BIO: George D. SHAVER, 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, pages 367-368.
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  GEORGE D. SHAVER, Mount Union, Pa., was born in Huntingdon county, 
Pa., March 22, 1848, son of Peter and Catherine (Kling) Shaver. His 
grandfather, who was of German descent, as also was his wife, was all 
his life engaged in farming. Both grandparents lived to a great age. 
The father, Peter Shaver, was also a farmer; he was born in Huntingdon 
county, and his wife a daughter of Moses and Catherine Kling, in Petty 
county. He took a prominent part in public affairs; was for a number of 
years supervisor, and also school director for many years, besides 
filling other township offices. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Shaver 
numbered fourteen; seven are deceased: Rachel; Mary; Alexander; Eliza; 
Washington; Martha; and Ellen. The survivors are: John; David; Jacob; 
Josiah; George D.; Bower; and Belcabreth. The father died May 1, 1882, 
aged seventy-seven; his wife died at the age of seventy-five.
  George D. Shaver attended the public schools until he reached the age 
of fourteen. From that time until 1863, he assisted his father in 
cultivating the home farm; but in October of that year, he enlisted in 
Company F, Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served for twenty 
months. He was under Sheridan and took part in the engagements of Cedar 
Creek, Winchester and others of the Shenandoah valley campaign. In 
1865, when he was discharged, Mr. Shaver went to Clearfield county, and 
for about four months worked at logging. He then went home and bought a 
team, which he used for about a year in the business of hauling. Then 
he sold his team, and was employed for another year upon the railroad. 
After his marriage, in 1867, Mr. Shaver rented his father's farm, and 
cultivated it for four years on his own account. His house being 
destroyed by fire, he removed to Mount Union, and bought four acres of 
land, on which he built a large dwelling. After residing in Mount Union 
for three years, he exchanged his house and lot for his father's 
property, where he has ever since resided, occupied in farming. In 
addition to his agricultural operations, Mr. Shaver is a dealer in 
superior horses; he owns the finest bred stallion in the Juniata 
valley, valued at $2,000. Mr. Shaver is a member of General Kane Post, 
No. 292, G.A.R., Mount Union. He is a Republican, and is an active 
worker for the success of the party.
  George D. Shaver was married, August 11, 1867, to Maria E., daughter 
of Michael and Mary (Bomgardner) Queary. Their children are: Forst W.; 
Martin L.; James L.; and William P. M. Mrs. Shaver is a member of the 
Methodist church.
  The paternal grandfather of Mrs. G. D. Shaver was a native of Berks 
county, and a mason, continuing in that trade all his life. Of his 
eight children, Charles and Adam died in infancy; the others were: 
John; Jacob; Michael' Elizabeth; George; and Maria; all now deceased. 
Both the grandparents died at an advanced age. David Bomgardner, Mrs. 
Shaver's maternal grandfather, was first a weaver, and afterwards, and 
for the greater part of his life, a farmer. His first wife was 
Catherine Mirely; their children were: Benjamin; John; Elizabeth; Mary; 
and Anna; all deceased. Mrs. Catherine Bomgardner died at the age of 
fifty-five years. His second marriage was with Ellen Dean, by whom he 
had two children: Nancy (Mrs. Henry Shaffner); and James, deceased. 
Mrs. Shaver's father, Michael Queary, was born in Berks county, and her 
mother was a native of Huntingdon county. Mr. Queary learned the trade 
of masonry, but at about twenty-five years of age, relinquished that 
business for farming, in which he was engaged during the remainder of 
his life. His first wife, Mary, was the daughter of David and Catherine 
(Mirely) Bomgardner. Nine of their children are living: Benjamin; 
Jacob; Elizabeth; James D.; George W.; Martha E. (Mrs. G. D. Shaver); 
Mary, widow of Henry Lynn; Annie (Mrs. David Pheasant); and John. Those 
deceased are: Catherine; Michael; Henry; Alfred; and Jennie R., wife of 
Wilbur Rohrer, also deceased. Michael and Alfred were taken prisoners 
during the war of the Rebellion, and died of starvation in prison, at 
Salisbury, N.C. The mother of these children died April 12, 1860, aged 
fifty-one years, eleven months. Mr. Queary was married again in 1862, 
to Mrs. Jane Rhoads. Of this marriage there were no children. He died 
April 11, 1895, at the age of eighty-four. His second wife had died in 
1893, March 20, aged eighty-one.