A Family Grocery Store in Lebanon, Pennsylvania

John G. Weaver, an uncle of my great-great-grandfather John Weaver, moved to Oskaloosa, Iowa, with other family members, but by 1873 he had returned to Pennsylvania. This story about the family grocery business is mainly told using excerpts from the Lebanon Daily News. Lebanon is not far from Lancaster County, PA. 

Lebanon Daily News, Friday, March 28, 1873

"New Store - John Weaver is fixing up a room in splendid style on North 9th street near the canal, in which he will carry on the grocery business when completed."

John Weaver was listed in The New Business Directory of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania 1874-75.

We next see the Weaver family in the 1880 U.S. Census for Lebanon. They are shown as:
John J. Weaver, 57, Grocer

Sarah Weaver, 70, Wife, Keeping House

Sallie Burkey,  26, Daughter, At Home

Albert Burkey, 26, Son-in-Law, At Home

In 1886, Sarah Weaver died and in 1888, John married Maria Hoffert. His address at the time of his marriage was 536 N. 9th Street, Lebanon, and his occupation was grocer.

This surprising article was found in the Lebanon Daily News, Friday, September 20, 1889.

"Albert C. Burkey was acquitted of the charge of having committed an assault and battery upon his father-in-law, John G. Weaver, the defendent having shown that Weaver made the first assault. Weaver to pay the costs." 

Eleven years later, in 1898, John died. A sale of his personal property was arranged. 

Lebanon Semi Weekly News November 10, 1898

Executor’s Sale of Personal Property!

Will be sold at public sale on

Friday, November 11, 1898

At the residence of the late J. G. Weaver, No. 536 North Ninth street, in the city of Lebanon, Pa, the following personal property, viz:

One bedstead, spring and mattress, lot of men’s and ladies’ hose, 1 sink and cupboard combined, 1 chest, lot of chairs, 1 extension table, 1 bureau, carpet, 50 yards of floor oil cloth, stove pipe, lot of coal, hay, straw, 2 sets harness, one as good as new, flylets, sleigh, sleigh bells, garden tools, delivery wagon, wheelbarrow, buggy, beef cutter, platform scales, counter scales, measures, baskets, oil cans, queensware, butter cupboard, A FINE LINE OF GROCERIES and many other articles too numerous to mention.

If goods are not all disposed of in the afternoon sale will continue into the evening. Sale to commence at 1 o’clock p.m., when conditions will be made known by

A. P. Hollinger, Executor

Wm. C. Miller, Auctioneer

John H. Uhrich, Clerk

In the 1900 U.S. Census, John's son-in-law Albert is listed as the grocer at 533 N. 9th Street, Lebanon. I bet Sarah did as much as Albert, but in those days, if you were a married woman, there was typically no occupation listed on the census. Albert and Sarah's two daughters are listed, too.
Albert C Burkey, 46, Grocer

Sarah E Burkey, 46

Lillie F Burkey, 19, Music Teacher

Sarah Burkey, 14, At School

The family has grown by the 1910 U.S. Census, as daughter Sarah married Charles Boyer. They all live at 533 N. 9th Street, Lebanon. Notice, again, that the two married women have no occupation listed.

Albert C Burkey, 55, Proprietor, Grocery Store

Sarah E Burkey, 56

Lillian S Burkey, 28, Music Teacher, Public School

Charles A Boyer, 33, Principal, High School

Sarah C Boyer, 24

Mrs. Burkey died suddenly the next year as reported in the Lebanon Daily News, June 6, 1911.

Sudden Death of Mrs. Burkey

Wife of A. C. Burkey, North Ninth Street

Retired Last Evening in Usual Health - Aged 57 and Was 

Highly Esteemed

Mrs. Sallie E. Burkey, wife of A. C. Burkey, the North Ninth street grocer, died very suddenly at six o’clock this morning at the Burkey home, 533 North Ninth street. Mrs. Burkey suffered for some time with nervous disorders, but was not at any time confined to bed, and was about the house as usual on Monday. She seemed in better spirits even than usual during the day and retired in the evening apparently in good health. About midnight, however, she was stricken and though medical assistance was procured, it was unavailing and she died at the hour stated without recovering consciousness. Apoplexy is assigned as the cause of her death.

Mrs. Burkey was held in high esteem in a large circle of friends and was particularly popular in the neighborhood in which she lived, being a good neighbor and possessed of heart and mind which endeared her to all. She will be sorely missed in Trinity United Brethern Sunday school, of which she was one of the organizers, and to which she devoted much time and energy. She was an ardent worker in the church and was esteemed by all.

Mrs. Burkey was the only daughter of the late John G. Weaver. In her childhood the family moved to Oskaloosa, Ohio, but returned here a few years later, and Mrs. Burkey resided in Lebanon ever since. She was 57 years of age and is survived by two daughter, Miss Lillian at home and Mrs. C. A. Boyer, also of this city.

A few years later, Albert Burkey became ill and died. His son-in-law, Charles Boyer was the administrator of the estate.

Lebanon Daily News, January 27, 1917

No Hopes for the Recovery of Grocer Burkey

A. C. Burkey, the North Ninth street grocer, is crtitically ill at his home, and fears are entertained that he may not live over night. He was in an unconscious condition on Friday evening and night, but this morning spoke freely to those about him. That he is in a precarious condition is admitted however, and the physicians hold out but little hope for his recovery.

Mr. Burkey was severely hurt in an automobile accident last year, together with members of his family and he never recovered from a spinal injury he sustained at that time.

Lebanon Daily News, April 17, 1918

Public Sale

Groceries, Dry Goods, Notions

Saturday, Apr. 27, 1918

At Burkey’s Store

533 North Ninth Street

Also Store Fixtures, Store Trucks, Glassware; Potatoes, Old fashioned bedroom suit; combination bookcase; revolving dictionary stand; parlor table; chairs; pictures; large wood chest; grain bins; crates and numerous other articles.

Sale to commence at 1 o’clock, P.M., when conditions will be made known by

C. A. Boyer, Administrator of A. C. Burkey Est.

L. J. Gilbert, Auct.

Albert and Sarah's daughters and son-in-law continued to run the family business, although at some point they transformed it from a full grocery to an ice cream and confectioner's shop. Here's an ad from the front page of the Lebanon Daily News, July 11, 1919.

The 1920 U.S. Census shows the family living at 533 N. 9th Street, Lebanon, with Charles working at the high school, Sarah as the mother of a young daughter, and Lillian as a "Retail Dealer" of candy.
Charles A Boyer, 42, Teacher, HIgh School

Sarah C Boyer, 34

Jean L. Boyer, 3 9/12

Lillian S Burkey, 39, Retail Dealer, Candy

Lebanon Daily News February 2, 1920

Charles Boyer Has Closed Grocery On Account of Illness

Charles Boyer, teacher of manual training at the Lebanon High school and who also conducts a grocery on North Ninth street, was compelled to close the establishment today owing to illness. He is not only ill himself, but the members of his family are also afflicted with symptoms of influenza. Many friends wish the members of the family a speedy recovery. 

By 1920, Charles and the two sisters had decided to sell the business and the family properties. This ad from the paper shows the extent of their holdings.

Lebanon Daily News March 11, 1920

Public Sale of Valuable City Real Estate

Will be sold at Public Sale, on

Saturday, Mar. 13, 1920

At the Burkey Store, 533 North Ninth St., Near Liberty Square

The Burkey Properties of North Ninth Street are offered at Public Sales by the undersigned:

No. 1. Nos 534 and 536 North Ninth Street, fronting 20 1-2 feet on North Ninth street and extending one hundred and twenty feet in depth, more or less, with a 2 1-2 story double house, partly brick. No. 536 contains 7 rooms, bath, gas and side alley. No. 534 contains 8 rooms and bath and sewer connections. The equipment of full baths, papering of rooms, paving of the alley, new roof on part of the house, and repair of boardwalks, are all recent improvements and repairs.

No. 2. Nos 527 and 529 North Doe Alley, fronting 29 1-2 feet on Doe alley, and extending 80 feet in depth, more or less, to the rear of Nos. 534 and 536 North Ninth Street. This plot contains 1 2 1-2 story double brick house, with six rooms and clothes room in each; electric lights and cement walks. This double house is practically brand new, having been erected only about seven years ago.

No. 3. No 533 North Ninth Street, fronting 29 1-2 feet on Ninth street, and a full depth lot to Partridge Avenue. this lot contains a 3-story brick dwelling with a store room, 30 1-2 feet by 16 1-2 feet, recently renovated and improved, besides ten rooms, bath, flower room, modern improvements, cement alley and cement walks. A warehouse adjoins the dwelling in the rear. Other improvements consist of a poultry house, carpenter shop, and a stable on the rear, which could easily be converted into a garage or double dwelling house. This property has been a business place for thirty years, conducted by the late A. C. Burkey. The heirs at the present are conducting and ice cream and confectionery business, etc. The house could easily be converted into a modern apartment house.

Sale to commence at 2 o’clock, at the Burkey Store, 533 Nth. 9th St., when conditions will be made known by

Lillian S. Burkey

Sara C. Boyer

L. J. Gilbert, Auct.

Sadly, four years later, Lillian Burkey died unexpectedly.

Lebanon Semi Weekly News June 5, 1924

Miss Lillian Burkey Died This Morning

An inexpressible gloom took possession of the many friends of Miss Lillion A. Burkey today when it was learned that she had passed away in peaceful death at half past three this morning. She had been seriously ill for a week at the home of her sister Mrs. C. A. Boyer 5 Walnut street with whom she resided but their was no thought that she would not eventually recover. It could not be said that death was sudden, but it was unexpected and carried sorrow to all parts of the city and county where she was widely and intimately known.

Hers was a life of promise as well as achievement and death is doubly grievious to her relatives and to everybody who had the opportunity of coming in touch with her lovable and sacrificing nature. She possessed a personality of great charm, which was particularly discernable to the members of Trinity United Brethren Church, where she was active in more than one branch of service. It can be said that she was a gentlewoman who lived for others.

The late Miss Burkey was a devotee of music and was graduated from the conservatory at Lebanon Valley College. For a number of years she was the organist at St. James Lutheran church and was greatly admired and beloved by the congregation. She lately has been pianist in the Sunday School of Trinity Brethren Church of which she was a member. Her activities there extended to the sewing circle, the Woman’s Missionary Society and to any type of service which called her.

Mrs. C. A. Boyer, wife of Professor Boyer, principal of the Garfield Junior High school is the surviving member of her immediate family.