Daniel John Lesher: Wagonmaker

Daniel John Lesher
Wagonmaker
Transfer, Pennsylvania
ca 1890
Written by: Tim Duffie
March 9, 2008
Daniel John Lesher (b July 13, 1860) was married to Anna Williman (b 1862). Daniel & Anna had both
grown up in Otter Creek Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. According to the 1870 Otter Creek
Township Census, Daniel lived with his parents Nathan & Catherine Lesher (AKA Nathan Leasure) at
“Dwelling #12”, while Anna lived at “Dwelling #38” with John & Eliza Williman.
Daniel John Lesher at his Transfer, PA, blacksmith shop ca 1890.
Nathan Lesher is listed as a wagonmaker on the 1870 census, an occupation that apparently stood
young Daniel in good stead when it came time for him to support his family.
While we don’t know exactly when, after Daniel & Anna married they moved from Otter Creek
Township to Transfer where Daniel set up shop as the town blacksmith/wagonmaker. His shop stood
in the block of downtown Transfer bounded on the north by Broad St., the south by Rutledge Rd.,
Railroad St. to the east, and Penn St. to the west.
By the 1950s all that was left of this once bustling community, named after its function as a transfer
depot between railroad lines, was the Post Office/General Store on Broad St.
Across from the Post Office was the local Chevrolet Dealership, a monument to the revolution in
transportation that no doubt led to the demise of Daniel’s wagonmaking enterprise.
Daniel & Anna Williman Lesher had seven children:
Olivia, Maud, Vinnie, Eva, Montro, Paul, and Clyde.
At this point I have not identified the location for this
picture (right). The background is Transfer, but from
what perspective? The smaller building to the left
looks like a railroad depot, and one building may be
the old hotel. However, having never been in Transfer
when all those buildings were standing, it is difficult
for me to gain perspective.
Right: Daniel J. Lesher with granddaughters Betty & Shirley
Lesher, daughters of Clyde & Evalyn Pollard Lesher, ca 1920.
Changing circumstances, and probably a little bit of
the hard life, ended Daniel’s wagonmaking career by
1900. In the 1900 census he is listed as a “Lampman”
for the “Steam Rail Road”. He continued in that
occupation at least through 1920. His son Paul was
recently home from The Great War and was living
with Daniel and Anna at the time of the 1920 census.
In 1930 Daniel was listed as a “letter carrier” for the
post office.
Anna Williman Lesher died February 14, 1942. Daniel
followed her a year later in 1943.