BIO: John W. HARTER, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by MFS 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. _____________________________________________________________________ J. W. HARTER, a substantial and valued citizen of Rebersburg, Centre county, is a native of the county, having been born in Gregg township, April 5, 1855, and is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family of the county, which is of German origin. His great- grandfather, Andrew Harter, who lived one mile south of Aaronsburg, was a farmer by occupation and a large landowner. In religious belief he was a Lutheran and in politics he was a Democrat. His death occurred in 1844, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Julia Moyer, died a few years previously, and both were interred in the Aaronsburg cemetery. In their family were John, Jacob, Mrs. Julia Moyer, George, Andrew and William, all now deceased. John Harter, the grandfather of our subject, was born on a farm south of Aaronsburg, and in that village was educated. He married Barbara Musser, a daughter of Philip Musser, a farmer living near the cemetery at Millheim, Centre county, and they became the parents of six children; Sarah, Katie and Mollie, who all died when young; Annie, who died of diphtheria, at the age of twenty years; Mrs. Rebecca McCool, who is living at Spring Mills, Centre county; and Samuel, the father of our subject. For twenty-one years the grandfather operated a rented farm be- 376 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. longing to James Duncan, but the last eleven years of his life were passed upon a farm of 133 acres near Spring Mills, which he purchased and greatly improved. He was entirely a self-made man, whose success was due to his own unaided exertions, and overwork hastened his death, which occurred in 1855. Politically he was identified with the Democratic party, and in religious belief he was an active member of the Penn's Creek Lutheran Church, in which he was an officeholder. His faithful wife survived him only about six years. The birth of Samuel Harter, the father of our subject, occurred September 14, 1832, two miles and one-half west of Millheim, and in the free school near Hickman's cemetery he began his education, which he completed in the Beaver Dam school at Penn's Creek, to which he had to walk a distance of two miles. At the age of twenty-one, he was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Ann Grove, a daughter of William and Catharine (Hasterman) Grove, who lived upon the farm where Mr. Harter now makes his home. Five children were born of this union, namely: John W., of this review; Alice, deceased wife of Philip Auman, who lives near Spring Mills; Jared Howard, a farmer, who married Louise Breon, and died of typhoid fever in 1886; Ezra, who married Minnie Coldron, and lives upon a farm near his father; and Annie R., wife of Calvin Finkle, also a farmer living near Mr. Harter. For about fifteen years, or until his father's death, Samuel Harter rented the old home farm, and a year later purchased it at $50 per acre. Subsequently he bought 186 acres, upon which he now resides, and in addition also owns some timberland. He is an active supporter of the Democratic party, and has been called upon to fill several official positions of honor and trust, including those of overseer of the poor, supervisor and school director. A sincere and earnest Christian, he is a prominent member of the Cross Church in Gray's Valley. The district schools of Gregg township furnished our subject his educational privileges, and his first teacher was F. F. Jamison. He began his business career by clerking in the general store of Shook Brothers, at Farmers Mills, for $96 per year and board, and there he remained for over a year and then spent a short time on his father's farm, after which he was employed for a year and a half in the general store of T. I. Ilgen, of Logan Mills, Clinton Co., Penn. Returning to Fiedler, Center county, he engaged in clerking for the same length of time for Fiedler & Runkle, and after a short time spent at home he accepted a position in the general store of Whitmer & Co., at Spring Mills. Subsequently he made a trip to the West, visiting portions of Ohio, Illinois, Iowa and Michigan, and shortly after his return home, in the fall of 1883, came to Rebersburg, where he entered the employ of C. C. Loose as clerk. In February, 1886, he purchased the stock of his employer, and conducted the store alone until February, 1888, when Mr. Loose bought back a half interest. Owing to ill health Mr. Harter was compelled to give up merchandising, and in 1889 disposed of his interest in the store, since which time he has principally devoted his attention to the lumber and stock business. On April 1, 1891, he had his store room and residence destroyed by fire, but the same year he erected one of the best homes in Rebersburg, and the year following completed the best business block in Brush Valley, which is also located in Rebersburg. He is an enterprising, wide-awake business man of known reliability, and his success is but the just reward of his untiring labor. On April 15, 1897, he again engaged in mercantile business in Rebersburg, under the firm name of Harter, Morris & Co. On June 7, 1887, Mr. Harter was married to Miss Ida A. Wolfe, a daughter of John and Sarah (Kreamer) Wolfe, and they now have one child, - Ethel W., born July 29, 1895. The parents are both consistent members of the Lutheran Church, in which he is serving as deacon and assistant superintendent of the Sabbath-school. He is a charter member of Rebersburg Lodge No. 1031, I. O. O. F., and is an earnest advocate of Democratic principles, on which ticket he was elected supervisor. Like his ancestors, he is held in the highest regard by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance, and as one of the highly respected and useful citizens of the county, we take pleasure in presenting this record of his life to our readers, knowing that it will be received with interest by his many friends. 1900 Miles Township, Centre County census - John W. Harter, 45 Ida A. Harter, 38 Ephel [sic] W. Harter, 4 1910 Miles Township, Centre County census - Sarah Wolfe, 74 John W. Harter, 55 Ida A. Harter, 48 Ethel W. Harter, 14