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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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JOHN R. HERNER was born in Amity township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, November 18, 1834. He is the son of David and Susan (Rhoads) Herner.
David Herner (father) was born in Amity township, Berks county, and spent his life on the farm. He held various township offices, and was a prominent man in his community. He died in Amity township at the age of eighty-nine years. He married Susan Rhoads, who was born at Milton, Pennsylvania, and died at the age of seventy-seven years. David Herner was a member of the German Reformed church, while his wife was a Lutheran. They had eight children, four of whom are now living: John R., Nathaniel, Sarah and Franklin.
Henry Herner (grandfather) was also a native of Berks county, and was a farmer. He served in the war of 1812, and at the time of his death was nearly ninety years of age. He held township offices. His wife lived to an advanced age and they had a large family. John Rhoads (maternal grandfather) was born in Pennsylvania, and spent most of his life at Milton, where he was a farmer. He and his wife both lived to an old age. They had five children.
John R. Herner was reared in Berks county and attended the district schools. Beginning at the age of eighteen he worked at the trade of flour milling for sixteen years, part of the time operating a mill which he had rented, in Amity township. After leaving the milling business he worked on the farm for three years, during which time his wife died. In 1878 he removed to Pottstown, where he has resided ever since, being employed in the Pottstown Iron Company’s mill.
November 3, 1862, John R. Herner married Miss Susan Sassaman, daughter of Daniel and Susan Sassaman. They had four children: 1. Warren, a puddler in the Glasgow Iron Works. He married Clara Schaeffer and they have one child, Maud. 2. Lucy, unmarried and keeps house for her father. 3. David, died at the age of ten years. 4. John Allen, died at the age of eight years. Mrs. Susan (Sassaman) Herner died in 1873, at the age of twenty-eight years. She belonged to the German Reformed church.
October 8, 1887, John R. Herner married (second wife) Mrs. Matilda Moyer, widow of William Moyer. Mrs. Matilda Herner died in 1891, at the age of forty-four years. She was a Baptist.
Mr. Herner is a member of the German Reformed church. Politically he is a Democrat, and was a school director for several terms. He was also township auditor and held other township offices. He belongs to the Patriotic Order, Sons of America. He resides at 401 Chestnut street, where he bought a home and remodeled it.
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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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