My Genealogy Hound

DANIEL BOYER, farmer, grain and stock raiser, Sec. 35; P. O. Webster. Daniel, his father, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in York Co., in about the year 1800. He married Elizabeth Hoff, who is a native of the same State and county, born in 1799. Mr. Boyer followed farming in Pennsylvania, where he resided till his death, which occurred in 1847. Elizabeth, his widow, remained on the old home farm till 1867, when she came to Darke Co., and at present resides with her daughter Barbara, who married Peter Moul, Adams Township. They were the parents of eleven children, viz., Jonas, Maria, Barbara, Mannassa, Catharine, Henry, John, Samuel, Elizabeth, Aaron and Daniel. The subject of this sketch, who is a native of Pennsylvania, born in York Co., on the 25th of September, 1834, lived at home till he was about 14 years old, when he went to work for his Uncle Peter Blaser, on the farm, where he worked during the summer and autumn, and then returned home and attended school during the winter. In the spring, he hired out with a neighbor for $5 per month, where he remained till the next fall, attending the district school in the winter. He then went to York and drove team for Sultzbaugh & Quickie, drawing lumber, coal and iron, for which he received $11 per month, being the highest wages paid at that time; as he was always at his post ready for duty, being active, quick and willing, he never lacked for employment and always commanded the highest wages; he followed this business till he was 21 years old, when he became infatuated with the Western fever thinking that he could better his condition, and, true to his nature, he started for the State of Ohio, arriving at Versailles in April, 1856, at about 3 o’clock on a dark and foggy morning, and when the conductor called out “Versailles” he grasped his carpet-bag and made for the door, and when the train came to a halt he walked out on the platform of the car, and, thinking that he was at the station made a leap for the platform of the depot, but, alas! he missed it and landed in the ditch, with his carpet-bag on his head and his legs driven into the mud up to his knees, murmuring to himself, “Is this Darke Co., and if so, where am I? and how will I get out alive?” However, he managed to find his way out and made for a hotel, which he found and went to bed, where he slept sweetly till about 8 o’clock in the morning, when he awoke, donned his clothing, ate his breakfast paid his bill, placed his carpet-bag on his back and started on foot for his brother Henry, who resided about four and a half miles south, in Adams Township, where he remained for three months; he worked for his brother at the carpenter’s trade, after which he farmed Benjamin Bashore’s farm on shares, receiving one-third of the grain. He only remained one season, when he engaged with George Hetzler to farm his land on the same terms for one season, and met with good success. On the 17th of October, 1858, he celebrated his marriage with Elizabeth Cable, daughter of John and Susana Cable; she is a native of Darke Co., Ohio, born on the 6th of October, 1841. He remained on the Hetzler farm for about five years, during which time Mr. Hetzler died, and at the sale of the personal property he purchased most of the stock and farm implements and moved on his little farm of 55 acres, in Sec. 36, Wayne Township, for which he paid $860, and in a short time he purchased 48 acres which joined him, making in all 103 acres, which he improved, residing on the same till 1872. He then rented a farm of Levi Huddle, in the same township, containing between 500 and 600 acres, which he has under his management, and at present is the largest grain and stock raiser in the county; he now has ten head of horses and mules, forty head of cattle, one hundred head of sheep and fifty head of hogs; he grew over 3,000 bushels of small grain last year, and about 4,000 bushels of corn. In 1879, he purchased 55 acres more, for which he paid $2,000; he now owns 158 acres, valued at $7,900; he erected a frame barn, 48x78 feet, on his farm, at a cost of about $1,000. Mr. Boyer commenced life with but little of this world’s goods, but by hard labor and correct business habits has accumulated a handsome little fortune, in which he has been nobly assisted by his good and industrious wife. When he married Miss Cable, her father gave her one horse, “Jack,” which is still living, being 24 years old. Mr. Boyer has had his full share of township offices since his residence in the county; has served as Trustee of Wayne Township two years, Supervisor, School Director, and was a member of the School Board for a period of nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Boyer are members of the “River Brethren,” a Baptist body. Ten children have been born to them, of whom nine are living, viz.: Ellen, John, Sarah, Milton, David, Maggie, Emma, Daniel, Mary.