OBIT: William GUYER, 1891, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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WILLIAM GUYER.
Death of a Much Respected Resident of the Mountain City.

  Many hearts will be made sad to learn that yesterday morning at 
twenty minutes of 7 o'clock an old resident of our city, William Guyer, 
of 723 Sixth avenue, went to his long home.  He was the son of Casper 
and Mary Guyer and was born in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland county, Pa., 
August 15, 1833.  He was 57 years, 6 months and 16 days old at the time 
of his decease.  For two months he had been ailing, but none of his 
friends expected his sudden demise.
  He first came to Altoona sometime prior to the rebellion.  At the 
breaking out of the hostilities between the north and the south he 
returned to Cumberland county and enlisted at Mechanicsburg in the 
three months service in company C, Sixteenth regiment, Pennsylvania 
volunteers.  At the close of his term of service he re-enlisted in 
company H, Ninth Pennsylvania cavalry, as orderly sergeant.  He was 
mustered into the United States service for thee years at Harrisburg, 
Pa., October 23, 1861.  He re-enlisted as a veteran, January 1, 1864, 
at Cleveland, Tenn.  His regiment was mustered out during the month of 
July, 1865.  His regiment received orders to join the western army, 
where for three years it was actively engaged in the performance of 
some of the most hazardous and arduous cavalry service of the war.  In 
all his regiment participated in thirty-seven engagements.  Among them 
were some of the most hotly contested cavalry engagements of the 
rebellion.  At Chickamauga General Thomas commended the Ninth 
Pennsylvania cavalry in special orders for their gallantry and 
meritorious conduct.  Mr. Guyer was present with his regiment in all 
these engagements except one or two.  He was promoted to the first 
lieutenancy of company H of his regiment for faithful service and 
conspicuous gallantry, and was taken prisoner while in the hospital, 
after the battle of Richmond, Ky.  Three days later he was paroled and 
returned home to Pennsylvania.  He was soon exchanged and returned to 
his regiment, with which he remained to the close of the war.  As a 
soldier he was faithful to the discharge of every duty and brave as a 
lion.  It is doubtful if he feared the force of a foe.
  When mustered out of service at the close of the war, he returned to 
Mechanicsburg, Cumberland county, and thence came to Altoona, January 
11th, 1867.  He was married to Sarah A. Robbins at Mechanicsburg, 
Westmoreland county, Pa.  They made their home in Altoona and have been 
residents of this city ever since.  To this union were born ten 
children, four of whom - Caspar, John Otterheim, Oscar and Mabel, have 
preceded him to the other world; six - Mrs. Stella McGlaughlin, Cora B. 
Guyer, William R., Harry E., Dillie M., and Roy F., remain with his 
widow to mourn their loss.  One brother, Jacob Guyer, of Howard avenue, 
and three sisters, Mrs. Margaret Piper, Mrs. Mary Hawn and Mrs. Sallie 
Blake, all of this city, are left to grieve the departure of a brother.  
May the blessed consolation of the Gospel of Christ sustain these 
sorely afflicted ones in their sad bereavement.
  During the pastorate of Rev. J. Walker at the First United Brethren 
church he joined the church as a "seeker," but never became a 
communicant member.  However, he was faithful in attendance at church 
services and loyally supported the church financially.  His life was 
moral and upright.  And he was especially kind and generous to the 
poor.  No more benevolent and open-hearted man lived than he, and his 
name will long be green in the memories of many who were recipients of 
his generosity.  He was a good citizen, a man of much influence, and 
his death will be greatly deplored.  He was a member of the following 
organizations, among whom he was highly honored and respected: 
Encampment No. 17, Union Veteran Legion; Post 468, Grand Army of the 
Republic; Altoona lodge No. 432, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; the 
encampment of Odd Fellows; Logan lodge No. 79, Knights of Pythias and 
also Hancock castle, Ancient Order Knights of the Mystic Chain.  The 
funeral cortege will leave the house at 2 o'clock on Thursday afternoon 
and proceed to the First United Brethren church, corner of Eighth 
avenue and Twelfth street, where services will be held.
  The pastor will be assisted by Rev. T. P. Orner, of the Second United 
Brethren church, in the services.  Interment will be made in Fairview 
cemetery.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday, March 4, 1891