Born in Richland County, Wisconsin, December 25, 1856. He was the son of Andrew C. and Mary (Holwell) Byers, natives of the State of Pennsylvania. The parents removed from Wisconsin to Hancock County, Iowa, when he was a lad of fourteen years. There he obtained the education afforded by the public schools. In 1886, he began the reading of law with Macy & Gammon, and in 1888 he was admitted to the bar at Des Moines, Iowa. He was well read in law for a man of his age, and was very successful in his practice. Mr. Byers was married in May, 1882, to Miss Mary J., daughter of James and Mary (Wyland) Winegar. Mr. Byers’ political convictions find expression in the Republican Party, which he zealously supports. He represented Shelby County in the Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth and Twenty-eighth Iowa General Assemblies. In 1896, he was elected Speaker of the House, with all other candidates withdrawing several days before the caucus was held, leaving him a clear field, and he was unanimously nominated. He presided over the House during that trying session and during the long extra session of 1897, which revised the code, and came out of it with a larger measure of popularity and public esteem than he enjoyed when he was elected. Mr. Byers has twice been a candidate for the Republican nomination for Congress in the Ninth Congressional district, in 1896 and 1898. The last convention was deadlocked for nine days and Mr. Byers was the leading candidate, but was finally overcome by a combination of other candidates. In 1899, he was again persuaded to return to the House, largely in the interest of his friend, A. B. Cummins, who was then a candidate for United States Senator. Mr. Byers again overcame an adverse majority in Shelby County, which had two years before sent a Democrat to the Legislature. He was one of the leaders in the Legislature, respected and admired by men of all factions and all parties. He came out of the session with the friendship of every one.

Born in Richland County, Wisconsin, December 25, 1856. He was the son of Andrew C. and Mary (Holwell) Byers, natives of the State of Pennsylvania. The parents removed from Wisconsin to Hancock County, Iowa, when he was a lad of fourteen years. There he obtained the education afforded by the public schools. In 1886, he began the reading of law with Macy & Gammon, and in 1888 he was admitted to the bar at Des Moines, Iowa. He was well read in law for a man of his age, and was very successful in his practice. Mr. Byers was married in May, 1882, to Miss Mary J., daughter of James and Mary (Wyland) Winegar. Mr. Byers’ political convictions find expression in the Republican Party, which he zealously supports. He represented Shelby County in the Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth and Twenty-eighth Iowa General Assemblies. In 1896, he was elected Speaker of the House, with all other candidates withdrawing several days before the caucus was held, leaving him a clear field, and he was unanimously nominated. He presided over the House during that trying session and during the long extra session of 1897, which revised the code, and came out of it with a larger measure of popularity and public esteem than he enjoyed when he was elected. Mr. Byers has twice been a candidate for the Republican nomination for Congress in the Ninth Congressional district, in 1896 and 1898. The last convention was deadlocked for nine days and Mr. Byers was the leading candidate, but was finally overcome by a combination of other candidates. In 1899, he was again persuaded to return to the House, largely in the interest of his friend, A. B. Cummins, who was then a candidate for United States Senator. Mr. Byers again overcame an adverse majority in Shelby County, which had two years before sent a Democrat to the Legislature. He was one of the leaders in the Legislature, respected and admired by men of all factions and all parties. He came out of the session with the friendship of every one.

Born in Richland County, Wisconsin, December 25, 1856. He was the son of Andrew C. and Mary (Holwell) Byers, natives of the State of Pennsylvania. The parents removed from Wisconsin to Hancock County, Iowa, when he was a lad of fourteen years. There he obtained the education afforded by the public schools. In 1886, he began the reading of law with Macy & Gammon, and in 1888 he was admitted to the bar at Des Moines, Iowa. He was well read in law for a man of his age, and was very successful in his practice. Mr. Byers was married in May, 1882, to Miss Mary J., daughter of James and Mary (Wyland) Winegar. Mr. Byers’ political convictions find expression in the Republican Party, which he zealously supports. He represented Shelby County in the Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth and Twenty-eighth Iowa General Assemblies. In 1896, he was elected Speaker of the House, with all other candidates withdrawing several days before the caucus was held, leaving him a clear field, and he was unanimously nominated. He presided over the House during that trying session and during the long extra session of 1897, which revised the code, and came out of it with a larger measure of popularity and public esteem than he enjoyed when he was elected. Mr. Byers has twice been a candidate for the Republican nomination for Congress in the Ninth Congressional district, in 1896 and 1898. The last convention was deadlocked for nine days and Mr. Byers was the leading candidate, but was finally overcome by a combination of other candidates. In 1899, he was again persuaded to return to the House, largely in the interest of his friend, A. B. Cummins, who was then a candidate for United States Senator. Mr. Byers again overcame an adverse majority in Shelby County, which had two years before sent a Democrat to the Legislature. He was one of the leaders in the Legislature, respected and admired by men of all factions and all parties. He came out of the session with the friendship of every one.