BIO: George B. SIMLER, Sr., 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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  GEORGE B. SIMLER, SR.  The merited and fitting reward of a well-spent 
life, and active business career, is an honored retirement in which to 
enjoy the fruits of former toil.  For many years this gentleman was 
prominently connected with the business interests of Philipsburg, but 
in 1881 he laid aside all care, and is now resting from his labors in a 
comfortable home, which was acquired through his own efforts.  He

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  351

is widely and favorably known in Centre county, and his name occupies a 
high place on the roll of leading and influential citizens.
  The first of the Simler family of which there is any authentic record 
is John Henry Simler, a native of Germany, who became a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war, enlisting in France, in 1780, as a private in Capt. 
Bart's corps of the first troops of Light Dragoons, Free Legion, under 
command of Col. Armand.  On arriving at Boston, Mass., the troops 
proceeded to Yorktown, Va., and in the memorable siege and capture of 
that place Mr. Simler took part, it being taken by the United forces of 
America and France.  He remained in the service until regularly 
discharged at Philadelphia.  At Yorktown he had received wounds in the 
left eye and forehead from a sabre which is now in the possession of 
our subject, and the scars he carried to his grave.  On the termination 
of the war he located at Philadelphia, where he married, and two 
children were born: George and Sarah.  His first wife died of yellow 
fever in 1793, and four years later he was again married.  By this 
union he also had two children, Charles and Mrs. Sarah A. Cowfer.  
Later John H. Simler migrated to Philipsburg, Centre county, where he 
erected the first house, and worked at his trade of shoemaking.  Here 
his daughter married and continued to make her home until her death.  
In Philipsburg his wife died in 1822, and two years later, when his son 
George brought a flock of sheep to Centre county, he was persuaded by 
him to return to Philadelphia, where his death occurred, October 14, 
1829.
  With his father, Charles Simler had come to Philipsburg, by ox-team, 
in 1797, and here in February, 1814, he had married Sallie Morrow, a 
native of Bellefonte, and a daughter of John Morrow, who was one of the 
early settlers of Centre county.  To this worthy couple were born 
eleven children, as follows: John D., born March 9, 1815, conducted a 
bakery in Philipsburg, where he died February 2, 1875; Jane, born 
December 1, 1816, married Franklin R. Street, now deceased, and died in 
November, 1895; J. Henry, born August 2, 1820, died in Philadelphia; 
George B., born August 2, 1820, is the subject of this sketch; S. 
Annie, born July 24, 1822, married John Huston, now deceased, and she 
died in 1844; Charles, born November 10, 1824, was a carpenter of 
Philadelphia, where his death occurred December 28, 1889; William B., 
born April 15, 1827, a painter by occupation, was a Union soldier 
during the Civil war, and came to Philipsburg in 1864, where he died 
July 19, 1874; Theodore, born May 26, 1832, is a brass fitter of 
Philadelphia; Margaret, born March 9, 1835, is the widow of Alex Adams, 
and resides in Chester Hill, Penn.; and Mary A., born November 26, 
1837, died when young.  In 1825, with our subject, the father returned 
to Philadelphia, his native city, where he passed away May 7, 1845, at 
the age of fifty-four years.
  George B. Simler remained under the parental roof until twenty-seven 
years of age.  His early education was rather limited, and at the age 
of seventeen years he began serving an apprenticeship to the 
carpenter's trade with William Cobb, a contractor and builder of 
Philadelphia, receiving $40 and board per year.  On attaining his 
majority he started out as a journeyman, and was thus employed until 
twenty-eight years of age, when he was appointed a policeman of 
Philadelphia, which position he acceptably filled for eighteen years.  
Returning to Philipsburg, he here engaged in the express business until 
1881, since which time he has lived retired, his son, George B., now 
conducting the business.
  On May 6, 1847, in Philadelphia, Mr. Simler was married to Miss 
Amanda Carpenter, and to them were born nine children: (1) Harry, born 
February 25, 1848, married Ellen Tarr, by whom he had thirteen 
children, three now deceased; he is a constable of Philipsburg. (2) 
Charles L., born April 27, 1850, died September 26, 1853. (3)  Sallie, 
born June 25, 1852, is the wife of Albert Jackson, a machinist of 
Johnstown, Penn. (4)  John, born June 8, 1855, died when young. (5)  
George B., born December 13, 1857, is engaged in the express business 
in Philipsburg. (6)  Hester, born January 12, 1861, died in infancy. 
(7) William N., born August 15, 1864, married Lizzie G. Osler, by whom 
he had two children, Charles Albert and Mary Estella (the wife and one 
child are deceased); he is an expert taxidermist, and a resident of 
Philipsburg. (8) Susannah A., born February 13, 1867, is the wife of 
William Cronover, a carpenter of Philipsburg, by whom she has one son, 
Clarence. (9) Jacob R., born May 4, 1871, is also a taxidermist.  With 
the exception of George B. and Jacob R., who were born in Philipsburg, 
the other children were all born in Philadelphia.
  Mrs. Simler is also a native of Philadelphia, her birth occurring 
April 8, 1829.  There her parents, Conrad and Hester (Sowers) 
Carpenter. spent their entire lives, the former dying August 2, 1867, 
at the age of seventy, and the latter on May 12, 1886, at the age of 
seventy-five years.  In their family were the following children: 
Conrad (deceased); Amanda, wife of our subject; William, a motorman on 
the street cars of Philadelphia; John (deceased), Andrew J. and Martin

352  COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

V. (twins), who died when young; Elizabeth and Mary, who died in 
childhood; John N., a detective of Philadelphia; Wilhelmina, also a 
resident of that city; and George and Jacob, who died in childhood.  
The father of this family was a butcher by trade.  He was a son of 
Benjamin and Margaret (Miller) Carpenter, natives of England and 
Germany, respectively.  The former was a cooper, and a member of the 
Society of Friends.  The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Simler, William 
and Hester (Miley) Sowers, were also natives of Germany, and when quite 
young came to Philadelphia, where the grandfather followed the 
butcher's trade.
  Mr. Simler is one of the honored pioneers of Philipsburg, with whose 
interests his family have been identified since the very beginning of 
the city, and have been important factors in its up-building and 
advancement.  When he first went to Philadelphia with his father in 
1825, the journey through the almost unbroken wilderness required nine 
days; but all this has since been changed, and now good roads and 
railroads cross and recross each other all over the country. In 
politics Mr. Simler is a Republican, and for fifty years has been a 
member of the I. O. O. F., joining Lodge No. 15 in Philadelphia.  He is 
well known as a man whose integrity is above question, whose word is as 
good as his bond, and is held in the highest regard by his many friends 
and acquaintances.  He has filled with honor many offices of trust in 
Philipsburg; was burgess one term, member of the council two terms, and 
president of the board.  In township matters he was assessor of Rush 
township two terms.  The following inscription is taken from the 
headstone that marks the last resting place, in the old cemetery, of 
our subject's maternal grandmother: "To the memory of Letitia Morrow, 
who departed this life the 6th of April, A. D. 1833, aged 65 years, 3 
months and 6 days."