Josiah Eby Boyer

Josiah E. Boyer

This gentleman was born in Manheim, Lancaster Co., PA on January 12, 1836. He was a son of
David Kolb Boyer and Hannah (Eby) Boyer. He came to Ohio with his father in 1840, and with
him located in Union, Montgomery County in 1843. His education was obtained before his
twelfth year of age, at which time he began clerking in the store his father then kept. When
approaching his majority, he came to Dayton, and for six months acted as Deputy Sheriff.
Shortly after this his father was elected Clerk of the Court and he entered upon the duties of
that office for his father. He is said to have been the first man, not of the legal profession to
successfully conduct the business of that office. He carried on the affairs of the office until 1864
with great credit to himself and father. In 1864, he commenced the business of stove
manufacturing, and started an extensive iron foundry with John MacMaster under the firm
name of Boyer & MacMaster. He was married August 24, 1865, to Miss Mary Elizabeth (Lizzie)
Kneisley, daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Koogler) Kneisley, who came to this county from
Pennsylvania. By this marriage one child was born, November 30, 1869, and named David
Kneisley Eby Boyer. Josiah was twice elected Water-Works Commissioner, and for some years
was President of that board. He was the originator of and prime mover in the Mutual and Home
Savings Association organized in 1873, of which he was the first Secretary. He was a member of
Wayne Lodge, No. 10, I. O. O. F. and a past President of the Dayton Life Insurance Association.

Josiah E. Boyer died on February 23, 1905 at the age of 69 and is buried in Woodland Cemetery
in Dayton. His father, David K. Boyer died on March 3, 1891 at the age of 70 and is also buried
at Woodland Cemetery.