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Below is a family biography included in the book,  Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company.  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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EDWARD D. BOYER. One of the most important industries in Pennsylvania is that known as the Hercules Cement Company, of which our subject is Secretary and Superintendent. The plant, which, was established in 1879, is located near Coplay, and the present company was incorporated in 1891, with Col. John Craig, President; John T. Williams, Treasurer; and our subject Secretary and Superintendent. The factory turns out some of the best grades of cement that is placed upon the market, among which is the “Hercules Portland,” the “Improved Lehigh” and “Improved Rosendale.” The company gives constant employment to about fifty men, and their plant, which is supplied with the latest improved methods of machinery, has a capacity of four hundred barrels of hydraulic cement per day. The present building occupied by the company was erected in 1889, as the old factory had been previously burned.

Our subject, Edward D., is a native of Catasauqua, this state, and was born on the 23d of September, 1857. His parents were Reuben A. and Rebecca Boyer, the former of whom is deceased, and the latter at present residing in the above place. For many years Reuben Boyer was Superintendent of the ore mines for the Crane Iron Company at Catasauqua, and his father, John Boyer, was the second Burgess of that place in 1854.

The father of our subject departed this life in the spring of 1890. He was a Republican in politics, and was one of the county’s prominent and popular residents, who met with substantial results in all his enterprises. Our subject grew to man’s estate in his native county, and received a preliminary education in the public school. Later he entered the Philadelphia College of Phrrmacy, from which he graduated in 1877, and for many years thereafter was engaged in the drug business at Catasauqua.

In 1890 Mr. Boyer was appointed Secretary of the Catasauqua Cement Company, which was changed a year later to the Hercules Cement Company, and in the fall of 1891 was appointed Superintendent of the works. He was married in 1885 to Miss Annie, daughter of John Williams, now deceased, but who was Cashier of the Crane Iron Company. To Mr. and Mrs. Boyer have been born two children, John W. and Marion R.

The original of this sketch is greatly interested in political affairs, and never fails to cast a vote for Republican candidates. For the past twelve years he has served as Secretary of the borough of Catasauqua, and his long continued service indicates his great personal popularity. His life has been a busy and useful one, and his honorable, upright career has won him universal confidence.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the book, Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company. 

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

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