [Lee] age 8.

The 1880 U.S. Census of Covington, Newton County, Georgia (NARA Series T9, Roll 160, ED 100, Sheet 94B, Page 2B) shoes the family of Martha C. Hyer age 59, daughter Carrie age 21, occupation: school teacher and son Robert Lee age 18, occupation: carpenter.

Thomas Farr Hyer Family Bible
Progeny Record of John Henry Hyer Charleston, S.C., Hatabel Hyer, 1971.

Offspring:
1.William Stewart Hyer
2.James Henry Spencer Hyer
3.Emory Few Hyer
4. Alexander Means Hyer[“Doc”]
5.Thomas Goodrich Hyer
6.Edward Pringle Hyer [“Pring”]
7.Joseph Michael Hyer
8.May Susannah Hyer
9.Martha Carolina Hyer [“Auntie”, “Carrie”]
10.James O. Andrew Hyer
11.Robert Lee Hyer [“R.L.”]

Hyer Families in Orlando

The Hyer brothers were Orlando pioneers. Property records at the Orange County Comptroller’s office show that Alexander Means Hyer and his wife Mattie Hyer were in Orlando as early as 1876 when the sold 80 acres in Orange County on March 3rd for $450 dollars; his brother E.P. Hyer acting as a witness. By all accounts the Hyers were upstanding citizens and members of the First Methodist church on Jackson Street or the First Presbyterian Church. That being said, the Saint James Cathedral 1885-1985 centennial publication identifies A. M. [Alexander Means] Hyer and E. P. [Edward Pringle] Hyers [sic] as benefactors who contributed to the construction of church in 1887. A.M. Hyer served as Orlando’s fourth mayor (1879-1880) and R.L. Hyer was active in city government, as well.

Joseph Michael Hyer (25 Nov 1854-9 Sep 1919) and wife Martha E Hyer (1861-8 Nov 1889).Children: Harry (13 Aug 1883-6 Apr 1934); Joseph D. (5 Aug 1888-22 Aug 1889); Estelle Caroline “Essie” (8 Jun 1886-30 Apr 1969). A son, Joseph Duke Hyer died as an infant in August 1889 making one wonder if the baby’s death and Martha’s were connected. Joseph died in Jacksonville, Florida but is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Orlando, Florida.

The 1885 Florida State Census of Orlando, Orange County (FamilySearch.org, film 888971, digital folder 4280074, image 47) shows the family of J. M. Hyer age 30, occupation: farmer, his wife Martha age 23, and his son Henry [Harry] age 2.

According to the 1900 U.S. Census of Covington, Newton County, Georgia (NARA Series T623, Roll 214, ED 92, Sheet 20B, Page 253B) 13 year old Estelle “Essie” Hyer [born 8 June 1886] resides with her Uncle James, Auntie Carrie, and cousins Ethel and Ruth Worsham – probably due to her mother’s death on 8 Nov 1889. The 1900 U.S. Census of Florida shows widowed Joseph Hyer age 46 is listed as farm laborer living in the Conway District of Orange County (NARA Series T623, Roll 175, ED 124, Page 131B, Sheet 3B).

Joe’s son Harry joined the Navy at the age of 15 to fight in the Spanish American War (April 1898). The 1900 U.S. Military and Naval Population Census (NARA Series T623, Roll 1842, Company or Troop 137, Sheet 2C, Page 137C) shows 16 year old Harry (b.13 Aug 1883) on the “U.S.S. New York” in the port of Newport in Rhode Island. The obituary for Joseph M. Hyer published on 11 September 1919 states that Harry had has just received his discharge from the Navy, indicating he served until 1919 which would be 20 years.

The 1910 U.S. Military and Naval Population Census (NARA Series T624, Roll 1784, Page 42A) shows 26 year old Quartermaster 1^st Class Harry Hyer aboard the U.S.S. Des Moines .

The 1920 U.S. Census of Duval County, Florida (NARA Series T625 , Roll 219, ED 81, Page 242A, Sheet 10A) shows Harry – sailor in Naval Reserve – living with sister Estelle age 30, her husband Benjamin Wright age 30, occupation: farm operator and their 1 year 9 month old son. Harry was back in Orlando in 1930, died in 1934 in Duval County and was buried in the family plot at Orlando’s Greenwood Cemetery.

See DOCUMENTS and IMAGES below under Attachments.