BIO: Ezekiel CONFAIR, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2009. 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. _____________________________________________________________________ EZEKIEL CONFAIR, a prominent lumber dealer and agriculturist residing on the Canada road, in Boggs township, Centre county, is a man of marked influence in that locality. He is connected either by descent or marriage with a number of well-known families of this section, and is himself a native of Howard township, Centre county, having been born there June 30, 1839. On the paternal side the first ancestor to settle in this locality was his grandfather, Philip Confair, a native of Germany who came at an early day with his wife, Elizabeth, who was born in Ireland, passing their last years in Centre county. Their son, Philip, Jr., was born there, and became by occupation an agriculturist in Howard township, engaging also quite extensively in tar burning. He was active in local affairs as a Democrat, and was a leading member of the Disciple Church, as was also his wife, Margaret Wants, a native of Centre county, and a daughter of John and Margaret Wants. She died December 30, 1888, aged seventy-four, and on December 2, 1890, at the advanced age of ninety years, he followed her to the unseen world. To this estimable couple fourteen children were born: Samuel (deceased), who married and had one child; Mary (deceased), who married George B. Lucas, of Howard township, Centre county; Michael, a farmer in Howard township; Philip, a farmer in Curtin township, Centre county; Henry, a farmer and lumberman in Clearfield county; Philinda, widow of Henry Handless, and a resident of Clearfield county; Ezekiel, our subject; Margaret, who died when fifteen months old; Lavina (deceased), formerly the wife of John Mann, of Clinton county; Emeline (deceased), who married Henry Antis, of Centre county; Franklin, a farmer in Howard township, Centre county; Nicholas, now residing at the old homestead; and Elizabeth, wife of William Unguard, of Watsontown, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania. Ezekiel Confair's early life was spent at the old homestead, and the public schools of the locality furnished the foundation of a good practical education. On December 8, 1859, he was united in marriage with Miss Charity A. Packer, and soon after established his home upon a rented farm in the same township, belonging to Hiram Baker. Three years later he rented a farm in that township from Gov. Packer, and after four years there he moved to Boggs township, where, after occupying and renting property for five years, he purchased (in 1873) his present estate, a fine farm of 158 acres. In July, 1865, he was drafted, but paid $300 to the government for a substitute. Socially, he is a leading member of the Grange at Milesburg, and in religious faith, since the age of thirteen he has been connected with the U. B. Church, with which his wife united when sixteen years old. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Confair have had thirteen children, whose names with dates of birth are as follows: John R., August 20, 1860, died September 12, same year; Martha J., May 4, 1862, married Robert B. Lucas, a farmer and lumberman of Boggs township, Centre county; William H., December 26, 1863, died September 12, 1864; Ira, January 1, 1865, is engaged in the lumber business in Boggs township; George W., July 22, 1866, is a farmer in the same locality; James T., October 13, 1868, is a farmer in Curtin township, Centre county; Jerome A., August 21, 1871, is engaged in lumbering in Curtin township; Jesse P., December 12, 1873, is at home; a daughter, April 11, 1875, died unnamed; Emma L., June 4, 1876, married John Watson, a farmer of Boggs township, Centre county; Irvin M. L., September 17, 1877, Nancy E., June 15, 1879, and Edward N., January 9, 1882, are at home. Mrs. Confair was born in Howard township, Centre county, a daughter of Jesse P. Packer, a native of Germany. The first ancestor of the Packer family of whom we have record was Aaron Packer, Mrs. Confair's great-grandfather, who married Mary Phipps, a native of the Province of Maine, and a sister of Sir William Phipps, who figured prominently in the history of Massachusetts, and was Governor of that State in the latter part of the seventeenth century. He followed the sea for some time, and was knighted by King James on account of his search for sunken treasure. Having gone to London and obtained an audience of the King, he told him of vast wealth lying beneath certain waters. The King listened attentively, and approving the plan outlined for the recovery of the prize, he appointed Sir William Phipps captain of the "Rose Algier," a vessel carrying eighteen guns and ninety-five men. Thus equipped, Sir William said from England on his quest. The estate of the Phipps family in England is now in litigation, and Mrs. Confair, as one of the heirs, is entitled to a large fortune. Jesse Packer, Mrs. Confair's grandfather, was a native of Germany, and his wife, Catherine Will- 392 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD iams, was born in Ireland. Jesse Packer was a leading man of his day in this section, and followed the calling of civil engineer. Jesse P. Packer, the father of Mrs. Confair, was born in Chester county, Penn., and was there married to Sarah Swisher, who was born in the Fatherland and accompanied her parents, Joseph and Elizabeth (Linnes) Swisher, to this country, where they remained, their last days being spent in Centre county. Jesse P. Packer became prominent among the agriculturists of Howard township, Centre county, where he died September 9, 1874, at the age of seventy-five. His wife passed away December 2, 1884, aged seventy-seven years. Ten children were born to them, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Michael, July, 1823, Joseph, November 25, 1826, a farmer, Nancy, August 11, 1828, wife of James P. Haines, a lumberman, and John, August 16, 1831, a farmer by occupation, all reside in Howard township, Centre county; Catherine, August 29, 1834, married James Packer, of Curtin township; Rowland, June 27, 1837, was drowned at the age of fourteen; Charity A., August 16, 1840, married Mr. Confair; Jane, July 30, 1843, resides at Howard, and Susan T., August 8, 146, married Ira Packer, a farmer in McLeod county, Minnesota.