Historians suggest Myers may have studied architecture under Samuel Sloan before serving in the Civil War.

In 1863, Elijah and Mary decided to move westward, settling in Springfield, Illinois, where they lived for nine years.

Myers had conflicts with fellow architects, who he claimed stole his designs and sued, and sometimes his clients.

In 1879, Myers sued Edwin May, the architect of a new Indiana State House, claiming that elements of design were stolen.

The case was a business dispute between Myers and his attorney, George W. Radford, involving litigation about the unbuilt Luzerne County Courthouse.