Obit: J.R. Boughner, Northumberland County, PA





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            John R. Boughner died on Monday (10 Dec. 1889) about 6 o'clock. This 

was no sudden summons; Mr. Boughner had been sick for upwards of a year, and a 

few weeks ago was unable to leave his home or his bed. Gently the light of his 

life went out; so gently, indeed, that those in attendance were not aware when 

the end came. He was born in this city, March 15, 1843, in the house at present 

occupied by Harry Boughner on Sunbury Street. Early manhood discovered to him 

the duty the patriot owes to his country in the hour of her need, and he 

responded to the call by becoming a member of the 131st Regiment. No eulogy can 

do him greater justice than to proclaim the measure with which he met the duties 

of those times of peril. He was a brave, a faithful soldier, and when peace 

returned he became a good citizen.



 Returning to Shamokin, he engaged in coal mining at the Gap just opposite the 

present Cameron breaker's site. He operated what is known by the technical name 

of a "penitentiary," getting out at night the coal with which he supplied the 

farmers and the local market during the day. There was no steam power to help 

him in that day; the coal was dug out, hauled in a cart to a screen, which was 

turned by hand, and prepared for the customer.



Leaving the Gap, he opened another "penitentiary" along the bank near the 

present Henry Clay breaker. Later on he entered into partnership with Captain 

James A. Shipp and the firm built a breaker on their site, which was destroyed 

by fire in 1875. For some time after this Mr. Boughner was unoccupied with 

business responsibilities. Then he accepted a position in W. R. Kutzner's 

hardware store, in which he remained eleven years. The business having meantime 

changed hands he resigned to accept a position in the store of Boughner, 

Goodwill & Co., where he was engaged at the time of his death.



He was married to Miss Harriet Keiser, who died in the autumn of 1879, and 

leaves four sons and a daughter. Mr. Boughner was a member of the school board, 

and treasurer of that body. A man universally respected for his noble qualities 

of head and heart, his death will be mourned by a large circle of friends.



(From the Friday, Dec. 18, 1889 edition of the Shamokin Herald)