My Genealogy Hound

SOLOMON BOYER, a retired capitalist of Allentown, was born in Lehigh County, October 29, 1816. The great-grandfather of our subject, Frederick Boyer (originally spelled Beyer), emigrated to America about 1733. He came from the Palatinate, and was a member of the Reformed Church. He acquired several hundred acres of land, and while working in his meadow was waylaid and shot by the Indians. He left one son, Henry, who grew to manhood, and married Margaret Hankey, by whom he had four sons and three daughters. Among his sons was John, who was born December 26, 1781, and in 1802 married Elizabeth Reber, a native of this county, and the daughter of Gerhard Reber. For many years the father of our subject was a farmer, and dealt extensively in live stock. After the death of his wife he resided with his son, Solomon, until his death, February 20, 1874. Many of his children died young, only three growing to mature years: Elizabeth, who married Daniel Woodring, and died in February, 1842; Polly, who married Abraham Woodring; and Solomon.

Solomon Boyer passed his boyhood days upon his father’s farm, and when only thirteen years of age found employment on the Lehigh Canal, which had just been completed. He was thus occupied for six seasons. In 1842 he established in business for himself by opening a general store at Unionviile, were he also operated as “mine host.” Two years later he sold out at that place, and removing to Westport, on the Lehigh River, engaged in the same line of business, and in addition handled large quantities of coal and lumber. In 1844 our subject purchased a tract of land along the banks of the river and built a wharf, which enabled him to ship coal and lumber. Four years later he secured the location of a postoffice at Westport, and had the name of the place changed to Rockdale, by which it is still known. He remained in Rockdale until 1871, and during his residence there conducted large business interests. He owned many acres of woodland, from which he cut the timber, selling a great deal of lumber to the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and a great deal for building purposes. He was also interested in a charcoal furnace for six years, and did an immense business in coal. April 4 of the above year he removed to Allentown, where he began dealing in iron ore, having eleven ore pits, and carrying on the largest business in that line in the county.

In 1869 Mr. Boyer received the contract to build five miles of track for the El Paso & Pacific Railroad in Texas, which he completed at the time designated in the contract, and gave perfect satisfaction. He has been a very important factor in the upbuilding of this city, and among the enterprises in which he has been engaged is that of the Allentown National Bank, of which he was one of the organizers, and in which he is both a stockholder and Director at the present time. He is also a Director in the Macungie Iron Company, and holds the same position with the Glen Rolling Mill Company. Mr. Boyer is truly speaking self-made, for what he has of this world’s goods has been obtained directly through his own efforts, as when he started out in life he had nothing. He received for his first winter’s work only thirty-five cents per day.

October 29, 1843, our subject and Miss Lucy A., daughter of John Miller, were united in marriage. Mr. Miller was born in this county, as was also his wife, who before her marriage was Miss Sally Diebert. To Mr. and Mrs. Boyer were born twelve children, of whom three sons and six daughters are now living, namely: Flora A., the widow of John Koch; Lucinda, who married John H. Beck, of Treichler’s, this state; John P., a resident of Allentown; Lewis F., engaged as a general merchant in Wilkes Barre; William H, a farmer near Mechanicsville; Agnes M., the wife of H. G. Ruhe, of Boston; Ida R., wife of Charles N. Moss, of Philadelphia; Lilly C., the wife of Milton B. Laubach, of Philadelphia; and Sallie J., at home with her parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Boyer are charter members of the German Reformed Church, of which our subject was Treasurer for many years. He was a member of the building committee during the erection of the Salem Reformed Church, which cost $17,000. The family, which isa prominent one in the county, occupies a fine residence at No. 202 North Seventh Street.