BIO: John E. ROYER, 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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  J. E. ROYER, a prosperous agriculturist of Miles township, Centre 
county, was born November 4, 1863, in Franklin township, Snyder Co., 
Penn., a son of Aaron C. and Mary B. (Hertz) Royer, and a descendant of 
Christopher Royer, who came to this country from Germany in 1748.
  Aaron C. Royer, father of our subject, was a native of the same 
county, born in 1828 on the old Royer homestead and in the Royer 
settlement. His father, John Royer, was a farmer by occupation, died 
when Aaron was but eight years of age, and the latter then lived with a 
maternal uncle in Union county, Penn., where he learned the tanner's 
trade and secured a limited education. After a trip to the West he 
returned to his native county, and operated the old homestead farm, 
where his death occurred October 26, 1864, and he was laid to rest in 
the Hassinger Church cemetery. Though he took no active part in 
politics, he always supported the Republican party; in religious belief 
he held membership in the Reformed Church.
  On February 28, 1856, in Union county, Aaron C. Royer was married to 
Mary B. Hertz, who was born in Kelly township, that county, December 3, 
1836, and is a daughter of John and Mary (Keim) Hertz, farming people, 
in whose family were ten children, seven of whom reached adult age. 
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Royer: Eve A., now the wife of 
Byron Edmunds, of Cleveland, Ohio; Ellen V., wife of John S. Kauffman, 
of Snyder county, Penn.; and J. E., the subject of this sketch. After 
the 

438  COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  

death of the father, the mother remained upon the farm, and later 
married Moses Specht, a merchant and hotel keeper of Beavertown, Penn., 
since deceased. She now finds a pleasant home with our subject. 
Religiously, she is a Lutheran.
  During his boyhood and youth, J. E. Royer attended the Hassinger 
school of Franklin township, Snyder county, and on completing his 
education went to western Ohio, working for a time in Hardin and 
Hancock counties as a day laborer on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & 
Chicago railroad. For eight years he was variously employed in 
different States in the West, and then returned to his old home in 
Snyder county, where, on February 10, 1886, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Alice Bingman, who was born in that county November 16, 1862, 
a daughter of Frederick and Mary (Smith) Bingman, farming people of 
Beavertown. Mr. and Mrs. Royer have three children: James S., born 
September 4, 1889; Mary B., born September 1, 1892; and Helen E., born 
July 9, 1896.
  After his marriage, Mr. Royer rented a house and lot near Beavertown 
for a year, while he worked at general labor and looked up a location. 
On February 22, 1887, he came to Miles township, Centre county, where 
in the fall of 1885 he had purchased the old Smull homestead, 
consisting of 107 acres. He has remodeled the house and made many 
valuable and useful improvements upon the farm, which is now under a 
high state of cultivation. In connection with this property he also 
owns a tract of timber land. He is numbered among the most energetic 
and prosperous young farmers of the community, and, while a resident of 
the township but a few years, has already made for himself a prominent 
place among the better class of citizens. He is systematic in his 
methods of farming, and the neat and thrifty appearance of his industry 
and capable management. In politics he is a steadfast Democrat, and as 
a man and citizen contributes his full share toward enhancing the 
intellectual and moral welfare of the community. Both he and his 
excellent wife are members in good standing of the Reformed Church.

1900 Miles Township, Centre County census -
John Royer, 36  [looks like Reyer]
Alice J. Royer, 35  
James S. Royer, 10  
Mary B. Royer, 8  
Hellen E. Royer, 4