Major O. G. Myhre Grant County, New Mexico

Major O. G. Myhre, connected with the drug trade at Silver City and prominent in military circles of New Mexico as a member of the National Guard, was born at Beloit, Wisconsin, June 27, 1865. In the fall of the same year his parents removed to Iowa, locating at Estherville, Emmet County. The father, Andrew Myhre, a pioneer of Wisconsin, followed merchandising in various places in that state and in Iowa and left the latter state when Major Myhre was about eight years of age, removing to Lyle, Minnesota, where he again engaged in merchandising. The son was reared in Lyle, pursuing his education in the public schools, and afterward in the institute at Decorah, Iowa, and a business college at La Crosse, Wisconsin. At Lyle he entered a drug store and learned the business. In 1887 he went to Chicago and pursued a course of study in the Chicago College of Ophthalmology. On the completion of the course he returned to Lyle, where he engaged in the drug and optical business. On the 29th of March, 1889, he was appointed postmaster of that place by President Harrison, and in 1890 was elected mayor of the town.

The following year the town was largely destroyed by fire, but Mr. Myhre reopened his drug store and continued in business there until the spring of 1892, when he came to New Mexico. He arrived at Carlsbad on the 30th of June, 1892, and conducted a drug store there for three years, when he returned to Chicago and went upon the road as a traveling salesman. In March, 1897, he came to Silver City and has been connected with the Porterfield Drug Company since that time, also conducting an optical business.

On the 19th of September, 1901. Mr. Myhre was commissioned captain of Company D, of the First Regiment of Infantry of the New Mexico National Guard. In September, 1902, he was appointed by Governor Otero as major in the First Regiment and was assigned to command the Third Battalion. On the 23rd of March. 1005, he was appointed by Governor Otero as a member of the board of optometry and elected secretary. In community affairs he has also been deeply and helpfully interested, and since 1899 has served as chief of the Silver City fire department, while in 1905 he was chosen a member of the board of education and is now acting as its secretary.

Fraternally he is connected with Silver City Lodge No. 413, B. P. O. E., and also a member of Silver City Lodge No. 12, K. of P., of which he is a past chancellor.

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Source: History of New Mexico, Its Resources and People, Volume II, Pacific States Publishing Co., 1907.

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