Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Beyer, Farncis D. October 23, 1831 - ????
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Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892.
Author: Samuel T. Wiley

FRANCIS D. BEYER,
senior member of the well-known planing mill firm of F.D. Beyer & Co., of
Tyrone, and a leading prohibitionist of Blair county, is a son of Aaron and
Lydia (Ramey) Beyer, and was born at Spang's Mills, Antis Township, Blair
county, Pennsylvania, October 23, 1831. His paternal grandfather, Rev. David
Beyer, was of German descent.  He was born near Frederick Town, Maryland,
September 7, 1763, and was left at an early age, by the death of his parents,
to do for himself.  In 1797 he came to Sinking Valley, and built a brick house
and saw and grist mill.  He was a noted miller, and his flour, when sold in
Baltimore, always brought the highest price.  In 1833 he sold his property,
and removed to Antis township, near Tipton, where he purchased land and
erected the old Beyer mill, which he operated until his death in 1841.  He
united with the Methodist Episcopal church in 1809, was afterward licensed as
a local minister, and preached for many years without pay or recompense. He
was an old-line whig in politics, and a strong anti-Mason.  He served for
many years as a justice of the peace, and married Sarah Crum, of near Belton,
Maryland, by whom he had thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters.  At
his death he left nearly one hundred descendents, and his sons, Abraham and
Aaron became the owners of his mill and home property.  Aaron Beyer (father),
the youngest son, was born August 23, 1811, in the old brick house, erected in
1797 by his father.  He learned the trade of miller which he followed at
various places until 1833, when he removed to Antis township, where he built
the present Beyer mill, which he operated for many years, besides conducting
a hotel for a short time.  He was successively an old-line whig, republican
and prohibitionist in politics.  He was a member, trustee and class leader of
the Methodist Episcopal church for nearly half a century.  In 1886 he removed
to Altoona, where he died in 1887, when in the seventy-sixth year of his
age.  His life was devoted to useful work, and the moral and religious
improvement of his community.  On January 12, 1831, he married Lydia Ramey,
daughter of Frederick and Martha (Keller) Ramey, who was born March 4,
1811.  To their union were born thirteen children: Francis D., Elizabeth J.,
Martha A., Rev. James S., who served three years in the Union army, then
spent fifteen years preaching in Virginia, and is now stationed in Clinton
county as a member of the conference of central Pennsylvania; Catherine B.,
served as a nurse in the army, and is now at Herkimer, New York; Angeline,
Emeline, Mary A., Sanford D., who enlisted in Co. B, 110th Pennsylvania
infantry, and was killed March 25, 1865, in front of Petersburg; A. Wesley,
Sarah B., Lydia R., and William M., whose sketch appears in this volume.
      Francis D. Beyer received his education in the common schools and
Cassville seminary, and then learned the trade of carpenter, which he
followed for several years.  He helped to erect the first houses built in
Altoona, and afterward erected a waterpower planing mill near the old
homestead.  He then built the steam planing mill at Tyrone, which is now
operated by Mr. McCamant. In 1869 he erected another steam planing mill at
Tyrone, which he operated until 1873, when it was burned, and then he rebuilt
and enlarged it into his present large saw and planing mill establishment,
which is operated by the firm of F.D. Beyer & Co., of which he is the senior
member.  He employs a force of thirty men, does an extensive general planing
mill business, in addition to which he is actively engaged in contracting and
building.
      On December 23, 1856, he married Lizzie, daughter of the late Simon
Blake, of Martinsburg, and to their union were born ten children: Grace T.,
wife of Frank Waring, a member of the firm of F.D. Beyer & Co.; Vida S.,
married to Dr. J.S. Baer, of Camden; Samuel B., married Madge, daughter of
Rev. George Leidy, of Huntingdon, this State, and is a partner with his
father in the planing mill business; George K., married Carrie Penny, and is
engaged in the fruit growing and poultry business at Vineland, New Jersey;
Aaron F.; Charles W.; Laura K.; and four others who died in infancy.
      Francis D. Beyer is a steward, trustee and class leader of the Second
Methodist Episcopal church of Tyrone, to which he is a most liberal
contributor.  In politics he was formerly a republican, but is now a
prohibitionist, and is usually chosen as a delegate to the prohibition State
conventions. He is an honorary member of the Women's Christian Temperance
Union.  Mr. Beyer is a prominent representative of the planing mill business
of Tyrone, which has been commensurate in its increase with most of the other
industries of the borough.  Earnest and active in the cause of Christianity
and prohibition, he ranks high as an honorable man and a useful citizen.

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Christy Stiles

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