Interesting story about how Fort Myers got its name …
In 1850, General David Twiggs was put in charge of a small fort on the Caloosahatchee River. His daughter, Marion, fell in love with one of Twiggs’ staff officers, Abraham C. Myers. Twiggs liked the man and, as an engagement present, decided to call the growing town “Fort Myers” to honor his future son-in-law.
The two lovebirds were married in 1853, when she was 15 and he was 42.
Myers’ career flourished until his wife, who was “quite the gossip” with “a wicked tongue,” caused some problems when she publicly ridiculed the wife of Jefferson Davis. In 1865, the Myers family left for Germany.
The town of Fort Myers, with 349 residents, was officially incorporated on August 12, 1885.
