Josiah Boyer, farmer, Washington Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, 22 December 1832, son of Peter Boyer and Christiana [Harp] Boyer.
Peter Boyer was also born in Berks County, where he was reared and married. He learned the mason’s trade, which was his occupation for the greater part of his life. About 1834, he removed with his wife and family to Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, where he became possessed of a large tract of farming land containing over four hundred acres. He also owned land in Perry County. In or about 1842 he removed to Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and settled in Washington Township, where he died in 1852. His wife, Christiana Harp, died at the home of her son Josiah Boyer, in 1875. Their children are:
Benjamin Boyer, deceased;
Sarah Boyer, Mrs. Kauffman, deceased;
Eli Boyer, deceased;
Isaac Boyer, farmer and miller, Uniontown [Pillow], Pennsylvania;
Rachael Boyer, Mrs.Elias Buffington, Gratz, Pennsylvania;
Abraham Boyer, deceased;
Hettie Boyer, deceased;
Gabriel Boyer, deceased;
Catherine Boyer, deceased;
Josiah Boyer, twin;
Benneville Boyer, twin [born 22 December 1832], a farmer in Washington Township;
John Boyer, farmer; and
Leah Boyer.
Josiah Boyer was two years old when his parents removed to Mahanoy Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. He attended the common schools of Georgetown until he was ten years old, when his parents removed to Washington Township, Dauphin County, where he grew up on the farm. He naturally became a farmer, and has spent his life in agricultural pursuits. Josiah Boyer was married in Washington Township, 7 August 1856, to Miss Ann Jane Ginder [Ginter]. Their children are:
David Adam Alfred Boyer, merchant, at Tower City, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania;
Malinda Boyer, Mrs. Robert Lenker, Washington Township; and
John C. Boyer, studying medicine in Philadelphia.
After his marriage, Mr. Josiah Boyer too up his residence on the farm, where he still has his home. It consisted of one hundred and forty acres of land, with a good dwelling, barns, and all other improvements. The land was not good at first, yielding only two and a half bushels of wheat the first season, but industrious and skillful tillage has made it equal to any land in the region. Mr. Boyer, although decided in his political views, which are Democratic, has never sought office. He is strongly in favor of prohibitory legislation. He served as supervisor for two years. He holds membership in the Reformed church. Mr. Boyer is always ready for a social chat. He is a clever and entertaining talker, good natured and jolly. He is widely known and is honored and esteemed for his sterling worth and many virtues.
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Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.
The above information was modified/edited from Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1896 by J. M. Runk and Company of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. A free download is available from the Internet Archive.
See also:
Findagrave Memorial #101661672. Josiah Boyer. He died 31 January 1917 and is entombed in a mausoleum in the Maple Grove Cemetery, Elizabethville, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.