BIO: Thomas Jefferson REHRER, Dauphin County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JAWB Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm _______________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 219. _______________________________________________________________ REHRER, THOMAS JEFFERSON, only son of Godfried Rehrer and Eva Leiss, was born November 8, 1797, near Rehrersburg, Berks county, Pa. His grandfather, Godfried Rehrer or Roher, settled there at an early day. During the French and Indian war his residence was on the direct road to the frontier settlements. He married Magdalena Etchberger, and their son, Godfried Rehrer, born 1769, represented Berks county in the Legislature in 1817, 1820 and 1823. Thomas J. received a good education, was brought up to a mercantile life, but subsequently retired to his farm. While engaged in farming he was elected a member of the Legislature, in which he served two terms. At the close of the last session he removed to Harrisburg, having accepted a clerkship in the Land Office of the Commonwealth. He remained in that department, with the exception of two intervals of three years each, until 1866, filling the position of deputy or chief clerk under the several organizations of the office. His long service there made him unusually familiar with the business, and its bearing on the land interests of the State, together with his faithful attention to the duties, was appreciated and recognized by all who had business to transact in the surveyor general's office. He died February 28, 1872, at Philadelphia. Mr. Rehrer married Salome Weiser, daughter of John Weiser and Elizabeth Anspach, born January 3, 1799, on the Conrad Weiser farm, about twelve miles west of Reading. She died October 30, 1842, at Harrisburg, and is there buried. The children were: Clementine M., Clara S., married Dr. George Dock, of Harrisburg, Miranda E., married Lewis G. Osbourn, of Philadelphia, and Erasmus Godfrey.