John Royer and his family moved to Sterling, Rice Co, KS in 1886. John built a large two story house 2 miles north of Sterling (now owned by the Wilkey family). He helped to support the establishment of Cooper (now Sterling) College, a Presbyterian supported schooll. source: History of Seneca Co, Ohio, 1886 by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago
Thompson Twp – John Royer Jr, farmer, P O Flat Rock, was born March 20, 1831 in Thompson Twp, this county, a son of the famous pioneer, John Royer, Sr. He is said to be the 1st child born to a Pennsylvania settler in Thompson Twp. He endured the usual lot of a pioneer’s son, and attended the primitive schools of those early days. He married Miss Barbara Bunn 4 Dec 1852 (1851), and in 1855 they moved to Erie Co, Ohio, where they resided for 7 years, then proceeded to Sandusky Co, Ohio, where they resided for 4 years, and in March 1866, they finally located where they now reside in Thompson Twp, this county; here they have acquired a fine farm of 140 acres of well improved land; their residence stands within ten rods from where was located the house which Joseph Parmenter, in 1820, held the first township election of Thompson Twp. Mr and Mrs Royer are parents of Leander K, Mrs Salome A Rubert, Mrs Lydia A Wollenslagel (now in Kansas), Cerena E, Jared, (deceased), Mary Ann, John Douglas, Jacob McClelland (in Kansas), Samuel Vallandingham, Emma M, Isaac Willard, Benjamin Franklin S, Solomon I, Clement L, Elda E and Lulu V . Mr and Mrs Royer are members of the Reformed Church. He is a life-long Democrat and takes a deep interest in public affairs. He is one of the enterprising and influential farmers of Thompson Twp, highly respected by all who know him.p.608 – Thompson Twp – T. 3, N. R. 17 E.
Among the prominent men of later years may be mentioned Jacob and John Bunn, Samuel Stewart, Jacob and Peter Karn, John Royer, John Decker, Daniel Close, M Good, John Heter, Peter Dewalt and others.
———————————————————–The Sterling Kansas Bulletin – Jan 15, 1909:
Bellevue – Grandpa Royer had a stroke of paralysis on Sunday night. He is some better at present writing.Mr and Mrs (Uriah) Myers of near Alden were at J L Feighner’s on Monday night and Tuesday, on account of the sickness of Mrs Myers’ father, Mr Royer.from the Tiffin Daily Tribune, Tiffin, Seneca Co, Ohio, January 19, 1909:
JOHN ROYER, Jr.
Former Pioneer Resident of Seneca County Dies in Kansas
Word was received today of the death of John Royer, a former resident of Seneca county, at his home in Sterling, Kansas. Mrs S I Royer, of Lisbon, who is visiting in Tiffin, received a telegram to that effect from her husband, Rev S I Royer, who left Saturday, called to Kansas by his father’s critical illness. The deceased was aged about seventy-eight years and was a native of Flat Rock, Ohio, being the first child born to a Pennsylvania settler in Thompson township. In December, 1852, he was married to Miss Barbara Bunn and in 1855 moved to Erie county, where they lived for eleven years and then returned to Thompson township. About twenty years ago, he removed to the State of Kansas. The deceased is an uncle of Judge J C Royer and a brother-in-law of Judge J F Bunn, of this city. His wife died about eighteen years ago and he is survived by fifteen children. The funeral will be held at his late home in Sterling, Kansas.from the Bellevue Gazette, Bellevue, Ohio, January 21, 1909:
JOHN ROYER
Former Pioneer Resident of Thompson Township Dies in Kansas
Bellevue relatives have received word of the death of John Royer, a former well know resident of this vicinity, who died Tuesday, January 19, at his home in Sterling, Kansas.
The deceased was 78 years of age and was born and raised near Flatrock, being the first child born to a Pennsylvania settler in Thompson township. In December of 1852, he was married to Miss Barbara Bunn, a sister of B F Bunn, of this city. Mrs Royer died some twenty years ago. In 1855, the family moved to Erie county, where they lived for eleven years, afterwards returning to Thompson township. About twenty-five years ago the family moved to Kansas.
The deceased is survived by fourteen children, Douglass Royer, of this city being a son. He was also a brother of Jarred Royer of Flatrock, and Manam Royer, of Thompson township and an uncle of Mrs G W Friedley and Mrs Ida Woleslagel, of this city.
The funeral took place from his late home in Sterling, Kansas.The Sterling Farm Journal, Vol 1, #41, Friday, Jan 22, 1909, p. 3, Col 1 :
Father Royer died at the home of his son-in-law, J L Feighner, on Monday evening. Funeral will be held Friday afternoon. A full obituary will be given next week.
The Sterling Kansas Bulletin, January 29, 1909:
Obituary – John Royer
The events of life crowd so rapidly upon us that we sometimes become unconscious of their importance. In the passing away of John Royer we have an event of more than momentary importance, which causes us to reflect and meditate. The community has lost not only a venerable and exemplary man and good citizen, but one of the pioneers whose aims were to improve the community materially, educationally and morally. And in his death we are reminded that the first generation is here to possess the land. While not an actual pioneer, yet in reality, one of the oldest pioneers. Before the days of the famous Bellevue colony, he came to this country and bought 160 acres. From that moment his heart was busied in the west, and he simply waited the opportunity to locate here with his family; and after the death of his aged parents in the spring of 1886, he located on a farm north of Sterling.
Mr Royer belonged to a sturdy ancestry, who had their origin in France, but who at the great uprising of the Huguenots, were driven out of France because of their firm belief in the Protestant religion. While located in Germany that desire to worship God according to the dictates of conscience began to manifest itself and they braved the storms and ploughed their way across the ocean and settled in Pennsylvania among the earliest pioneers. The pioneer spirit manifested itself again in the father of Mr Royer and he severed the family ties and the association of friends and made his journey in a wagon and located in eastern Ohio. Some of his brothers and father followed him to this place, after which he took his journey westward and located in Seneca County among the tribe of the Senecas who were the native inhabitants. Here in the pioneer days of northern Ohio, John Royer was born March 20, 1831. Here he grew to manhood under the conditions of pioneer life, felling the trees, spinning the flax, flaying the wheat and hauling it twenty miles to market. In the course and progress of time, as the great American desert was gradually transforming into the oasis of the west, this pioneer spirit began to manifest itself again and was the cause of his locating in this country.
Mr Royer, a man who paid special attention to the fundamental principles of life. Farming was but a mere incident in his life. The great problem of life of how to become the noblest character, and most useful citizen was what occupied his time, and to this end he sought to rear his children. Believing in the fundamentals of education he sent each of his sons away to school at the age of eighteen years, six of whom spending some time at Heidelberg University at Tiffin, Ohio; two of whom graduated and one graduating from the theological seminary; three sons taking partial courses at Cooper Memorial, and one son graduating from the State Agricultural and from Ensworth Medical College of St Joseph, Mo. Mr Royer, himself, was deprived of these educational advantages but sought to compensate for this loss by close application to study and reading and for thirty-five years did little else but occupy his time in this way, and his mind became a veritable storehouse of the memories of current events.
In 1851 he was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Bunn and to this union was born sixteen children, nine sons and seven daughters. One of the older sons died at the age of four months, and the youngest daughter at the age of thirteen years. For thirty-two years the death angel passed over the home where fifteen children were being reared and grew to maturity. As a man he was all that fellowman could expect from his mortal brethern. The only criticism of those who knew him best was, that he was too good for his own good. His quiet, genial nature was always in evidence. He was true to his religious convictions and firm in his belief yet always exercising charity towards all mankind.
In May 1890 he laid to rest his companion in life, after which he made his home with his daughter, Mrs Feighner. Lonely under these conditions, yet he bore his loss with fortitude and enjoyed life. While his children are scattered from eastern Ohio to California, it is the consolation of each one that he paid them a personal visit before passing from this life.
On Sunday evening, January 19th, he retired as usual but was overcome by a slight stroke of paralysis from which he partially recovered, only to sink gradually until his release came on Monday evening, January 18th. He passed away as he had lived, very peacefully with a conscience void of offense and malice toward none. The funeral services were held on Friday afternoon at the United Presbyterian church under the charge of Dr Strong and Rev Casselman of Wichita, Rev Casselman having been the family pastor for years, and officiating at the time of Mrs Royer’s death and at the daughter’s death in 1892. All of the children were present except one daughter and two sons. He was carried to his final resting place by six of his sons. Truly it may be said of him; “Blessed is the man whose God is the Lord, that he may come to his end in peace.”
Family links:
Parents:
John Royer (1799 – 1886)
Mary Magdalena Romig Royer (1803 – 1879)
Spouse:
Barbara Ellen Bunn Royer (1835 – 1890)*
Children:
Leander Kossuth Royer (1852 – 1924)*
Salome Adeline Royer Rupert (1853 – 1940)*
Lydia Ann Royer Woleslagel (1855 – 1935)*
Elizabeth Cerena Royer Feighner (1856 – 1928)*
Jarred Royer (1858 – 1858)*
Mary Ann Royer Myers (1859 – 1927)*
John Douglas Royer (1861 – 1925)*
Jacob McClelland Royer (1863 – 1948)*
Samuel Vallandingham Royer (1864 – 1942)*
Elma Maurea Royer Stewart (1866 – 1958)*
Isaac Willard Royer (1868 – 1944)*
Benjamin Franklin Simeon Royer (1870 – 1944)*
Solomon Irving Royer (1872 – 1953)*
Clement Laird Royer (1874 – 1945)*
Elda Elmerita Royer Shonyo (1876 – 1958)*
Elverton Royer (1876 – 1876)*
Lula Vanetta Royer (1879 – 1894)*
Siblings:
Margaret Royer (____ – 1842)*
Isaac Royer (1820 – 1906)*
Sarah Royer Fisher (1821 – 1891)*
Anna Royer Loudenslager (1823 – 1901)*
Samuel Royer (1825 – 1884)*
Elizabeth Royer Payne (1828 – 1848)*
John Royer (1831 – 1909)
Neri Royer (1833 – 1917)*
Lydia Royer Matz (1836 – 1912)*
Maniam Royer (1839 – 1926)*
Jared Royer (1843 – 1914)*
*Calculated relationship |
Names of Barbara, John, Lulu on this stone.
Virginia (Hayes) Rouse, 80, retired Kansas State Dept. of Social and Rehab. Serv. social worker, died Monday, Jan. 20, 2003. Service 10 a.m. Wednesday, Woodland United Methodist Church. Burial 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sterling (Kan.) Cemetery.
