BIO: John F. GARTHOFF, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ 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. _____________________________________________________________________ JOHN F. GARTHOFF, one of the leading and able educators of Penn township, Centre county, was born June 5, 1863, near Bannerville, Snyder Co., Penn. His father, John H. Garthoff, was a native of Westphalia, Prussia, born December 29, 1822, and was a son of John H. Garthoff, a tanner by trade. In the family of three children the father was the only son and the only one to come to America, where he arrived after a stormy voyage. In New York he learned the tanner's trade, which he afterward followed in Philadelphia, Lewisburg, and in Adamsburg, Penn., where he first met the lady that afterward became his wife. In the spring of 1851, in Union county, Penn., John H. Garthoff was married to Miss Caroline Robenold, who was born in Lehigh county, Penn., January 23, 1829, a daughter of Solomon and Mary (Ocker) Robenold. Her father was born May 5, 1798, in Northampton county, this State, a son of Michael Robenold, and throughout life followed the occupations of shoemaking and farming. When Mrs. Garthoff was eight years old her father removed with his family to Union county, where his wife spent the remainder of her life upon a farm which he had there purchased, dying at the age of fifty-five years. A few years later he removed to Nittany Valley, Centre county, where he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Vonada, until he, too, was called to his final rest at the ripe old age of eighty years. He was interred in the cemetery of Zion, Centre county, while his wife was buried at Laurelton, Union county. Both held membership in the Lutheran Church, and he was a Democrat in politics. In their family were the following children: Lucy, wife of Adam Vonada, of Zion; Jonathan, a tanner and farmer, who died in Missouri; Caroline, the mother of our subject; William, a farmer, who died in Orangeville, Ill.; Sarah, wife of George Kauffman, of Zion, Centre county; David, who died from sickness contracted while in the army; Solomon, who was a member of an Illinois regiment, and also died in the army; and Christia Ann, wife of Daniel Royer, of Valley Falls, Kansas. The parents of our subject began their domestic life in Bannerville, Penn., where the father died May 6, 1865, and was there laid to rest. He left a widow, and five children, as follows: Joseph S., a farmer of Dewar, Iowa; William, who died at the age of eight years; Mary, wife of John Lint, of Dixon, Ill.; James D., a lumberman of Mt. Eagle, Centre county; Catharine A., a resident of Bellefonte, Penn.; and John F., of this review. Although Mrs. Garthoff was left a home, the support of her children fell upon her, and a year or so after her husband's death she came to Zion, Centre county, where she bought a small home and reared her family. Since 1887, she has found a pleasant home with our subject in Coburn. She is a highly respected lady, beloved by all who know her, and a Lutheran in religious belief; her husband was a member of the Reformed Church, and a Democrat in politics. Mr. Garthoff, the subject proper of this review, was a child when brought by his widowed mother to Centre county, and in the common schools he acquired his primary education, his first teacher being William P. Dasher. He supplemented the knowledge there acquired by two terms' attendance at a select school in Rebersburg, and by reading and study has become a well informed man. He remained with his mother until his marriage, preparing himself for the teacher's profession, and when twenty years of age he taught the Logan school at Hecla, Pa. On August 23, 1885, in Rebersburg, he was united in marriage with Miss Maggie M. Walker, who was born in Miles township, Centre county, who was born in Miles township, Centre county, August 29, 1859, one of a family of seven children - three sons and four daughters - of William and Mary M. (Smull) Walker, now residents of Rebersburg. By occupation the father is a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Garthoff have one child, Mary A., born March 23, 1886. In 1886 our subject bought his present home in Coburn, and since the following year has there resided. From the time he conducted his first school he has successfully engaged in teaching, and his vacations have been spent at other work, such as clerking. Financially as well as professionally, he has met with well-deserved success, and is now interested in the Central Building & Loan Association of Lincoln, Neb., and the Empire Savings, Building & Loan Association of Syracuse, N.Y. He formerly belonged to the Knights of the Golden Eagle of Millheim. Always a stanch Democrat in politics, he was elected on that ticket justice of the peace, when not yet twenty-four years old, and when he had been a resident of Penn township for only a few months. So acceptably has he filled the office that he is still the incumbent, and has also served for several terms as township clerk. He is one of the representative citizens of the community, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all. He 436 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. and his excellent wife are members of the Lutheran Church, of Coburn, of which he is at present serving as trustee, and superintendent of the Sunday-school, connected with said Church.