BIO: John M. BYERS, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 868 & 869.
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  JOHN M. BYERS, a well known resident of Cherry Tree, who is engaged in the 
monument and tombstone business at that place, was born at Cherry Tree, 
September 4, 1858, son of Abram and Martha (Conner) Byers.  The father of our 
subject came to Cherry Tree with his mother from York county, Pa., while yet a 
boy, and here followed farming and lumbering for a number of years.  He died at 
the age of seventy-one years at Cherry Tree, Pa.  During the Civil war he 
enlisted and saw active service in the Union army, serving in Co. F, 57th Reg. 
Pa. Vol. Infantry.  He married Martha Conner, a daughter of John Conner, and of 
their children there are four now living, two sons and two daughters, namely:  
John M., the subject of this sketch; A. S., who resides at Cherry Tree; Ellen, 
wife of William H. Lutman, of Cookport, Indiana county, Pa.; and Carrie M., wife 
of D. Somerville, a justice of the peace, residing in Cambria county, Pa.
  John M. Byers after attending school remained at home with his parents, and 
worked on the farm until reaching the age of twenty-two years.  At the end of 
this period he began to learn the stone mason's trade, which he followed as 
apprentice and journeyman for eight years.  In 1889 he engaged in the business 
of manufacturing tombstones and monuments at Cherry Tree, where he has since 
continued and is now doing a prosperous business.  He is a member of Lodge No. 
417, I. O. O. F., at Cherry Tree, which he is now serving as recording 
secretary; and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, Camp No, 6924, at 
Barnesboro, Pa., and several other fraternal organizations.  In politics a 
Republican, he has been an active worker for his party and was elected justice 
of the peace in Burnside township, Clearfield county, Pa., in 1906.
  In 1882 Mr. Byers married Ida M. Stiffler, who was born October 7, 1859, in 
Clearfield county, a daughter of P. J. and Rebecca (Garman) Stiffler.  Mrs. 
Byers' parents are both living in Cherry Tree, her father being now eighty-three 
years of age and her mother eighty-four.  There have been born to our subject 
and his wife three children, of whom the only one now living is G. Monte, aged 
twenty-five, a fireman in the Cherry Tree Iron Works, residing at home with his 
parents.