BIO: FREDERICK K. PLOYER, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson OCRed by Judy Banja Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/ _____________________________________________________________ >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 691-693 _____________________________________________________________ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/ FREDERICK K. PLOYER, cashier of the Second National Bank of Mechanicsburg, one of the leading financiers and prominent business citizens of Cumberland county, was born Dec. 21, 1844, at Jackson Hall, in Antrim township, Franklin county, near Chambersburg, Pa. His parents were Jacob and Sophia (Kissel) Ployer, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. Jacob Ployer was born in 1822. He came to Cumberland county about 1856, and settled on a farm near Newville, where his death occurred in 1898. His wife, whom he 692 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. married in 1842, at Dennis Creek, Franklin county, was a daughter of Frederick and Catherine Kissel, and belonged to an old family of Lebanon and Lancaster counties. The nine children born to them were: Frederick K.; John H., a carpenter of Bloserville, Cumberland county; Franklin K. and William A., who both died in infancy; Philip A., who died in young manhood, leaving a family of three children, Harvey E., Nora and Nellie; Catharine E., who married Frank A. Mitten, and died leaving three children; George W., of Carlisle; Charles E., of Cumberland county, and Edward C., of New Bethlehem, Pa. Jacob Ployer was a lifelong Republican in his political views. In religious life, he was a consistent member of the German Reformed Church. Frederick K. Ployer was ten years old when he came with his parents to Cumberland county, where he worked on his father's farm until he reached his majority, obtaining his education in the public and select schools of the neighborhood. When he was eighteen years of age he taught his first term of school. On Feb. 16, 1864, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, entering Company D, 187th P. V. I., and served in the field from May, 1864, to October of the same year, in this period participating in the battle of Cold Harbor, and all of the engagements of the 5th Army Corps during the siege of Petersburg. His regiment was very active in the operations carried on at the Petersburg & Norfolk railroad, June 18 and 19; Jerusalem Plank Road, June 20; Weldon railroad, Aug. 18, 19 and 20. When his regiment was ordered to Philadelphia, he was detailed for special duty at headquarters, Department of the Susquehanna, and was ordered to report to Capt. Francis H. Wessels, Judge Advocate of this department, at Harrisburg. There Mr. Ployer was engaged in clerical work with the military commission in the trial of the Columbia county conspirators. From the conclusion of this work until the muster out of his regiment, at the close of the war, he continued as record clerk in the Judge Advocate's office. In August, 1865, Mr. Ployer returned to his home at Newville and resumed school teaching, continuing in this profession until 1869. In the meantime his friends had not been idle, for his ability and personality had won him much esteem, and at this date he was appointed assistant assessor of internal revenue for the 15th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, in which position he was continued for four years. Mr. Ployer then removed to Altoona, Blair county, and was there employed as assistant shop clerk of the Altoona Machine shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, until Feb. 1, 1878, when he was appointed teller of the Second National Bank of Mechanicsburg, a position so faithfully and efficiently filled that on Jan. 1, 1880, he was made cashier. He is admirably fitted for this responsible office, and enjoys the entire confidence of the public. Mr. Plover is president of Group No. 5, of the State Bankers' Association of Pennsylvania, and thus keeps constantly in touch with the leading financiers of the State. On Jan. 18, 1870, Mr. Ployer was united in marriage with Miss Sarah R. Lloyd, born Nov. 6, 1844, at Lisburn, Cumberland county, daughter of William and Amanda Lloyd, the former of whom is of Welsh extraction, and the latter of Scotch-Irish. Mr. and Mrs. Ployer have one daughter, Eleanor M., born Dec. 12, 1872, residing at home. Both Mr. Ployer and family are prominent in the Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an elder for many years, and has also served CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 693 as trustee, clerk of the Session, and for a long period has been superintendent of the Sunday-school. His generous support is given to this religious body in aid of its various missions and benevolent enterprises. Mr. Ployer is also prominent in Masonry, is a member of Big Spring Lodge, No. 361, F. & A. M., at Newville; St. John's Chapter, R. A. M., at Carlisle; and is past commander of St. John's Commandery, No. 8, K. T., at Carlisle. He is a past commander of Col. H. I. Zinn Post, G. A. R., No. 415, at Mechanicsburg. He has also been active in civic and in educational affairs, serving as a member of the town council, and also as a trustee of Irving College at Mechanicsburg. In fact, for many years, his name has been associated with and his influence felt in the social, political and business circles of Mechanicsburg, of which borough he is an honored and representative man.