He was born on 2 March 1843, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, apparently to Andrew Boyer and Elizabeth [unknown family name]. [sources: date: 15, 22, 30 (4 Mar 1843); 4 (19 in 1861), 9 (18 in 1861), 10, 11 (18 in 1861), 14 (36 in 1880), 15 (57 in 1900), 18 (64 at death in 1907), 23 (7 in 1850), 24 (17 in 1860), 25 (27 in 1870). place: 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 18, 22, 23 (Philadelphia), 24, 30 (Trappe, Montgomery, PA). parents: 22 (Joseph), 23 (Andrew and Elizabeth), 24 (Elizabeth), 30 (Andrew and Elizabeth)]
In 1850, he may have been living in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. If so, he was living with Andrew and Elizabeth Boyer (presumably his parents), and with Emily, Andora, Catharine, Andrew, and Royer Boyer (presumably siblings), along with Emanuel Hendricks. He had attended school within the year. [source: 23]
In 1860, he may have been living in Norristown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. If so, he was living with Elizabeth Boyer (presumably his mother), and with Emily, Andora, Kate, Andrew, Royer, Laura, and Ellee Boyer (presumably siblings), along with M Smith. [source: 24]
When he enlisted, he was a machinist. [sources: 9, 10, 11]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 5-1/2 inches tall, and had a light complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair. [sources: 9, 10, 11]
He also served in company B of the 4th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was mustered into service on 20 April 1861. He was discharged on 26 July 1861. [sources: 7, 13, 19]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 25 or 27 September 1861. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Casner. He was mustered into service in company K at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Dye (USA). He was appointed corporal on 8 October 1861. [sources: 1 (27 Sep), 4 (25 Sep), 5, 7 (25 Sep), 8, 9 (25 Sep), 10 (25 Sep), 11 (25 Sep), 32]
On 18 March 1863, he returned to duty from being absent sick. [source: 3]
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. He was then a corporal. [source: 17]
In April 1864, he was tried by court martial. [source: 20]
On 25 April 1864, he was reduced to the ranks, by order of a general court martial. [source: 5]
On 2 May 1864, he was sick in his quarters. [source: 6]
In May or June 1864, he lost one Springfield rifle musket and accoutrements. [source: 2]
On 8 July 1864, he was reported as a captain's cook. [source: 12]
He mustered out on 6 November 1864, when his term expired. He was a private, in company K. [sources: 1, 4, 5 (2 Nov), 16, 32]
On 9 February 1867, he married Nellie [unknown family name]. She was born in June 1849, in Pennsylvania. They apparently had four children, including:
[sources: 14, 15 (4 children, 2 alive, in 1900), 25, 26 (4 children 2 alive in 1910), 28, 29, 30]
In 1870, he was living in ward 20, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Nellie, and children Herbert M and Lillie. [source: 25]
On 14 January 1876, his son, H M Boyer, died, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He died at 1928 Amber Street, ward 19, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He died of diphtheria scarlet fever. On 17 January 1876, he was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 29]
In 1880, he was living at 1319 Savery Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Nellie and three children. He was an engineer. [source: 14]
On 26 June 1881, his daughter Lillie E Boyer died, in Philadelphia. She died at 1324 Savery Street, ward 18, Philadelphia. She died of scarlet fever. She was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 28]
In 1890, he was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 7]
In 1900, he was living in Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his wife Nellie, two sons, and brother Andrew. He was a farmer. [source: 15]
On 25 February 1901, he applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension. [sources: 13, 19]
On 1 March 1907, he again applied for a pension. [source: 19]
He died at Marble Hall, Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, on 2 October 1907, of hypertrophic cirrhosis of liver and secondary carcinoma, with exhaustion contributing. He was a farmer. He lived in Marble Hall, Pennsylvania. He was buried on 7 October 1907, at Greenwood (Knights of Pythias) Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [sources: 18, 19, 21, 22, 30]
On 11 October 1907, his widow, Nellie W Boyer, applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension. [sources: 13, 19]
In 1910, his widow, Nellie W Boyer, was living in Plumstead, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She was living with her son Elmer F, and his wife and children. [source: 26]
In 1920, his widow, Nellie Boyer, was living in Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. She was living with her son Elmer and his wife and children. [source: 27]
On 5 April 1921, his widow, Nellie Boyer, died, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. [sources: 30, 31]
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster)
2 letter, Lentz to Bennett, 16 July 1864
3 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 18 March 1863 (Corpl Boyer)
4 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 23 June 2004 (John M Boyer)
5 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 25 April 1864 (Corpl Boyer)
6 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 2 May 1864 (Private Boyer)
7 1890 US census, veterans schedule, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 342, page [3] (image 714 on Ancestry), line 28 (John M Boyer)
8 company K, list of non-commissioned officers (John M Boyer)
9 company K, descriptive roll (John M Boyer)
10 company K, second descriptive roll (John M Boyer)
11 company K, third descriptive roll (John M Boyer)
12 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 8 July 1864 (Pri Boyer)
13 pension index, by name (John M Boyer)
14 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 330, microfilm series T9, film 1177, pages 80C-D = 11-12 handwritten (John M Boyer)
15 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Montgomery County, Whitemarsh Township, supervisor's district 2, enumeration district 281, microfilm series T623, film 1445, page 170 B = 11 handwritten (John M Boyer)
16 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 3 November 1864 (Privt Boyer)
17 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (John M Boyer)
18 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2 October 1907, #24868 (John M. Boyer)
19 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company K (John M Boyer)
20 National Archives Archival Research Catalog (accessed 24 July 2010) (J M Boyer)
21 Pennsylvania death indices, 1907 ('Boyer, John Mathias: 99008; Montgomery Co.; Oct. 2.')
22 death certificate, Pennsylvania, Montgomery County, 2 October 1907, file number 99008 (John Mathias Boyer)
23 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Montgomery County, Upper Providence Township, microfilm series M432, film 799, page [576] = 10 handwritten (FamilySearch) (John M Boyer)
24 1860 US census, Pennsylvania, Montgomery County, Norristown Borough, microfilm series M653, film 1144, page 501 = 3 handwritten (FamilySearch) (John Boyer)
25 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 2nd enumeration, ward 20, district 68, page 56 handwritten, Sixth Street (FamilySearch) (John M Boyer)
26 1910 US census, Pennsylvania, Bucks County, Plumstead, microfilm series T624, film 1320, page 294 = 8 A handwritten (FamilySearch) (Nellie W Boyer)
27 1920 US census, Pennsylvania, Montgomery, Whitemarsh Township, enumeration district 192, microfilm series T625, film 1606, page 250 = 4 B handwritten (FamilySearch) (Nellie Boyer)
28 [not transcribed] death register, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Lillie E Boyer, 26 June 1881 (FamilySearch)
29 [not transcribed] death register, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, H M Boyer, 14 January 1876 (FamilySearch)
30 'Burley family tree', an Ancestry family tree, owner RichardBurley39, accessed 29 June 2013 (Ancestry)
31 Pennsylvania death indices, 1921 ('B600 Nellie Boyer 36425 Montg Co 4/5' [hard to read--could be 36125])
32 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John M Boyer)
| line | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 |
| Dwellings visited | 76 | ||||||||
| Families visited | 76 | ||||||||
| Name | Andrew Boyer | Elizabeth " | Emily " | Andora " | John M " | Catharine " | Andrew " | Royer " | Emanuel Hendricks |
| Age | 36 | 31 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 6/12 | 20 |
| Sex | M | F | F | F | M | F | M | M | M |
| Color | |||||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Farmer | Laborer | |||||||
| Real estate owned | 4000 | ||||||||
| Birthplace | " [sc. Philadelphia] | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | |||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | |||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 |
| Dwelling number | 20 | |||||||||
| Family number | 23 | |||||||||
| Name | Elizabeth Boyer | Emly " | Andora " | John " | Kate " | Andrew " | Royer " | Laura " | Ellee " | M Smith |
| Age | 41 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 40 |
| Sex | f | f | f | m | f | m | m | f | f | m |
| Color | ||||||||||
| Occupation | Boarding House | |||||||||
| Value of real estate owned | 2000 | |||||||||
| Value of personal estate | 200 | |||||||||
| Place of birth | " [sc. Pa] | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | ||||||||||
| Attended school within year | ||||||||||
| Cannot read & write | ||||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Dwelling-house number | 1736 | |||
| Family number | ||||
| Name | Boyer John M | Nellie | Herbert M | Lillie |
| Age | 27 | 21 | 2 | 1 |
| Sex | M | F | M | F |
| Color | ||||
| Occupation | ||||
| Real estate value | ||||
| Personal estate value | ||||
| Birthplace | ||||
| Father foreign born | ||||
| Mother foreign born | ||||
| Birth month if born within year | ||||
| Marriage month if married within year | ||||
| Attended school past year | ||||
| Can't read | ||||
| Can't write | ||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | ||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | ||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 1 |
| street name | Savery St | Savery St | |||
| house number | 1319 | 1319 | |||
| dwelling visit # | 111 | 111 | |||
| family visit # | 118 | 118 | |||
| name | Boyer, John M | - Nellie W [?] | - Lillie E | - Elmer F | Boyer Linn H |
| color | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | F | M | M |
| age | 36 | 30 | 10 | 3 | 10/12 |
| month born if born in year | July | ||||
| relationship | wife | daughter | son | Son | |
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| married | 1 | 1 | |||
| widowed/divorced | |||||
| married during year | |||||
| occupation | Engineer | Keeping house | At school | ||
| months unemployed | [blank?] | ||||
| currently ill? | |||||
| blind | |||||
| deaf/dumb | |||||
| idiotic | |||||
| insane | |||||
| disabled | |||||
| school this year | 1 | ||||
| can't read | |||||
| can't write | |||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Penna | England | Pa | Pa | Penna |
| mother's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Pa | Pa | Penna |
| line | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 |
| street | |||||
| house number | |||||
| dwelling number | 215 | ||||
| family number | 220 | ||||
| name | Boyer John M | - Nellie | - Elmer F | - Lynn H | - Andrew |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Son | Son | Brother |
| color | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | M | M |
| birth date | Mar 1843 | June 1849 | Jan 1877 | July 1879 | July 1845 |
| age | 57 | 51 | 33 | 20 | 54 |
| married? | M | M | S | S | S |
| # years married | 33 | 33 | |||
| mother of how many children? | 4 | ||||
| # of children living | 2 | ||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | England | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigration year | |||||
| # years in USA | |||||
| naturalized citizen? | |||||
| occupation | Farmer | Farm laborer | Architect | Salesman (dry goods) | |
| # months not employed | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| # months in school | |||||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| speaks English | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| owned/rented | R | ||||
| free or mortgaged | |||||
| farm/house | F | ||||
| # of farm schedule | 91 |
| line | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| street | |||||
| house nr | |||||
| dwelling nr | 92 | ||||
| family nr | 98 | ||||
| name | Boyer, Elmer F. | ", Elva G. | ", Elmer F Jr | ", Mevey E M. | ", Nellie W. |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Son | Son | Mother |
| sex | M | F | M | M | F |
| color | W | W | W | W | W |
| age | 33 | 36 | 3 | 1 7/12 | 60 |
| marital status | M1 | M1 | S | S | Wd |
| #years present marriage | 5 | 5 | |||
| mother of # children | 3 | 4 | |||
| mother of # living children | 2 | 2 | |||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Eng English |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigrated | |||||
| naturalized/alien | |||||
| speaks English | English | English | English | ||
| occupation | Farm Laborer | None | None | None | None |
| nature of industry etc. | General Farm | ||||
| employer etc. | W | ||||
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | No | ||||
| # weeks out of work 1909 | No | ||||
| can read | 0 | ||||
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| school since 1 Sep 09 | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| owned/rented | R | ||||
| owned free or mortagaged | |||||
| farm/house | H | ||||
| nr on farm schedule | |||||
| civil war vet | |||||
| blind | |||||
| deaf & dumb |
| line | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 |
| street | |||||
| house number | Fm | ||||
| dwelling visit number | 91 | ||||
| family visit number | 93 | ||||
| name | Boyer, Elmer | -, Rebecca | -, Elmer | -, Mevey M. | - Nellie |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Son | Son | Mother |
| own/rent | R | ||||
| free/mortgaged (if owned) | |||||
| sex | M | F | M | M | F |
| race | W | W | W | W | W |
| age at last birthday | 42 | 47 | 12 | 11 | 65 |
| marital status | M | M | S | S | Wd |
| year of immigration | |||||
| naturalized/alien | |||||
| year of naturalization | |||||
| attended school since Sept 1919 | yes | yes | |||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| birth place | Pennsylvania | Delaware | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| native language | |||||
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Delaware | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's native language | |||||
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | England |
| mother's native language | English | ||||
| can speak English | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| occupation | Farmer | none | none | none | none |
| industry, business | Farm | ||||
| employment status | S | ||||
| number of farm schedule | 17 |
I HEREBY CERTIFY, That I attended deceased from Sept 4th 1907 to Oct 2nd 1907 that I last saw him alive on Oct 1st 1907 and that death occurred, on the date stated above, at 11.10 PM.
The CAUSE OF DEATH was as follows: