BIO: Samuel GARNER, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  SAMUEL GARNER. The splendid farm owned by this gentleman in College 
township, Centre county, is a standing monument to his industry, 
perseverance and good management. He comes under the category of "self-
made" men, having been dependent upon his own resources from an early 
age, and has succeeded only by the exercise of his steady, plodding 
labor. At the present time, however, he is one of the prominent 
representatives of the agricultural interests of College township.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  473

  Marks Garner, his paternal grandfather, died in Centre county, 
leaving four children: Daniel, who died when a young man; Joseph, a 
farmer, who died in 1881, in Crawford county, Penn., where his family 
are still living; Jacob, who was a farmer of Mercer county, this State, 
where he died in 1891, leaving a family; and Samuel. The last named, 
the father of our subject, was born and reared in York county, Penn., 
where he was married, about 1828, to Anna Sellers, also a native of 
that county. They became the parents of ten children, namely: William, 
a blacksmith by trade, who married Sarah Bloom, of near Pine Hall, 
Penn.; Elizabeth, wife of John Ludwig, who owns a factory in Ebensburg, 
Cambria Co., Penn.; Maria, who wedded Jacob Houts, and died in 1872; 
Daniel (deceased), who married Sarah Houtz, and lived near Branch, in 
College township, Centre county; Samuel, of this review; Susan, 
deceased wife of Henry Sampson, a miller, living near Humes Mills, 
Spring township, Centre county; Nancy, who married Henry Sampson after 
the death of her sister; Margaret, wife of George Williams, a plasterer 
of Lemont, Centre county; John, of State College, who married Sarah 
Stover, now deceased, and is in the employ of the college directors; 
and Henrietta, wife of a Mr. Coughler, a carpenter in Kansas. In 1833, 
the father came to College township, Centre county, where for forty 
years he lived upon rented farms in the vicinity of Branch cemetery, 
and there died in 1873, just a week prior to his son Daniel's death. 
His wife departed this life at the same place in 1872.
  The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch was born in 
Boalsburg, Harris township, Centre county, October 19, 1837, and 
attended school at Shingletown until about sixteen years of age, when 
he left the school room in order to aid his father in the work of the 
farm, remaining with him until twenty-four. He and his brother Daniel 
then undertook the management of the farm, taking care of their 
parents, and paying off an indebtedness of more than $1,500. So 
successful were they that they concluded to purchase a tract of 140 
acres near State College, at a cost of $9,800, of $70 per acre, but in 
less than a year the brother died, leaving our subject with the entire 
debt and accumulating interest to pay. He not only has discharged the 
same, but has made many valuable and useful improvements upon the 
place, including an excellent barn erected at a cost of $1,400, and 
deserves great credit for the success he has achieved, as both land and 
farm products have since greatly depreciated in value.
  On September 18, 1860, Mr. Garner was joined in wedlock to Miss Julia 
Aumerman, a daughter of John Aumerman, a farmer of Pleasant Gap, Centre 
county, and they have had a family of ten children, as follows: Anna, 
wife of Fred Krumrine, living near State College; Ida M., wife of 
Samuel Sankey, a joiner of Philipsburg, Centre county; Blanche, who 
died of pneumonia, at the age of twenty; Ella, who died of the same 
disease at the age of twenty-four; Elizabeth, wife of William Rosler, a 
civil engineer, of Spiras Point, Md.; William, a graduate of the State 
College; John, a farmer living near State College, who married Margaret 
Wise; Nettie, who is attending the State College; Mildred, at home; and 
Emma, who died in infancy.
  For the past twenty-three years Mr. Garner has been a worthy member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been trustee for 
several years, and was a member of the building committee at the time 
of the construction of the house of worship in State College, donating 
$200 toward the same and $100 toward the parsonage. He is very 
charitable and liberal, aiding in all worthy enterprises for the good 
of the community, and the poor and needy ever find in him a friend. His 
sterling worth is recognized by all with whom he comes in contact, and 
he is therefore held in the highest regard. Politically he is 
identified with the Democratic party.