Kindly submitted: Patti Stafford
One of the most important industries in Pennsylvania is that known
as the Hercules Cement Company, of which our subject is Secretary
and Superintendent. The plant, which was established in 1879, is
located near Coplay, and the present company was incorporated in
1891, with Col. John Craig, President; John T. Williams,
Treasurer; and our subject Secretary and Superintendent. The
factory turns out some of the best grades of cement that is placed
upon the market, among which is the "Hercules Portland," the
"Improved Lehigh" and "Improved Rosendale." The company gives
constant employment to about fifty men, and their plant, which is
supplied with the latest improved methods of machinery, has a
capacity of four hundred barrels of hydraulic cement per day.
The present building occupied by the company was erected in 1889,
as the old factory had been previously burned.
Our subject, Edward D., is a native of Catasauqua, this state, and
was born on the 23d of September, 1857. His parents were Reuben
A. and Rebecca Boyer, the former of whom is deceased, and the
latter at present residing in the above place. For many years
Reuben Boyer was Superintendent of the ore mines for the Crane
Iron Company at Catasauqua, and his father, John Boyer, was the
second Burgess of that place in 1854.
The father of our subject departed this life in the spring of
1890. He was a Republican in politics, and was one of the
county's prominent and popular residents, who met with substantial
results in all his enterprises. Our subject grew to man's estate
in his native county, and received a preliminary education in the
public school. Later he entered the Philadelphia College of
Pharmacy, from which he graduated in 1877, and for many years
thereafter was engaged in the drug business at Catasauqua.
In 1890 Mr. Boyer was appointed Secretary of the Catasauqua Cement
Company, which was changed a year later to the Hercules Cement
Company, and in the fall of 1891 was appointed Superintendent of
the works. He was married in 1885 to Miss Annie, daughter of John
Williams, now deceased, but who was Cashier of the Crane Iron
Company. To Mr. and Mrs. Boyer have been born two children, John
W. and Marion R.
The original of this sketch is greatly interested in political
affairs, and never fails to cast a vote for Republican
candidates. For the past twelve years he has served as Secretary
of the borough of Catasauqua, and his long continued service
indicates his great personal popularity. His life has been a busy
and useful one, and his honorable, upright career has won him
universal confidence.
