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SUMNER B. BADGER, general merchant at Boydstown, Oakland Township, and formerly postmaster, was born August 29, 1865, in Brady Township, Butler County, Penna., and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Anderson) Badger.
The Badger family has been established in Butler County for a great many years, it being the birthplace of Grandfather James Badger. He was the father of seven children, all of whom were born in Butler County, where many of them became people of more or less prominence.
Thomas Badger, father of Sumner B., was born in Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, where he lived until he was eight years old, at which time his father moved to Brady Township and on the home farm there he spent the remainder of his life, a period of seventy-one years,
his death occurring on May 13, 1907. He married Sarah Anderson, whose mother, Rachel Anderson, was a daughter of Stephen McKinley, a close relative of the late President William McKinley. The Badger and Anderson families were doubly connected, Samuel W. Badger, a brother of
Thomas, marrying Susan Anderson, a sister of Mrs. Thomas Badger. To Thomas and Sarah Badger were born eleven children, all but two of these surviving, the oldest and the youngest being deceased: Anderson, who died aged sixteen months; and C. C, who was a Cumberland Presbyterian
minister, who died in December, 1904. The others are as follows: James, who lives at Wurtemberg, Lawrence County; Thomas J., who lives in Brady Township; Rachel, who is the wife of Andrew McClintock, lives at Ellwood City; Lizzie, who is the wife of Henry Young, resides also
at Ellwood City; Martha, who is the wife of J. W. McKissick, the village blacksmith of Boydstown; Jennie, who is the wife of Peter Bowers; Sumner B.; David S., who resides in Lawrence County; and John, who lives in Concord Township, Butler County. The venerable mother, now
in her seventy-sixth year, resides with one of her daughters.
Sumner B. Badger grew to manhood on the home farm in Brady Township and was educated in the public schools and West Sunbury Academy and was graduated from the latter institution in 1891. He had qualified himself so thoroughly that he then passed the State examination demanded
for teachers and thus secured a permanent certificate. He began to teach in Lancaster Township and after one term there, taught two terms in Brady Township and five years in Concord Township, during three years of this period being also in a mercantile business at Troutman,
under the firm name of Balsiger & Badger. In July, 1895, after selling his interest at Troutman to his partner, Mr. Badger came to Boydstown and in the same summer erected his present commodious building, which he utilizes both as a store and a dwelling. In October, 1895,
he was appointed postmaster at this point and served until 1903, when Rural Mail Delivery, Route No. 2, was established, out from Butler.
Mr. Badger was married (first) June 27, 1893, to Miss Emma Z. Wick, who died February 22, 1899. She left two children: Lois P. and Ruth M. Mrs. Emma Wick was educated at Sunbury Academy and prior to her marriage was a teacher in the public schools. On September 15, 1908,
he was married (second) to Miss Sadie Robb, who is a daughter of Christy Robb. Mrs. Badger is a cultured, educated lady and was a member of the same graduating class at the West Sunbury Academy, as Mr. Badger. She has also been a successful teacher, following her vocation in
Clinton and Oakland Townships. Mr. Badger is an elder in the North Butler Presbyterian Church and for eight years has been superintendent of the Sunday School. In politics he is not active, although, at all times he is ready and willing to promote public movements which
promise to contribute to the general welfare. He is an honorable business man.
Source: 20th century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and respresentative citizens, McKee, James A., 1909, page 975-976.
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