Bedford County PA Archives Biographies.....Boor, William D. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Judy Banja jbanja@msn.com May 2003 WILLIAM D. BOOR has been intimately associated with the agricultural, business, and political interests of Cumberland Valley, Pa., for many years. He was born in this township, August 25, 1845, a son of Michael and Phoebe (Zembower) Boor. His paternal grandfather was Martin Boor, who married a Miss Bear. Michael Boor spent his entire life in Bedford County, residing the greater part of the time in Cumberland Valley, where his death occurred more than a score of years ago. A strong Democrat in his political views, he served a number of years as Constable, and was well known throughout the community. He was an earnest Christian man and a valued member of the Methodist Protestant church. Of the children born of his marriage with Phoebe Zembower six survive, as follows: Mrs. John Simons, of Cumberland Valley; Mrs. Brice McCoy, of Cass County, Missouri; Oliver P., John R., Henry M., and William D., all of Cumberland Valley township. Their maternal grandfather was John Zembower. William D. Boor attended the common schools of Cumberland Valley in his youth, afterward completing his preparatory education at the seminary in Rainsburg. The two following winter terms he taught in the district school, but from that time until he was twenty-five years old he assisted in the care of the parental homestead. Entering then into partnership with Mr. H. M. Ressler as head of the firm of Boor & Ressler, he embarked in business as a tanner and harness-maker, and met with much success. He subsequently purchased his partner's interest, and for three years was sole proprietor of the business, which he gave up to assume the management of his present farm. He has one hundred and eighty-five acres of choice land, devoted to general agricultural purposes, his farm as regards its appointments being one of the most desirable in the locality. In politics Mr. Boor is a stanch Democrat, and has ably served in many official capacities. For twelve years, nine of them being consecutive years, he was one of the School Directors of Cumberland Valley township, eight years being secretary of the board. For three years he was Assessor. He has been Town Auditor; and for three years he was Justice of the Peace, since which time he has been familiarly known as Esquire Boor. He was also a candidate in the Democratic convention for Representative to the State legislature, but failed to secure the nomination. He is a very active member of the Methodist Protestant church, in which he served for nearly twenty successive years as steward, besides having been a trustee and the superintendent of the Sunday-school for a number of years. Mr. Boor married Harriet, daughter of the late Frederick Sliger, on March 6, 1871. Of their eleven children, four - namely, Murry T., Edna E., Frederick, and a boy baby - are dead, and seven are now living; namely, Curtis H., Perry E., Adna B., Cyrus C., Rhoda P., Elva M., and Bertha D. Mr. Frederick Sliger was the son of George and Catharine (Hardsock) Sliger. He was for many years a well-known citizen of Cumberland Valley township, and much respected for his integrity and sterling worth. He was twice married. His first wife, Rebecca Dicken, died young, leaving him with one daughter, Mrs. Francis Elliott, of this township. He subsequently married Mrs. Caroline Bruner, he being her second husband. She was the daughter of Joseph and Harriet (Longsworth) Vickroy. Three children born of this second union survive, as follows: Mrs. Boor; Sarah, wife of J. W. Diffenbaugh, of Cumberland Valley; and Emma, widow of Henry Hite, late of this township. Source: Bedford Biographical Review, 1899, Bedford Co., Pa