The son of Jerome Krone & Rebecca (Old) Boyer, one of his obituaries claims he was born in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, while another says Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Given that the latter supplies the street of his nativity, it appears to be the more solid source. In 1860 he was living with his family in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, but has no occupation listed in that census albeit he was likely a student studying civil engineering. He married Margaret Amelia Bretz August 4, 1861, and fathered Anna Lyle (b. 05/15/62 - married John Robertson), Minnie (b. @1864) - married William Johnson Hughes), Laura Frances (b. 03/02/66 - married Edwin James Fager), Bessie Garwood (b. @1868 - married Edward Demming Van Tassel), Bird Pauline (b. 06/??/77 - married Alonzo Byron Beasely), Helen E. (b. 07/??/81), and George G. (b. ?).

A Civil War veteran, he served two terms of service:

1. An antebellum member of Pottsville's National Light Guard Infantry Militia, he enlisted at the stated age of eighteen in Pottsville April 18, 1861, and mustered into federal service that day in Harrisburg as 4th sergeant of Co. D, 25th Pennsylvania Infantry, a company drawn largely from the militia unit. He honorably discharged with his company July 23, 1861. During his time stationed in the Washington DC area, he penned a lengthy letter published in the Carlisle Weekly Herald describing in often uncomplimentary tones what he was observing there. He still identified his regiment as the "National L. Infantry of Pottsville" despite the company having been federally mustered and no longer officially using that name.
2. Enlisted at the stated age of twenty in Pottsville September 23, 1861, mustered into federal service that day as 1st lieutenant of Co. K, 96th Pennsylvania Infantry, but submitted his resignation effective December 25, 1862. His obituary in the Harrisburg Telegraph claims he was wounded at the battle of South Mountain on September 14, 1862, which, while possible, is as yet unconfirmed. (Further research is in the offing to determine the truth of that.)

Despite what his tombstone claims, there is no evidence he ever held the rank of captain during either of his Civil War services nor that he ever served with a third regiment to achieve that rank. An online family tree that asserts he served with the post-war regular army is wrong as it references a different George Boyer. Neither was any record found for post-war service with a state militia unit that may have legitimately granted him the commission. It was quite common to find ranks erroneously bestowed on former officers who became prominent local figures after the war.

By 1870, he was chief of police for Harrisburg and living there with his family and still there in 1880, albeit by then working as a clerk. During that time, he became closely associated with the creation of the Scotland School for Civil War orphans in Franklin County. Per his obituary in the Franklin Repository, "He practically designed the school at Scotland." On March 21, 1900, he applied for a disability pension and received it. He died from apparent heart disease and/or stroke at his home following a lengthy illness. He had been a member of Hartranft Post No. 58, G.A.R. and served as its commander for several years. Before his death, he left written burial instructions, namely to be buried in his G.A.R. uniform, even specifying the color of necktie (black). The Carlisle Evening Herald erroneously headlines his obituary with the middle initial "S."

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The Sentinel (Carlisle, PA), Wednesday, November 25, 1903; pg. 3 [edited]

[NOTE: Newspapers.com shows an obituary for Boyer in its November 25, 1903, issue, but it is not the one seen below, although GenalogyBank.com does publish the referenced Harrisburg Patriot obituary. Unfortunately, the Patriot, as was the virtual norm for Civil War veterans' obituaries, presents an inaccurate military scenario. See above for the accurate military date.]

THE DEATH RECORD

BOYER.

Captain George Boyer died in Harrisburg yesterday afternoon. The Patriot of Harrisburg said:

"Captain Boyer was born in this city [see above] on August 20, 1812 [false - 1842], his father being Jerome K. Boyer, once editor of the Carlisle Volunteer. He received his education in the public schools of this city and while still in his boyhood went to Carlisle. Later he moved to Pottsville, where, in 1858 he joined the National Light Infantry, a company of the National Guard of Pennsylvania. At that time he was studying civil engineering.

"On April 11, 1861, this organization tendered its services in the defense of the Government and a week later he was appointed a first lieutenant of Company A, of the Ninety-sixth Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. [False and impossible - see above] After serving three months in the army he re-enlisted for three years. [Correct but not with the regiment claimed here.]

"At the age of 19 years upon his return from his first three mouths' service in the First Defenders, he went to Carlisle, whereon August 4, 1861, he was married to Miss Margaret Amelia Bretz. Before returning to the army he organized three companies of soldiers. [Possible but unverified.]

Mrs. V. H. Cornman, of Carlisle, is a sister-in-law and Wm. H. Bretz a brother-in-law of deceased.