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- EZEKIEL CONFAIR, a prominent lumber dealer and agriculturist residing on the Canada Road, in Boggs township, Centre County, is a man of marked influence in that locality. He is connected either by descent or marriage with a number of well-known families of this section, and is himself a native of Howard Township, Centre County, having been born there June 30, 1839.
On the paternal side the first ancestor to settle in this locality was his grandfather, Philip Confair, a native of Germany who came at an early day with his wife, Elizabeth, who was born in Ireland, passing their last years in Centre County. Their son, Philip, Jr., was born there and became by occupation an agriculturist in Howard township, engaging also quite extensively in tar burning. He was active in local affairs as a Democrat, and was a leading member of the Disciple Church, as was also his wife, Margaret Wants, a native of Centre county, and a daughter of John and Margaret Wants. She died December 30, 1888, aged seventy-four, and on December 2, 1890, at the advanced age of ninety years, he followed her to the unseen world. To ethics estimable couple fourteen children were born: Samuel (deceased), who married and had one child; Mary (deceased), who married George B. Lucas of Howard Township, Centre County; Michael, a farmer in Howard Township; Philip, a farmer in Curtin township, Centre county; Henry, a farmer and lumberman in Clearfield County; Philinda, widow of Henry Handless, and a resident of Clearfield County; Ezekiel, our subject; Margaret, who died when fifteen months old; Lavina (deceased), formerly the wife of John Mann, of Clinton County; Emeline (deceased), who married Henry Antis, of Centre County; Franklin, a farmer in Howard Township, Centre County; Nicholas, now residing at the old homestead; and Elizabeth, wife of William Unguard, of Watsontown, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.
Ezekiel Confair's early life was spent at the old homestead, and the public schools of the locality furnished the foundation of a good practical education. On December 8, 1859, he was united in marriage with Miss Charity Packer, and soon after established his home upon a rented farm in the same township, belonging to Hiram Baker. Three years later he rented a farm in that township from Gov. Packer, and after four years there he moved to Boss township, where, after occupying and renting property for five years, he purchased (in 1873) his present estate, a fine farm of 158 acres. In July, 1865, he was drafted, but paid $300 to the government for a substitute. Socially, he is a leading member of the Grange at Milesburg, and in religious faith, since the age of thirteen he has been connected with the U.B. Church, with which his wife united when sixteen years old.
Mr. and Mrs. Confair have had thirteen children, whose names with dates of birth are as follows: John R., August 20, 1860, died September 12, same year; Martha J., May 4, 1862, married Robert B. Lucas, a farmer and lumberman of Boggs township, Centre County; William H., December 26, 1863, died September 12, 1864; Ira, January 1, 1865, is engaged in the lumber business in Boggs township; George W., July 22, 1866, is a farmer in the same locality; James T., October 13, 1868, is a farmer in Curtin Township, Centre County; Jerome A., August 21, 1871, is engaged in lumbering in Curtin township; Jessie P., December 12, 1873, is at home; a daughter, April 11, 1875, died unnamed; Emma L., June 4, 1876, married John Watson, a farmer of Boggs Township, Centre County; Irvin M. L., September 17, 1877, Nancy E., June 15, 1879, and Edward N., January 9, 1882, are at home.
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Our Family History
1839 - 1915 (76 years)
