Sam D. Myres, saddle maker, owner of the S.D. Myres & Company of El Paso, has an enviable reputation of being one of the most notable saddle makers of America.  He has made saddles for many of the most distinguished citizens of the Southwest.  He ran a saddle making business of his own in Sweetwater for a period of twenty years.  Among is customers were many of the great personalities of West Texas, including Senator Joe Bailey; Jim Hogg, Senator Reagan, Attorney General Crane and other celebrated Texans.  He also made saddles for Tom Mix, Gene Autry and other movie notables, and notables including President Cardenas of Mexico.

Sam D. Myres is a native Texan, born near Cleburne, November 22, 1871.  His father, D.R. Myres was an officer in the Civil War serving in the Tenth Texas Regiment.  My Myres is married and has three Children: Sam D., Jr., professor in the Southern Methodist University; W.J. Myres and Company factory; and a daughter, Melrose Taylor Myres.

The following story by Sgt. Al Sweeney which appeared in the February 1, 1945, issue of the Fort Bliss News, is a vivid account of Mr. Myres' life record:

"Time rolled back its pages this week as S/Sgt. Anthony Troha of the 78th AAA Battalion, sat in the spacious office of 'Tio Sam' Myres, with its walls lined with autographed pictures from all over the world, listening to the experiences of the internationally known saddlemaker and the confidant of Pancho Villa.  Col. Joe Miller, Pawnee Bill and numerous other western characters that he read about so many times as a youngster in story book back in Detroit, Michigan.

"The famous frontiersman, who first saw the light of day back in 1871 in a little two-room log cabin on the banks of the Brazos river in Johnson County, Texas, was born in the heart of the cattle country, the son of a hardy trail driver.

"He recalled that he never went beyond fourth grade in school but what he learned---the Ten Commandments and the History of the United States, was sufficient to give him the foundation for a keen sense of business and the value of quality in workmanship.  The one thing that left an indelible mark in his memory of school was his teacher reaching to the very top of the shingled room and writing the words 'I can' in chalk.  This philosophy was later to play an important part in the life of the little freckled-faced Myres kid.

"When young Myres was big enough to ride and shoot, he left home for the little town of Cleburne to make his own in the world.  Starting as a cub saddle-maker, he worked for three years receiving his room, board and clothing and a hundred-dollar bonus as pay.

"At the age of twenty-two Myres began looking for new territory and opened his first saddle shop in the little town of Sweetwater, then a village of about five hundred inhabitants.  With but nine hundred dollars to his name he opened its door in 1893.  With some of the largest cattle ranches within a hundred miles of Sweetwater, business began to flourish and it was no time at all before the trademark 'Myres Saddles' was a byword with western ranchers.

"In those days Sweetwater was a bustling frontier town.  Its main street was a wide dusty road, low adobe houses lined each side.  Cowboys churned the dust of the main street and gun fights were not uncommon.  A man's best friend was his Smith and Wesson in perfect working condition.

"Myres was elected mayor and served two terms.  Under his guidance Sweetwater began to grown like a flower in a fertile garden.  Schools were built, sewers installed and streets paved.  Later he served as deputy sheriff and at one time was a member of the famous Texas Rangers.

"Before moving to El Paso in 1920, Myres made his most famous saddle for the late Col. Joe Miller, owner of the world-traveled Wild West show known as the 101 Ranch.  The saddle sold for $10,000 and received world-wide publicity.  It had over fifteen pounds of sapphires, garnets, sterling silver and gold mounted among the trappings.

"Two presidents of Mexico have had their saddles hand-made in the Myres factory, while many noted Americans such as Will Rogers, Pancho Villa, Tom Mix, Gene Autry, Ken Maynard and Monte Montana insisted that 'Tio Sam' make all their riding equipment.

"Mr. Myres received his nickname 'Tio Sam' from his children who mistook him for the Uncle Sam they had seen so many times on posters.  His long flowing white hair, long moustache and goatee gives him an appearance not unlike the famous character.  'Tio' comes from the Spanish word which means uncle.

"One of his most cherished possessions that hangs in his huge establishment on East Overland Street, with its $100,000 stock of fine riding equipment of every description, is a citation from the United States Government in connection with a World War I contract for 5,000 McClellan saddles which he furnished the cavalry.

"For any eastern GI who has never had the opportunity of meeting a typical western frontiersman, I suggest you drop in for a friendly chat some day with 'Tio Sam', a man whose snappy step, keen eyes and remarkable memory belies his seventy-four years."

Since coming to El Paso, Mr. Myres has taken an active part in the civic, commercial and fraternal life of the city.  He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias.  He is an ardent booster for El Paso and never fails to do his share for any enterprise for the furthering of the interests of the Gateway City.

Source Information:  "The Historical Encyclopedia of Texas" Volume I

Census: 1900, 1910, 1920 living in Sweetwater, TX owning a saddle shop.