BIO: Michael HAMER, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, page 120.
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  MICHAEL HAMER, Tyrone, Pa., son of Moses and Elizabeth (Householder) 
Hamer, was born in Walker township, Huntingdon county, April 23, 1836.  
His paternal grandfather was born in Ireland, where he married, and 
soon after emigrated to America.  He settled in Marklesburg, Penn 
township, where he farmed during the rest of his life; he died aged 
about eighty.  He was a soldier in the war of 1812.  He and his wife 
both died in Marklesburg.  Their children, all deceased, were as 
follows:  Collins; Thomas; Solomon; Moses; Samuel.  Moses Hamer was 
born, it is supposed, in Huntingdon county, where he was reared a 
farmer boy and grew up on his father's farm.  He married, and settled 
in Walker township on a farm, which by hard work and industry became 
his own.  He was an active worker in the Reformed church, in which he 
held office continually.  He was favorably known and highly esteemed 
for his many good qualities.  He died in Walker township in 1888, at 
the age of eighty-seven; Mrs. Hamer died aged sixty-three.  Their 
children are:  Thomas, deceased, was a farmer in Walker township, 
married Elizabeth Grove, who is also deceased; Martha (Mrs. James 
Watson), of Walker township; Mary (Mrs. Joseph Isenberg), of 
McConnellstown, Pa.; Michael; Moses, a farmer in McConnellstown; John, 
a farmer in Walker township; Susan, deceased; Margaret (Mrs. John 
Peightel), died in Walker township; Elizabeth (Mrs. James Woods), of 
Walker township; and Samuel, who died in youth.
  Michael Hamer was educated in the public schools of his native place.  
During vacations, he worked on the farm, and when he was twenty years 
old with his uncle, Solomon Hamer, at McAlevys Fort, Huntingdon county.  
He served three years, receiving on average $15 a month, which sum did 
not enable him to save much.  At the end of his apprenticeship, he 
rented of Colonel Worden a mill in Walker township, which he operated 
for five years; he then went to Tipton, Blair county, where he rented a 
mill of William Dysert for one year; then to Bald Eagle Furnace, Blair 
county, for four years.  During the four years' milling at the last 
named place, he cleared over $8,000.  He then removed to Huntingdon 
Furnace for three years; then to Huntingdon, where he lived a retired 
life for three years.  Thus thoroughly recuperated, he came to Tyrone, 
and bought the steam flouring mill, which he ran successfully for four 
years, then sold out and in 1877 bought what was known as the Logan 
Spring flouring mill, which name he changed to the Minneapolis flour 
mill; and this property he owned ever since.  Mr. Hamer is a staunch 
Republican.  During his twenty-five years' residence in Tyrone he 
served as councilman for many terms.  He removed to Warriors Mark 
township in the spring of 1896.
  Michael Hamer was married in Walker township in 1857, to Elizabeth, 
daughter of John and Elizabeth (Mason) Norris.  Their children are:  
John, married Miss Owens, is in the electric light and telephone 
business; and Lydia (Mrs. James Morrow), of Wellsville, N. Y.  Mr. 
Hamer is a member of the Presbyterian church at Tyrone, of which he has 
been a deacon for a quarter of a century.  He is highly esteemed for 
his many virtues.