BIO: John J. ORNDORF, 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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  JOHN J. ORNDORF, of Haines township, Centre county, is a progressive 
and well-to-do agriculturist, and a citizen of recognized influence in 
political, social and business life.  His ancestors were among the 
early settlers of that locality, and he has the distinction of 
occupying the same farm on which his father, grandfather and great-
grandfather lived.  The family must have been established in this State 
at a very early period, as the great-grandfather, John Orndorf, was a 
farmer and storekeeper in Berks county during the Revolutionary war.  
He came to Centre county and settled on the old homestead near Woodward 
about 1790, becoming owner of an extensive tract of land, and passing 
his remaining days in agricultural pursuits.
  One of his children, Henry, our subject's grandfather, remained at 
the homestead and married a Miss Hess, by whom he had seven children, 
only one of whom, Samuel, is now living: Henry was a carpenter at 
Jacksonville, in the Nittany Valley; Betsy married Mr. Kleckner, a 
farmer of Union county, Penn.; Catherine never married; John, a 
carpenter and farmer in Centre county, died when seventy-seven years 
old; Samuel, a carpenter, of near Woodward, Centre county, is still 
living, now eighty-eight years old; Benjamin was a farmer and carpenter 
in the same locality; and David, our subject's father, lived and died 
on the old homestead.
  David Orndorf was a man of good native abilities, but his education 
was limited to an attendance of a few months each winter during boyhood 
at the Vonada school.  Choosing farming as his occupation, he made his 
start in life by purchasing from the other heirs, after the father's 
death, sixty-five acres of land, including the old homestead with the 
first house that was built there.  The land was then held at $35 an 
acre.  He made many repairs and improvements, and added more land until 
at the time of his death, May 8, 1876, he had 249 acres under 
cultivation

334  COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and a large amount of forest land.  He was a Democrat in politics, and 
a leading member of St. Paul's Reformed Church, two miles west of 
Woodward.  His wife was Miss Catherine Mortimer, of Pottsville, and 
five children were born to them, our subject being the eldest.  William 
died near Woodward in 1887, leaving a widow.  Isaac is a farmer in 
Haines township, Centre county.  Alice married Isaiah Boob, a farmer of 
Union county, Penn.; Alfred, a graduate of State College, became insane 
from overstudy, and is now in an asylum.
  The subject of this biography was born on the old homestead, August 
18, 1847, and received his education at the Vonada school during 
boyhood, attending until the age of twenty, with the exception of two 
years lost on account of sickness.  On leaving school he assisted his 
father until his marriage, on April 3, 1866, to Miss Sarah L. Dorman.  
He then settled upon a farm two miles north of Woodward, belonging to 
his uncle John, and remained there seventeen years.  In 1885 he removed 
to the old homestead, and now owns 136 acres of fine farming land with 
a good-sized tract which is yet uncultivated.  Mr. and Mrs. Orndorf 
have had seven children, whose names with dates of birth are as 
follows: Charles, August 21, 1867, is at home; Susannah, October 28, 
1868, married Warren Hosterman, and resides near Woodward; Louis D., 
January 8, 1872, postmaster at Woodward, married Miss Lydia Weaver, and 
has one child, Ray; Catharine A., twin to Louis D., married John 
Hosterman, and lives near Woodward; Howard B., February 28, 1876, died 
at the age of twenty; Anna R., March 20, 1877, and Sadie L., April 20, 
1885, are at home.
  Mr. Orndorf is a man whose advice is sought by his acquaintances upon 
business and legal matters, his sound judgment making him a leader in 
the community.  He is a member of the Reformed Church, and also belongs 
to the Patriotic Order Sons of America at Woodward, and to the Patrons 
of Husbandry, Goodwill Grange No. 1030.  As a Democrat he is 
influential and active, and has repeatedly held office in his township.