SHROYER, ABEL, an enterprising and representative citizen of Capital township, Sangamon County, conducts a blacksmith shop and owns six acres of land. He was born at Troy, Miami County, Ohio, August 14, 1843, son of John B. and Mary A. (Sullivan) Shroyer, the former born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Maryland. The father was a farmer by occupation and for many years lived in Ohio, but in 1880 came to Illinois. Settling in Girard County, he bought a farm there, and later moved to Macoupin County. He died in 1896 and his widow now lives on the old home place in Macoupin County, with her son, Eber Shroyer, having reached the age of ninety-four years (1910). There were eight children born to John B. Shroyer and his wife, of whom seven now survive.

In the early boyhood Abel Shroyer attended the country schools of his native county, and he was reared to agricultural pursuits. In youth he learned the trade of blacksmith, in Carlisle, Ohio, and afterward worked at this trade in Tippecanoe. Later he worked fifteen years at his trade in Peru, Ind. He came to Sangamon County in 1898 and has since continued to work at his trade near the city, in 1904 purchasing six acres of land where his present business is located, and where he has built up a good trade. He is conscientious and painstaking in the work he turns out and has the confidence of his patrons. He carries on farming to a small extent, and is fairly successful in that line of endeavor as well. He owns a pleasant home and has many friends in the community.

Mr. Shroyer was married, in Girard, Ill., in 1875, to Frances Doty, who was born in Macoupin County. Her parents were from the East and were early settlers of Macoupin County, where both died. Three daughters and one son were born of this union: Theodore, a brakeman on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, lives in Girard, Ill.; Etta, wife of Charles Clark, a contractor living at El Paso, Tex.; Gussie, wife of Samuel Weaver, clerk for Swift & Company, and living in Chicago; Stella, living in Bloomington, Ill. Mr. Shroyer has two grandchildren.

Mr. Shroyer is a member of the Dunkard Church and his wife is a Presbyterian. Both are much interested in church work and every worthy object meets with their ready approval and support. Mr. Shroyer is a Democrat in politics. He is an industrious, hard working man, fond of home and family, and makes the most of his opportunities for advancement in life. He and his wife have reared a family of children who are a credit to them.