The Cyphert Family of Limestone, Pennsylvania

The immigrant ancestor of the present family is said to have come from Holland, which points to a Dutch or German origin of this family. The name is a very uncommon one. Yet there is a similar German name. Among English surnames we find the following, apparently all rare, which may well be equivalent one to another and each to the present name: Cypher, Sypher and Syfert. On the whole, a German origin seems to us the most probable for the present family.

(I) Philip Cyphert

Philip Cyphert, the founder of this family, was born in Holland, and died in Berks county, Pennsylvania. In that county he had settled after his coming into the colonies. It is not known whom he married, but he is known to have had ten children, and among these was:

1. Anthony Cyphert, of whom further.

(II) Anthony Cyphert

Anthony, son of Philip Cyphert, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1789, died in Limestone township, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, in 1873. Here he had settled in 1825, and he had a farm of four hundred acres. He married, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Mary, born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1788, died in 1882, daughter of Jacob Ringle. Her father had come from England to Philadelphia, and he spent his last days in Berks county. Children:

1. James Cyphert, deceased
2. John Cyphert, deceased
3. Solomon Cyphert, deceased
4. Thomas B. Cyphert, of whom further
5. William Cyphert, deceased
6. David K. Cyphert
7. Caroline Cyphert, married Louis Barr, lives at Brookville, Pennsylvania
8. Nancy Cyphert, deceased, married Joseph Reinsel, also deceased, and they lived in Clarion county.

(III) Thomas B. Cyphert

Thomas B., son of Anthony and Mary (Ringle) Cyphert, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, February 13, 1829, died in March, 1909. He was a farmer. While he supported the Democratic party, he never sought office. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Protestant church. He married Jane, born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, March 15, 1830, died in 1907, daughter of Robert and Jane (English) Allison (see Allison IV). Children:

1. An unnamed son, died in infancy.
2. Jane Cyphert, deceased
3. David Harvey Cyphert
4. Wilmer Reid Cyphert, of whom further
5. Boyd Allison Cyphert
6. Hugh Burton Cyphert
7. Mary May Cyphert, married Warren F. Snyder, lives in Limestone, Clarion county, Pennsylvania.

(IV) Wilmer Reid Cyphert

Wilmer Reid, son of Thomas B. and Jane (Allison) Cyphert, was born in Limestone township, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, July 18, 1864. He was brought up on a farm. Beside receiving a common school education, he studied at Corsica Academy, at a business college at Titusville, and at the Clarion State Normal School. For thirteen terms he taught school, and for six years he was clerk in a store in Limestone township. On January 1, 1909, he was appointed commission clerk of Clarion county, and he was reappointed January 1, 1912, to hold office for a term of four years. For nine years he was school director in Limestone township. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and of the Order of United American Mechanics, both of the senior and of the junior order. Mr. Cyphert is a Democrat. He is a member of the Methodist Protestant church.

Allison Line

(I) Robert Allison

Robert Allison, the first of the line here under consideration, came from Ireland to Bedford county, Pennsylvania. The family were from Scotland, but Robert emigrated from Ireland in 1750. He met his wife, Beckie Beard, on board ship coming over and they were married in 1752. They later removed to Indiana county, Pennsylvania. They had among other children:

1. Fate Allison, of whom further.

(II) Fate Allison

Fate, son of Robert and Beckie (Beard) Allison, was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, and settled in what is now Clarion county in 1800. He was one of the pioneers to venture into this region and did much to build up and have it made a county. He married Polly Henry. Children:

1. Beckie Allison
2. Sallie Allison
3. Robert Allison, of whom further
4. Henry Allison
5. John Allison
6. Jane Allison
7. Nancy Allison
8. Thomas Allison
9. Mary Allison
10. Fate Allison.

(III) Robert (2) Allison

Robert (2), son of Fate and Polly (Henry) Allison, was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania. He removed in 1800 to what is now Clarion county with his father. He married, in 1820, Jane English. Children:

1. Mary Allison
2. Beckie Allison
3. David Allison
4. Elizabeth Allison
5. Robert Allison
6. Jane Allison, of whom further
7. Fate Allison
8. Sarah Allison
9. Harvey Allison
10. Thomas Allison.

(IV) Jane Allison

Jane, daughter of Robert (2) and Jane (English) Allison, was born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, March 15, 1830, died in 1907. She married Thomas B. Cyphert (see Cyphert III).

See: Genealogy of the Allegheny Valley Pennsylvania

Source

Jordan, J. W. 1840-1921. (1913). Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co.

This genealogy is based upon the source cited above. Only the structure and formatting have been changed for clearer presentation; the genealogical and biographical content has been preserved.