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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company; Elwood Roberts, Editor.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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LEWIS STYER, who was cashier of the People’s National Bank of Norristown from the time of its organization in 1881 until his death, was born August 2, 1832. He was the son of John and Hannah Styer. Their children were Amos, Alfred, Lewis, W. Augustus and Mary, of whom W. A., residing in Norristown, is the only survivor. (For an account of the Styer family, which is of German origin, see sketch of Freas Styer, elsewhere in this work.)

Lewis Styer was educated in schools in the vicinity of his home, which was in Whitpain township, where the Styer homestead was located, until about thirty years prior to his death. In early manhood he taught school, and during the Rebellion was one of President’s Lincoln’s deputy internal revenue collectors. He was a partial invalid for many years of his life. He married Rebecca E., daughter of Davis Styer, of Florence Heights, New Jersey, who preceded him several years in death. Lewis Styer was a member of the Society of Friends. In politics he was a Republican, and exerted himself in behalf of its candidates and principles. In 1872, when the party won its first triumph in Montgomery county, and Septimus Roberts, also of Whitpain township, was elected to the office of register of wills, deceased received from him the appointment of deputy in the office, which position he filled in the most satisfactory manner. He remained at the county seat after the expiration of his term in the office, engaging in the real estate business, in which he was associated with Edmund M. Evans. The two organized the People’s National Bank, in which Lewis Styer received the appointment of cashier, relinquishing his real estate business to perform its duties. He was compelled to leave his desk on the third of May, 1903, by illness, and gradually sank, dying on the 27th of the same month. His funeral took place on the 30th of May, from the residence of his brother, W. A. Styer, No. 1206 DeKalb street, Norristown, where he had made his home for several years prior to his death. His remains were interred in Friends’ burying ground at Plymouth Meeting.

Lewis Styer was a man of the highest integrity, careful and correct in all his dealings, and affable and gentle in his manners. He enjoyed the respect and confidence of the entire community.

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This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

View additional Montgomery County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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