• Born: July 2, 1788 in Worcester, Montgomery County, PA
• Died: April 1, 1871in Whitpain, Montgomery County, PA
• Buried: Wentz UCC Cemetery in Worcester
• Spouse: Catherine Beyer
  • Born: January 9, 1790
  • Died: February 9, 1867
  • Parents: Abraham Beyer & Catharine Richerd
• Married: August 12, 1810 at St. James Episcopal Church in Perkiomen
• Children: Margaret, Lydia, Abraham*, Susanna, Mary, Philip, Levi, John, Anna

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Like his father, Harman Custer seems to have lived a simple farmer’s life in Montgomery County, PA. Towards the end of his life he would have witnessed the Civil War.

Harman was born on July 2, 1788 in Worcester Township.  He married Catherine Beyer on August 12, 1810 at St. James Episcopal Church in Perkiomen.  Catherine was descended from Schwenkfelder immigrants from Silesia, and her family is discussed separately.  

We learn a little about Harman and Catherine’s family from federal census records:

In 1850, Harman was 61 years of age, a farmer, and his real estate was worth $3000.  Living with him and Catherine were their children Mary, Philip, Levi, and Ann.  

In 1860, Harman was still working as a farmer, likely just farming his own land for his family’s sustenance, and his real estate was worth $4000.  Living with him and Catherine were their children Mary (working as a tailoress), Philip, and Ann. Additionally, the family appeared to have been caring for three additional children: Eunice Haller, 8-year-old daughter of Lydia, and Mahlon Custer (age 6) and Catharine Custer (age 2), their grandchildren by John Custer and his first wife, Sara. In 1860, the family’s direct neighbor was  Joseph Beyer, age 42, who perhaps was a relative of Catherine’s.  

Catherine died on February 9, 1867, and Harman died on April 1, 1871 in Whitpain Township. They are buried in the Wentz UCC cemetery in Worcester.

Children of Harman and Catherine

1 Margaret Custer, their first child, lived only about a month and a half. She was born on February 6, 1811, and died on March 21, 1811.

2 Lydia Custer was born on January 11, 1812 in Worcester Township and died on December 30, 1895 in Chester County.  She married George Haller (1807-1882) on December 16, 1847 at Norriton Providence Presbyterian.  They had four children that are known of: John (1848-1893), Eunice (1850-1913), Lydia (1853-1881), and Absalom (1854-1935).

3 Abraham Custer is discussed here. 

4 Susanna Custer was born on May 12, 1815 and died on March 12, 1881. She is buried in the Lower Skippack Mennonite cemetery.  She married William Wanner (1802-1880). They had one known child, named Jesse Custer Wanner (1854-1935).

5 Mary Custer was born on June 23, 1817 and died on March 12, 1885. She married Jesse Davis (1808-1876) in 1838. Their children were Jacob, Nathan, Mary, Benjamin, Emma Catharine, and Hannah.  Interestingly, Mary is included in her parents’ household in both the 1850 & 1860 censuses, and with her brother in the 1870 census, a span of time during which she was married and bearing children. Why she is listed at home with her parents and not with her husband and children is peculiar. 

6 Philip Custer was born on January 2, 1821 and died on April 28, 1900.  He married Margaret “Maggie” Hoffman (1818-1911) on June 2, 1887. At the time of their marriage, Philip was 66 and Maggie was 69 (though the marriage license lists Maggie as 49). Philip and Maggie are both buried in the Wentz UCC cemetery.

After his mother’s death, Philip seems to have become the caretaker of the family.  The 1870 census lists him as “PB Custer,” a 49-year-old farmer, with his sisters Ann (39), the housekeeper, and Mary (53), who had no occupation. Also living with them were their father, Harman, who was then 82 and a “retired farmer,” and a 12-year-old Catharine Custer, whose parents were John Custer (Philip’s brother) and his first wife, Sara.

7 Levi Custer was born on March 25, 1825 and died on October 9, 1886. His Civil War draft card lists his occupation as mason. He married Sarah Auchey/Ache (1827-1893) on March 11, 1851 at Norriton Providence Presbyterian.  They had two children: Naomi (born ~1852) and George (born ~1854).  Levi and Sarah are buried at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Parker Ford, Chester County.  

8 John Custer was born on September 18, 1827 and died on May 11, 1886. His Civil War draft card lists his occupation as a farmer, and he spent much of his life in Norristown, Montgomery County.

John’s first wife was Sara Landis (1831-1859). They were married on October 16, 1852.  They had four children: Mahlon (1854-1939), Sarah (1855-1938), Catharine (1857-1919), and Sallie (1859-1950). Sara died in childbirth and is buried in the Methacton Mennonite cemetery. Though Sallie survived and ended up living to the age of 91, her death certificate lists her cause of death as pneumonia, with “arterio sclerosis” and “senility” as contributing factors. As we now know, complications during childbirth can lead to life-long health problems and disabilities which, in the mid 1800’s, would simply have been called “senility.”

After Sara’s death, it seems their children went to stay with other family members.  Mahlon and Catharine lived with their grandparents (Harmon and Catherine) for some time after their mother’s death, and Catherine lived with her uncle, Philip, at the time of the 1870 census.

At the time of the 1860 census, John is listed with the Rittenhouse family as a laborer on their farm. A widower, it is likely he boarded with the family as well.  The following year, on May 9, 1861, he married the Rittenhouse’s daughter, Eliza (1831-1911). They had one child, Hannah (1863-1935).

9 Ann, or Anna, Custer was born on December 9, 1831 and died on September 8, 1909. She spent her life living with family members, mainly her parents and then her brother, Philip. On June 9, 1892, at the age of 60, she was married for the first time to her first cousin, Henry Custer. Henry was the  son of William Custer (brother of Harman) and Mary Walker, and was 74 at the time of this marriage.  By then, Henry was a widower; his first wife was Mariah Bowers (1816-1887) and they had seven children. It’s likely that the marriage of Ann and her cousin was not necessarily one of love, but rather a mutual arrangement affording them each both company and increased financial security in their final years. Born in 1818, Henry died in 1901.

A Mystery:

As a side note, in the Wentz UCC records of deaths & burials, there is an Abram Custer listed.  His death date is April 14, 1900, and the cause of death appears to be “Accidental poisoning.” I am currently not sure who this Abram is, but he would have likely been around the same age as Harman & Catherine’s children.

Gravestone Photos