William Slifer

"WILLIAM SLIFER, P.O. Littlestown, was born in Union Township, this county, July 15, 1820, a son of Jacob Henry Slifer, a native of Alsace, Germany, who paid the passage money for himself, wife and two children at Bremen, but the captain of the vessel absconding, they were left without sufficient funds to pay another passage. Jacob Henry was then obliged to make another contract with a captain to work, after his arrival in America, two and one-half years in payment for the family’s passage. This contract he carried out by working for John Winrod, of Union Township, the above named period. He and his wife arrived in that township in 1817, the two children having died at sea, where they were buried. Jacob Henry was a weaver by trade, and after becoming free of the passage debt carried on the weaving business for eight years in Union Township. He then bought six and one-half acres of land at Whitehall, Mountpleasant Township, and built a house and kept a store. He died very suddenly of palsy in 1834, leaving one child, William, our subject. Six years afterward his widow married Adam Dener, and subsequently moved West. William continued in the store, which became his sole charge after his mother’s marriage. He married Mary Ann Hornberger, and soon after sold the store and began burning lime in Union Township. He followed this vocation for twenty-one years, and amassed a comfortable competency. He has been a life-long Democrat and has served the borough of Littlestown as its burgess, member of council, tax collector, etc. He is a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Slifer have had eleven children, five of whom are living: Mary Ann E., John N., William J., Henry E. and Ella Virginia."