BIO: William COLYER, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ WILLIAM COLYER is one who has risen from the ranks of the many to stand among the successful few. Among the prominent citizens of Centre county no one occupies a position of relative greater importance than Mr. Colyer, who has been the promoter of varied enterprises that have resulted to the material benefit of the community. He has not only won prosperity for himself, but his enterprise has been the means of providing labor to many who thereby have achieved success. His career is unparalleled in Potter township. Reared without educational advantages, ofttimes amid adverse surroundings, and without even careful business training in his youth, he has surmounted obstacles that would have utterly disheartened many, and to-day stands upon the high plane of prosperity. Such a life cannot fail to contain many valuable lessons, if others will but heed its teachings. William Colyer was born December 13, 1835, at what is known as The Loop in Potter township, a son of Daniel and Mary (Humel) Colyer. His father was born at The Loop, and the grandfather was a native of New England. He was a farmer in very limited means, and married a lady whose first name was Dolly. She was of German extraction, and lived to be ninety-six years of age. The father of our subject was a hard working man, yet lacked the executive ability necessary to a successful management of his affairs. He never accumulated property, but lived in a rented home, and supported his family by working at the stone mason's trade. His life, however, was honorable, and he had the respect of all. His political support was given the Democracy, and he and his wife were members of the Reformed Church. He died at the age of fifty-six, his wife at the age of forty-seven, and they were buried in Luke Church cemetery. Their children were as follows: John, who died at the age of sixteen years, William; Rachel, who married Jacob Neville, and died in Potter township; Sarah, who married John Miller, and died in Potter township; Mary, wife of Franklin Wright, of Potter township; and Susan, wife of William Burrell, of Pocahontas, Iowa. William Colyer, as the only surviving son in the family, was his father's assistant, and to him gave the benefit of his services through the summer months until he was nineteen years of age. His educational privileges were extremely limited, but he became familiar with the rudimentary branches of learning in the district schools, which he sometimes attended in the winter. At an early age, however, he began working, and sometimes received only his clothes, and sometimes the meager sum of $3 per month, as a compensation for his services. At the age of fifteen he began learning the stone mason's trade with his father, and with home worked for several years. Possessed of executive ability and sagacity, which his father lacked, he soon saw that affairs were not properly managed, and cones- COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 491 quently laid plans to conduct the business along different lines. He suffered many hardships, and his possessions were few, his best suit of clothes often being the one in which he worked daily. When nineteen years of age, Mr. Colyer left his father and started out in life for himself. He rented a house and lot near what is now Colyer post office, and by hard work and economy was enabled to save some money. His first real estate consisted of a three-acre lot on which stood a small house, for which property he paid $560, going in debt for the same; but six years later the little home was destroyed by fire after he had spent that length of time in labor to pay for it. With a stout heart and resolute purpose, however, he continued his labor, and later purchased a sawmill property in Potter township. His acquaintances prophesied a failure, but that word he did not consider had a place in his vocabulary, for he re-constructed the mill and began the manufacture of lumber. In 1862 he was drafted for service in the army, but feeling that he could not leave his business he hired a substitute for $300. During the first year in which he engaged in the sawmill business he made $1,000. He continued to prosper, and as he secured capital purchased timber land and extensively engaged in the lumber business. He built up and improved the little town of Colyer, which was named in his honor, and its growth and prosperity were due to the industries which he there established. He now owns three large sawmills and two stavemills, and manufactures more than one hundred thousand nail keg heads per month, together with thousands of shingles and much general building material. His landed possessions aggregate more than fifteen hundred acres of timber and farming land. In the spring of 1894 he began the erection of the many substantial buildings which he owns in Centre Hall, and in March, 1896, he removed to the town, where he had previously conducted business. He now owns grain warehouses, extensive coal sheds, and a large handle factory in Centre Hall, all of which he has erected, together with his own home and a good residence which he rents. He personally looks after his extensive lumber interests, and in addition is largely engaged in coal and grain dealing. Mr. Colyer married Frances Luse, of Gregg township, daughter of George and Sally (Long) Luse. Their children are: Emma, widow of John Cooney, of Punxsutawney, Penn.; Almira, wife of George Ishler, of Tusseyville, Penn.; Anna, wife of James Spiker, of Patton, Centre county; Ida, wife of Ambrose Lambert, of Williamsburg; Mamie, at home; Reuben W., a farmer of Potter township. Mr. Colyer's present wife was the widow of Daniel Gunder. She is a native of Dauphin county, Penn., and her maiden name was Stiffler. They have one son, William, at home. Mr. Colyer votes with the Democracy at State and National elections, and believes strongly in Democratic principles, but when no issue is involved supports the man whom he thinks best qualified for office. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Society of Centre Hall. It was through his instrumentality that the post office was established at Colyer, and too much credit cannot be given him for his promotion of the material interests of the community. His life has been eminently successful, and it is the success which is the pride of America - that of a self-made man.