Myra Williams Jarrell, the daughter of the late Archie L. Williams, for
thirty years, the attorney for the Union Pacific Railway in Kansas, and
the grand-daughter of Judge Archibald Williams, the first United States
Circuit Judge of Kansas, appointed by Lincoln, comes of a literary
family. All of the men and some of the women on the father's side of the
family and also, on the mother's to a great extent, had literary talent.
As a child, she cherished an ambition to write and when occasionally one
of her letters to St. Nicholas saw publication, she felt she had crossed
the Alps of her desire. Her first real story, however, was written as
she rocked the cradle of her first born. The day, when she first saw her
"stuff" in print, stands out in her memory second only to the hallowed
days of her personal history, her wedding day and the days upon which
her children were born.
Since then, Mrs. Jarrell has contributed to almost all the high class
magazines and has furnished special feature articles to newspapers.
Some years ago, a small book, "Meg, of Valencia," was written and now, a
novel, "The Hand of The Potter" is ready for publication.
In 1894, Myra Williams and J. F. Jarrell were married. This union was
blest with four children, three sons and one daughter. Mr. Jarrell is
Publicity Agent of the Santa Fe. A number of years ago, he bought the
Holton Signal and in trying to help her husband put some individuality
into the paper, Mrs. Jarrell began a department headed "Ramblings."
Later this was syndicated and finally issued in book form.
Last winter, a play, "The Plain Clothes Man," was produced by the North
Brothers Stock Co., at the Majestic Theatre, Topeka. This well written
play, with its novel and original characterization and its effective
comedy lines, is now in the hands of two New York play brokers. Before
many months, Mrs. Jarrell will be enjoying a royalty.
In preparation, are two plays, as yet nameless; also, a play in
collaboration with Mr. North of the North Stock Co. With her brother,
Burus L. Williams, of Kansas City, Mo., Mrs. Jarrell has written an
opera, "The Mix Up in the Kingdom of Something-Like," which awaits only
the lyrics Mr. Williams is writing and the music. An opera, "The Kingdom
of Never Come True," also, in collaboration with Mr. Williams, is being
set to music by Arthur Pryor, the bandmaster.
A serial story, "John Bishop, Farmer," a collaboration with Albert T.
Reed, the artist, is to be published soon in the Kansas Farmer. Later,
this will appear in book form. A novel, which Mrs. Jarrell believes will
be her best work, is in construction and is clamoring to be written.