BIO: William PEALER, Centre County, PA

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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.
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  WILLIAM PEALER.  Penn's Valley can justly lay claim to the title of 
the "Garden Spot of Centre county;" which is indeed freely accorded her 
by any one who has viewed the charming scenery dotted with beautiful 
homes and productive farms.  With the same consistency that locality 
can claim among her merchants some of the best business men in the 
county, and to substantiate this claim, we introduce a biographical 
sketch of a man who, beginning his business career as a poor though 
honest and ambitious youth, has won for himself full right to this 
classification.
  William Pealer, of Spring Mills, was born near Hublersburg, Penn., 
April 24, 1844, the son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Dunkle) Pealer.  His 
father was a native of Northampton county, Penn., and being the son of 
poor parents, his schooling was very limited - what instruction he had 
being all in German.  At the age of eighteen he went to Nittany Valley, 
and worked as a farm hand, having never learned a trade.  He was 
married in early manhood, in Centre county, his wife being a native of 
Walker township, and daughter of Henry Dunkle, a farmer by occupation, 
and one of the leading citizens of that locality.  They lived for some 
time on rented property, but after a few years Mr. Pealer was able to 
purchase a home and a few acres of land, with a sawmill, which he 
carried on in connection with his little farm.  In 1856 he sold this 
place and bought a tract of eighty acres of land in its primitive 
condition with not even a log cabin on it.  This he cleared and 
improved, erecting a dwelling house and other buildings, and he lived 
there until after the death of his wife, when for a few years he 
resided in Lock Haven.  His wife died at the age of fifty-six, but he 
was in his seventy-third year when he was called from earth. They now 
sleep in Snydertown cemetery.  Both were devout Christians, Mr. Pealer 
being a Lutheran and his wife belonging to the Reformed Church.  He was 
always prominent in religious work, and held various offices in the 
Church.  In politics he was a Democrat, but while he had great regard 
for his party he was no office seeker.  He served as school director in 
his township, however, his interest in education making him an earnest 
supporter of the schools. He was a hard-working man, and although he 
started poor, and lived an honest life, he gained a competence.  Our 
subject is the second in the family of three children - Henry the 
eldest, is a carpenter and contractor at Rockford, Ill.; Mary, the 
youngest of the trio, is now the widow of Dennis Barner, of 
Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
  The subject of this sketch first attended school at the "Stone School 
House" near Hublersburg, his first teacher being Allen Bartholomew; 
later he pursued his studies at the Snydertown school, but in those 
times the sessions lasted only a few

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  371

months each year, and the instruction was greatly inferior to that in 
schools of similar grades at this day.  He worked at home while 
attending school; but when he was twelve years old the removal of the 
family to the new farm in the woods brought extra work and seemingly 
ended his chances for study.  His desire for a better education was not 
to be thwarted, for he worked at lumbering in the woods for some time, 
and with the hard-earned money thus gained he paid his expenses at more 
advanced schools.
  His fellow workmen used to laugh at him for spending his earnings on 
schooling, and often suggested that a horse and buggy would do him more 
good.  But the clever boy knew better, and kept steadily to his 
purpose.  He attended a select school at Jacksonville, and later the 
academy at Pine Grove, preparing himself for teaching, which he 
followed successfully at Warrior's Mark, Huntingdon county, Penn., one 
term; Milesburg, Penn., one term; and Eagleville, Penn., two terms, 
having charge of the grammar school in the latter place.  While the 
occupation was congenial, it had its disadvantages, and he began to 
look out for a profession that furnished employment twelve months in 
the year, and where better wages and greater chances for advancement 
could be found.  On September 21, 1868, he entered the general store of 
Jared B. Fisher, at Penn Hall, Penn., as a clerk, and remained three 
and one-half years.  He then took a similar position with R. H. Duncan, 
at Spring Mills (a general merchant), but soon after returned to his 
former employer at increased wages, taking a more responsible position, 
that of bookkeeper and general superintendent of the entire business.  
This position he held ten years, when he resigned in order to go into 
business for himself.  Having by his courteous treatment and obliging 
manner won a host of friends, he speedily attracted a large and 
profitable trade.  In 1882, he associated himself with J. D. Long, 
under the firm name of Pealer & Long, and carried on a general 
mercantile business at Spring Mills, but after one year the partnership 
was dissolved.  In 1884 he began business at his present stand (then a 
rented building), and has ever since conducted one of the largest and 
leading mercantile houses of Penn's Valley, his stock being extensive 
and well-selected.  His thorough knowledge of his business, his close 
attention to detail, his sound judgment in planning and energy in 
execution have gained him an enviable reputation in financial circles, 
and his advice is frequently sought in important movements.  Honest in 
every way, there is no transaction of his in which the slightest tinge 
of dishonesty or unfairness can be found.  A handsome fortune has 
rewarded his efforts.  He owns eighty-two acres of excellent farming 
land in Gregg township, and also the old homestead of his parents in 
Nittany Valley, as well as his store building at Spring Mills, and his 
pleasant residence in the same place.  He owns stock in and is a 
director of the Millheim Telephone Company, the Lewisburg & Tyrone 
railway, and in a Building and Loan Association; he also loans money on 
security.  As a further safeguard against disaster he carries $5,000 
life insurance, paid up.
  Mr. Pealer was married in Aaronsburg, in 1872, to Miss Jane E. 
Leitzel, a native of Gregg township, Centre county, and daughter of 
Philip Leitzel, a well-known citizen.  They have no children.  In local 
affairs, Mr. Pealer is a loyal friend to progress.  He is a devout 
member of the Lutheran Church, contributing liberally, and he has held 
various offices in the Church and Sabbath-school.  As a stanch Democrat 
Mr. Pealer has always been active in the interests of his party, but he 
is not a politician.  He has filled creditably such township offices as 
auditor and assessor, and has served as school director in his 
district.  Owing to popularity he was appointed to fill the unexpired 
term of a former Republican postmaster at Spring Mills, and this 
service under a Republican administration was followed by an 
appointment as a Democrat to the same position during Cleveland's first 
term.  On May 20, 1893, he was again appointed, and is now serving with 
characteristic ability and faithfulness.