Michael Beamer

  General Notes:

The handsome little town of Manor is the outgrowth of the Pennsylvania Railroad, which was finished in 1852 as a single track road, and up to that date was surrounded by forests, though fairly well settled by a colony of hardy pioneers. This section was known as Denmark Manor, being one of the two manors or estates procured from the heirs of William Penn. In 1783 Stofel Walthour built a mill on Brush creek, the first and only building for a number of years. Messrs. Ludwick, Miller and Berlin purchased the Ward farm and laid out the town of Manor in 1873, which was incorporated in 1884. It contained a Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed churches, a fine school building, three hotels and twelve stores, two handle factories, a flour mill, a cement block factory and a National Bank. It was the terminal of the Manor Valley Railroad. One of its leading industries was the Beamer Handle Works, which manufactured all kinds of hickory handles. They were one of the leading handle factories in the state and ship their product to all of the eastern cities and states. It had four schools, with 176 pupils.

Michael Beamer started the Beamer Handle Co. in1861 and it was named M. Beamer & Sons. In 1903 The name was changed to The Beamer Handle Manufacturing Company and was operated out of Manor, PA. He was a member of American Order of United Workman. The company was the largest of its kind known in the world. It still existed until a devastating fire in1953. Paul John Beamer, Michael's grandson, was sole owner. They employ between fifty and sixty men and their goods are shipped to all parts of the world. Since the first establishment of his business, Michael Beamer has devoted his entire time and attention to the interests involved. He has never sought preferment in church matters, but is a member and regular attendant at the Reformed church, of which he was an elder for many years, and frequently a delegate to the synod. He has always had the best interests of the community at heart, and any project for its improvement or advancement has had his hearty approval and support. One of the plants still operates in Van Buren Missouri under our name but Dad sold the factory in 1960.

Michael also started the Beamer Power Co. and bought the first generator from George Westinghouse. Michael Beamer was a friend of both Westinghouse and Andrew Carnegie. The steel companies were customers of the handle company as well as the B&O and PA Railroads.

Michael married Susanna Ludwick on 12 Sep 1854 in Manor, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. (Susanna Ludwick was born on 24 Apr 1834 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and died on 20 Jan 1857.)

Michael next married Margaret Burger, daughter of George Burger and Elizabeth Shumaker, on 12 Sep 1854 in Manor, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. (Margaret Burger was born on 27 Mar 1838 and died in 1910.)