Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 51

Author: Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, J. L. Floyd & Co.
Number of Pages: 1090

USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1 > Part 51

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S. Pierce Boyer was born Jan. 12, 1853. in Millerstown, Perry Co., Pa., and was but four weeks old when the family returned to Northun- berland county, where he was reared to farm life. He worked for his parents until he was thirty years old, when he left home and began farming on his own account in Jordan township, as a tenant. Some years later he and his brother Elias bought a traet of seventy-one acres near Mandata. Pa., in partnership, and S. Pierce Boyer farmed this tract for twelve years. until he settled on his pres- ent place in Lower Mahanoy township in 1894. He has a tract of 109 acres near Mandata which was at one time part of the old homestead of his grandfather. Peter Bover, and which has been in the family name for many years. The barn on this place was built by his father, Abraham Boyer, and the present owner has remodeled the house, which is a comfortable dwelling. The place is well kept up and Mr. Boyer is a typical member of his fam- ily, enterprising and energetie in all he under- takes and prosperous in his farming operations. He has taken some part in local affairs, having served three years as school director of the town- ship and also as tax collector. He is a Democrat in politics. Mr. Boyer has been quite prominent in church affairs, he being a member of the Re- formed congregation at Zion's Stone Valley Church, which he has served as member of the council for ten years.

In March. 1883. Mr. Bover married Susan Michael, daughter of Jacob and Catharine ( Bobb )

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Michael, of Lower Mahahoy township, who had other farms. He prospered greatly in his work, a family of six children, namely: John, William, and continued farming until eight years before his Mary (Mrs. George Philips), Susan, Isaac and death, which occurred Dec. 10, 1887, when he was Sarah. Mrs. Boyer died April 14, 1893, at the age of forty-two years, the mother of two children : Katie, unmarried, who lives in Sunbury, Pa. : and Carrie, who is living with her parents. Mr. Boyer married for his second wife Ella Drumheller, daughter of Nicholas Drumheller, and to this union there was one child, born dead.

PETER BOYER, youngest son of Abraham Boyer, was born April 15, 1861. in Lower Mahanoy town- ship, and worked for his parents until he reached the age of twenty-two years. He subsequently farmed some seven years as a tenant on the John Haas farm, three miles east of Milton, Pa. In 1902 he settled in 'Jordan township on the valu-

BENJAMIN ADAME BOYER, son of Benjamin, was born March 17, 1853, in Lower Mahanoy able farm of 286 acres, near Hebe, which he has township, where he now lives, engaged in farm- since occupied and cultivated. Besides this place he owns other land, having in all 321 acres, of which 209 acres are under cultivation. In addi- tion to farming he is engaged to some extent in lumbering, and he has also been interested in building, having put up five houses in Sunbury during 1907-08.

Mr. Boyer married Catharine Troutman, and they have five children : (1) William R., born July 30, 1882, in Lower Mahanoy township, took a course at Keller's business college, at Lewisburg, Pa., taught public school for five terms, and has since held his present position, being rural letter carrier No. 1, of Pillow, Pa. He married Minnie Strohecker, and they have three children, Hazel, Helen and Vivian. They live a half mile west of Pillow. (2) John C., born Aug. 13, 1884, was engaged in farming for a while and then turned to the raising of fancy poultry and lumbering. He. lives on his place at Klingerstown, Pa. He house which had stood for a little over a hundred married Jennie S. Wiest, and they have three chil- dren, Mildred, Margaret and Evelyn. (3) Silas N., born Dec. 15, 1886, lives at home with his parents. He is a prominent young farmer and raiser of swine. (4) Chauncey E., born Dec. 26. 1889, lives with his parents, and devotes most of his time to cattle and horse raising; he is also assistant rural carrier at Pillow. (5) Ramsey E., born May 31, 1894, living with his parents, is par- ticularly interested in machinery.

Benjamin Boyer, son of Peter, was born Ang. 8, 1813, in Amity township, Berks county, and `came with his parents to Northumberland conn- ty, locating with them in Lower Mahanoy town- ship. He was reared to farming, which was always his principal vocation, though during his early manhood he taught school for a time. When twenty-five years old he married and began farm- ing on his father's place, which he purchased some time later. this farm comprising about one hundred acres, in addition to which he owned two

seventy-four years old. His wife, Catharine Stein, born Aug. 14, 1814, died Sept. 27, 1887. They were members of the Stone Valley Union Church in which he held various offices. Mr. and Mrs. Boyer were the parents of ten children, three of whom died in infancy, the others being: Elias, of Dalmatia, Pa .; John, deceased, who was a resi- dent of Lykens valley, in Dauphin county; Han- nah, Mrs. William Seiler ; Emeline, Mrs. Emanuel Lark; Caroline, Mrs. Jeremiah Lenker; Benja- min Adam; and Daniel, deceased, who lived in Jordan township.

ing. He is a typical dark "complected" Boyer, and a representative member of a family noted for enterprise and progressive industry. In his early boyhood he attended both subscription and free schools, and later was a pupil at the Free- burg Academy, in Snyder county, profiting so well by his advantages that when sixteen he began teaching-at McKee's school in Lower Mahanoy township. In 1874 he began farming on the place in Lower Mahanoy where he has since re- sided. a tract of 150 acres made up of two farms, the part on which he lives having formerly been his father's place, the other, which comprises sixty- six acres, having become his by purchase. The former part was originally a Leffler homestead, was next acquired by the Bowman family, and then came into the possession of Benjamin Boyer, father of the present owner, who built a new resi- dence thereon in 1894. It replaced the old log

years, having been erected by the Leftlers. the pioneer settlers on this land. Mr. Boyer was formerly somewhat extensively engaged in the burning of lime, as much as 24,000 bushels per annm. He gave employment to as many as four men, and has throughout his active career proved himself a competent business man. He has been supervisor of his township since 1905. Mr. Bover and his children are members of the Reformed Church, Mrs. Boyer uniting with the Imtheran Church. He is a Democrat in politics.

In 1873 Mr. Boyer married Lizzie Coleman, daughter of John and Catharine ( Artz) Coleman, granddaughter of John Coleman and great-grand- daughter of Charles Coleman. Two children have been born to them: Charles I. is a graduate of the State Normal school at Bloomsburg and of Bucknell University, and for a time was engaged in teaching public school and in a business college at Baltimore, but he is now following his profes- sion of civil engineer, being a member of an en- gineer corps at Altoona. Pa .; John Benjamin is a

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graduate of the Bloomsburg State Normal school and of Bucknell University, and is a highly suc- cessful teacher, being at present principal of the high school at Milroy, Mifflin Co., Pennsylvania.

JOHN B. LARK, M. D., physician of Trevor- ton, las practiced at that location for the past five years, having settled there in 1906. He has built up a large patronage in the town and surrounding territory, where he has become well and favorably

The Lark family is of Swiss origin. George Lark, the Doctor's great-grandfather, was born in Mifflin township. Dauphin county, and became a farmer there. He died at the age of twenty-nine years, and is buried at Bnffington Church in his native township. He married Elizabeth Enter- line, who married (second) . Captain Snyder, of Lykens township, Dauphin county. After the death of her second husband she made her home with her son George, and died there aged seventy- five years. To George and Elizabeth Lark were born four children: Amos and Elizabeth died young; John is mentioned below; George settled at Berrysburg, as a merchant. and was the father of Leon, Elizabeth, Edward, William B., Mamie, Annie.and Clara.

John Lark, son of George, was born on the old homestead in Mifflin township, Feb. 2, 1826. Hc learned the stonemason's trade when a young man. but never followed it. He devoted his time to farming, and died in Salina, Saline Co., Kans., aged seventy-two years, and is buried there. He married, Leah Shoop, daughter of Jacob Shoop, and they had two children, George, who died in infancy, and Emanuel S.

Emanuel S. Lark, son of John, was born in Miff- lin township, on the same farm on which both his father and grandfather were born. Feb. 8, 1853. He attended the local schools, Frecburg Academy, in Snyder county. Berrysburg Seminary and Mil- Dr. Lark was married, Feb. 19, 1907, to Harriet M. Stricker, daughter of G. H. Stricker, a well known merchant tailor of Shamokin. They have had two children: George, who died at the age of eleven months, three days ; and John. lersburg Academy. He taught ten terms of school in Dauphin and Northumberland counties, and was very successful as an instructor. Turning his attention to farming on the old homestead. he re- mained there for three years, after which he farmed for one year in Jackson township, North- WILLIAM KIEFER, JR., whose association with varions business and financial institutions of Mount Carmel has made him well known in many lines of enterprise, has spent practically all his ac- tive years in that borongh. He began humbly, with nothing but his trade to rely upon, but by in- telligent and progressive management has enlarged his field of operations and acquired interests which umberland county, and then lived two years in Lower Mahanoy township. Northumberland coun- tv. In 1880 he came to Shamokin, and found em- ployment in the mines, where he remained abont six years. The next five years he passed in a gen- eral hauling business, and the succeeding five years as conductor on a freight train for the Philadel- phia & Reading Railroad Company. On Oct. 1. class him among the most progressive and influ- 1903, he assumed the duties of his present position, ential element in the place.

that of superintendent of the Shamokin cemetery,

and his efficiency is well attested by the carefully kept condition of that beautiful city of the dead. His residence is at 53 Marshall street. He is a member of St. John's Reformed Church.

. Mr. Lark has been twice married. In 1873 he married Emcline Boyer, daughter of Benjamin and Catharine (Stine) Boyer, the former of whom was born in Berks county, Pa., of French Huguenot ancestry, later settling in Lower Mahanoy town- ship, Northumberland county. Mrs. Lark was known for his skill and devotion to his work. Dr. born Oct. 21, 1847, and died April 9, 1895, and Lark was born Dec. 18, 18:6, in Dauphin county, Pa., near Millersburg. but has passed the greater part of his life in Northumberland county.

was buried in Shamokin cemetery. The follow- ing children were born of this union : Charles C., now a practicing attorney, of Shamokin; Carrie C., who died aged eighteen years; John B .: Leah B., born in Lower Mahanoy township, living with lier father ; H. Wilson . and Thomas F., overall manufacturers at Shamokin, trading under the firmi name of Lark & Lark; Edward H., a sales- man for Lark & Lark. Emanuel S. Lark married (second) Nov. 12, 1908, Mrs. Margaret Unpleby, daughter of William and Susan Weitzel.

John B. Lark was a young child when his par- ents moved to Shamokin, where he received his literary education in the public schools, graduat- ing from the high school in 1895. He then taught school for six terms, five in Cameron township, this county, and one in the borough of Shamokin, after which he entered upon his medical course, at the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia. Graduating from that institution in the year 1905. he first located at Shamokin, where he practiced only about eight months, coming to Trevorton in 1906. He has found a large field of work at his present location, and has been most successful in retaining the confidence of his patients. He is a member of the Northumberland County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He holds fraternal association with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is a member of the Reformed Church, and on political questions supports the Republican party.

Mr. Kiefer was born Nov. 9, 1859, at Schnylki !!

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Haven, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and is a son of William Kiefer, a native of Germany, who came to America The MeWilliams family has been located in North- in 1850. He received his education in public school umberland county, Pa., for 140 years, and those of at Fraekville, in his native county, and learned the the name have been substantial and industrious butcher's trade under his father, remaining in men and women who have lived upright lives, use- Schuylkill county until 1878, when he settled at ful to the community in their respective eallings. At the present time at Shamokin is found Dr. Kimber Cleaver McWilliams, a suecessful physi- cian, vice president and director of the Coal Town- ship Light, Heat & Power Company, director of the Guarantee Trust & Safe Deposit Company, and an official in several other important eorpor- ations. Mount Carmel. Here he was employed for some time by Charles K. Maurer, who established the first meat market in Mount Carmel, and on Oct. 20, 1885, he entered the same line of business on his own account. By 1889 he had prospered to such an extent that he was able to build the sub- stantial three-story building at No. 608 South Oak street where he has since been located, his store occupying the ground floor, which has been spe- cially equipped for the business. Five years after he began business on his own account his brother Thomas entered into partnership with him, and they have since continued together under the firm name of Kiefer Brothers. They have built up their business until they are considered the leading butehers in Mount Carmel. They run five delivery wagons, do their own killing, and conduct every branch of their work in the most progressive man- ner, a fact which has had much to do with the un- broken suecess this firm has enjoyed.

Mr. William Kiefer has become interested in so many local public utilities that his name is identi- fied with a great variety of enterprises. He is vice president of the First National Bank of Mount Carmel; treasurer of the Shamokin & Mount Car- mel Transit Company ; treasurer of the Locust Gap Trolley Company; treasurer of the Mount Carmel

Cement Block Company; director of the Mount following certificate, now in the possession of the

Carmel Water Company, of the People's Building & Loan Association, and of the Edison Illuminat- ing Company of Mount Carmel. Socially he is a thirty-second-degree Mason, belonging to Mount Carmel Lodge, No. 378, F. & A. M., Williamsport Consistory, and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is a Democrat but not active in polities, though he has served one term as school director.

On Dee. 15, 1887, Mr. Kiefer married Mary A. Eddy, daughter of Peter and Lydia ( Wolcock) Eddy, of Shamokin, and they have had six chil- dren, three of whom, Roy, William and Grace, are deceased. The survivors are Frederick, Dorothy and Frank. The family are Lutherans in religious connection.

Peter Eddy, father of Mrs. Kiefer, was a native, John Scout) ; William. April ?1. 1682 (died Nov. of England, born in 1828, and came to America when a young man. He settled at Minersville, Sehuylkill Co., Pa., and followed mining for many 1188; David, Jan. 19, 1791 : Robert, Feb. 3. 1793; years, later moving to Shamokin, Northumber- Sarah Johnson, 1895: and Joseph Watt, June If, 1797 .. land eounty, where he ended his days Aug. 13, 1896. He married Lydia Wolcock, daughter of David McWilliams, son of William, born Jan. 19, 1291, followed farming. as did his father, all his life. He was first located in Turbut township, but soon after his marriage he located at Elysburg, where he became quite prominent. He died July William Wolcock, and their family consisted of eight children, namely: Peter, William, Jolm, Mary A. (Mrs. Kiefer), Newton, Amelia, Joseph and George.

William McWilliams came to America from County Armagh, Ireland, and settled at Bristol. Bucks Co., Pa., between 1240 and 1750. With him came his widowed mother, his sister Hannah. and brother John. William McWilliams became a pioneer settler in Turbut township. Northum- berland county, settling there soon after the In- dian purchase of 1768. In the Pennsylvania Ar- chives he is mentioned as having taken out a war- rant for one hundred acres of land in 1772 and again in 1774 a warrant for 306 acres. This tract was in the region known as Chillisquaque, and here he made his home until the time of his death. In the war of the Revolution. during the Indian troubles. Mr. Me Williams and his family were obliged to flee to Fort Angusta for protection, but soon returned to their farms. He supported the cause of the colonies during the war, having ap- peared before Robert Martin at Northumberland and taken the oath of allegiance, as shown by the

family: "Northumberland County: I do here- by certify that William McWilliams hath voluntarily taken and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity as directed by an Act of General Assembly of Pennsylvania passed the 13th day of June, 1722. Witness my Hand and Seal The 12th day of November Anno Dom- ini 1777. Robt. Martin." [L. S.]

Mr. MeWilliams died Jan. 11. 1819, aged eighty years. He married Sarah Johnston, who died Oct. 6, 1806. aged fifty-two years. He was a Presby- terian in religious faith. His children were: Han- nah. born Oct. 3, 1761: James, Sept. 27, 1:73: Thomas, Nov. 22, 1745: Mary, Oct. 3. 1927 (mar- ried A. Cruise) : Eleanor. Feb. 3, 1780 (married 21, 1853) : John, June 28. 1284 (died July 30. 1849) : Sammuel. Aug. 13; 1786: Philip, Oct. 20,

KIMBER CLEAVER MCWILLIAMS, M. D.

5.48

R. G. m& Williams, m.D.

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2, 1856. He married Jane Craig, born Aug. 19, Elysburg Oct. 7, 1857, and attended the public 1798, died Sept. 29, 1882, daughter of John and schools and Elysburg Academy, where he taught Margaret (Johnston) Craig. Nine children were school for a time. He began the study of medi- born of this union, as follows: William Watt; Dr. cine under Dr. S. F. Gilbert, at Elysburg. and John Craig, who married Esther Schindler, and later entered Jefferson Medical College, at Phila- has a daughter Ida (married Alfred Evans) ; Robert, who died aged seven years; David Nich- ol, who married Cecilia Levers: Sarah, who married Joseph T. John ; Chittillon, who married Margaret Kase: Ellen, who married Joseph B. Craig ; Aquilla, who died unmarried : and Jane, unmarried.

William Watt McWilliams, son of David, was born July 21, 1821, and died June 1, 1879. He was educated in Milton Academy, and became a civil engineer, a calling he followed all his active life. He assisted in laying out the borough of Shamokin, and was employed in making the sur- vey of the railroad from Shamokin to Sunbury, associated with Kimber Cleaver. He surveyed many of the mines and early coal lands, and maps were made from his measurements. He was very accurate in his work, and had a wide reputation for efficiency. He took an active interest in edu-

burg Academy. For many years he was an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and he was always found cooperating in any measure tending toward the welfare of the community. In politics he was a Republican, but never held political office. On Oct. 13, 1853, in Danville, Montour Co., Pa., he married Catharine Caldwell, born Dec. 15, 1831, died Sept. ? , 1890, daughter of Alexander Caldwell (born May 4, 1800, died Feb. 6, 1856) and his wife Martha (born 1798, died May ?, 1845). To this union were born five children : (1) Clifton Craig, born June 20, 1855, was edu- cated at the Elysburg Academy. and made agri- culture his life work. On March 12, 1879, he married Georgiana Jefferis, and they had chil- dren : Mary C., born Feb. 3, 1880 (died in in- fancy) : William C., born April 18, 1881 ; Eliza- beth, born Oct. 10. 1884: Howard C., born Feb. 11, 1887: Benjamin J., born June 17, 189? (died Oct. 2, 1910) : and Ralph C., born Aug. 25, 1894. (?) Kimber Cleaver was born Oct. 2, 1857. (3) David Alexander, born Ang. 15, 1859, died at the Presbyterian Hospital. Philadelphia, Sept. 20, 1904. He graduated from Dickinson Seminary, and studied law at Minneapolis, where he prac- ticed for several years, later entering McCormick Theological Seminary. Chicago, and becoming a Presbyterian minister. He was later professor of History and Sociology at Lincoln University, in Pennsylvania. He married Ada E. Guss, and had children, Craig. David B., William and Stewart. His widow resides at Mifflinburg, Pa. (4) Cora Rebecca was born Sept. 22, 1862. (5) William C., born July 25. 1867, died aged three years.

Dr. Kimber Cleaver MeWilliam- was born at 15

delphia, from which he graduated in 1884. He began the practice of his profession at Mainville, Columbia county, but remained there only two months. He then located at Snydertown, North- umberland county, where he continued for two years. In 1886 he located at Shamokin. but hav- ing decided to devote himself to special diseases he went to Philadelphia in 1892 and practiced there three years, at the same time taking special . lectures on diseases of the eye, ear, nosc and throat, at Jefferson hospital. During the last year of his stay in that city he was chief assistant at the eye clinic at the Polyclinic hospital, and was superin- tendent of the Beacon dispensary during the three years he was there. On completing his course he returned to Shamokin, and has met with great success in his specialties.

The Doetor has been active in the business as well as in the professional world. He is a director cation, and was one of the founders of the Elys- of the Guarantee Trust & Safe Deposit Company ; vice president and director of the Coal Township Light, Heat & Power Company, and director of the Greenongh Coal & Coke Company. In 1907 he completed a fine apartment house on Independence street, Shamokin, which contains 121 rooms. The lower floor is given over to stores. This is one of the finest apartment houses in central Pennsyl- vania. He is looked upon as a shrewd business inan, of good executive ability.

Dr. McWilliams takes an active part in the work of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics is a Republican. On Oct. 11, 1887, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth J. Chester, of Shamokin .. They have three children: Holden Chester, born July 12. 1888, a student at Princeton University; Kimber Cleaver, born July 14, 1890, a student at Princeton University ; and Clifton Alexander, born May 8, 1896, attending Lawrenceville School.

John Craig, great-grandfather of the Doctor, married Margaret Johnson, and had children: John, born Nov. 7, 1794 ; Alexander, born Jan. 7. 1496; Jane, born Aug. 19, 1798 .: Margaret. born Feb. 1, 1800 : and James (died young).

Catharine Carmichael, great-grandmother of the Doctor, was born in 1766 and died in 1850. She married John Caldwell, and was the mother of Martha, wife of Alexander Caldwell.

ANDREW L. BUCHER, who is farming his father's old homestead in Washington township, is a grandson of Dieter Bueher. the ancestor of a prominent branch of the Bucher family. many of whose members may be found in Northumberland county. One branch located in Lower Mahanoy township.

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The Bucher family has long been settled in homestead, which came into his possession in 1897, Pennsylvania, the homes of the earlier members is nicely located, overlooking Mahanoy and Ma- being in Lancaster and Montgomery counties. hanoy Church, and it is equipped with substantial Dieter Bucher was a native of Limerick township, buildings. Mr. Bucher is a Republican. and has Montgomery county, whence he came to the Ma- been school director of his township, but his prin- cipal activity outside of his private affairs is in St. Peter's Church, of which he has been a trustee many years; formerly he held the office of deacon. He has served the congregation faithfully, and takes a sincere interest in the welfare of the church. hantango Valley, in Northumberland county, pur- chasing two farms lying along the creek, from Uniontown to the county line. He never lived there any length of time, however, dying in his native district. His son Andrew lived upon one of these farms for some years, and his son-in-law David Lenker occupied the other, in later years Mr. Bucher has the old grandfather clock of his grandfather Dieter Bucher, which is still a good timepiece, though fully one hundred and fifty years old. It has a brass face, and besides marking the hours and minutes shows the date and the movements of the moon. Mr. Bucher also has a lot of red chinaware that belonged to his father. purchasing Andrew Bucher's place and eventually · owning both properties. Dieter Bucher was twice married, his first wife being a Ziegler. his second a Miss Shutt. To the first marriage were born three children : Mary, who married Frank Mark- ley ; Catharine, who married David Lenker : and Andrew. By the second wife he had two children : Ephraim and Louisa, the latter marrying Jona- than Eisenbrown, who is still living in Philadel- phia, at an advanced age. . Dieter Bucher had a , sister, Lydia, who was the mother of Gov. John F. Hartranft, of Pennsylvania.

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Genealogical and biographical annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Part 51

Author: Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, J. L. Floyd & Co. Number of Pages: 1090

Author: Floyd, J.L., & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, J. L. Floyd & Co.
Number of Pages: 1090