My Genealogy Hound

JOHN D. ROYER, bookkeeper for the Warwick Iron and Steel Company, of Pottstown, was born at Colebrookdale township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, August 29, 1835. He is the son of George and Rebecca (Dotterer) Royer.

George Royer (father) was born in Montgomery county, and was reared in Pottsgrove township. He was by trade a stonemason and a bricklayer. In his younger days he taught school during the winters. He removed to Berks county, where he died in 1879, in his seventy-ninth year. His wife died in 1873, aged sixty-six years. She was a member of the Reformed church, and he of the Lutheran. In politics he was a Democrat. They had eight children, four sons and four daughters, two of whom are now living, John D. and Franklin D., of Pottstown. Mrs. Royer was also born in Montgomery county.

John Royer (grandfather) was born in Pennsylvania. His ancestors were from Alsace Lorraine. He married Elizabeth Longabach and they had eight children. Abraham Dotterer (maternal grandfather) was a native of Pennsylvania. He was a blacksmith, and died well advanced in years. Abraham Dotterer was twice married, his first wife being Miss Reifsnyder, and his second wife, the grandmother of John D. Royer, Christina Hahn, daughter of Doctor Hahn of Reading, Pennsylvania.

John D. Royer was reared in Berks county on a farm. He learned the brick and stone mason trade, and at the age of thirty years began to work as clerk at the furnaces, spending three years at the charcoal furnace at Rockland, and six years at the Carrick & Franklin furnaces. He then moved to Cornwall, and spent one year at the anthracite furnaces. He has been with the Warwick Iron Company since April 1, 1875, and has been their bookkeeper since his connection with the firm. He helped to build the first furnace of the company.

On October 5, 1862, John D. Royer married Miss Sarah M. Ritter, daughter of Isaac and Anna (Moser) Ritter. They had three children: 1. Adaline, married Thomas R. Shaner. They have three children living: Sarah, Laura and Luther. 2. George R., married Mary Laveille. They have two daughters, Carrie Theressa, and Ethel May. He is a clerk in Philadelphia. 3. Laura, married Edward B. Trout. They have two children: Sarah Rebecca and John Aaron.

Mrs. Sarah M. Royer died September 24, 1901, in her sixty-second year. She was a member of the Lutheran church, as is her husband also. He is assistant superintendent of the Sunday school, and has only been absent from church four Sundays in twenty-two years. Politically he is a Republican.