BIO: John B. Garver, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                              CHAPTER LII.

                            MONROE TOWNSHIP.

509 	MONROE TOWNSHIP.

  JOHN B. GARVER, German Baptist minister, P. O. Allen, is a grandson 
of Benjamin Garver, who was born in Lancaster County, Penn., about the 
year 1771, his ancestors having emigrated from Germany at an early 
date.  Benjamin Garver was a farmer and land-holder, and moved from 
Lancaster to Franklin County, Penn., at an early date, where the 
following named children were born:  John, Daniel, Samuel, Benjamin, 
Joseph, Susan and Sarah.  He lived to be sixty-five years of age.  His 
son Benjamin, father of our subject, was born in 1810 in Franklin 
County, Penn., and began life for himself as a teamster.  In 1833 he 
married, and in 1837 bought a farm in Franklin County, Penn.  He was 
the father of eleven children:  Elizabeth, John B., David, Levi, 
Benjamin, Samuel, Daniel, Christian, Amanda, William and Abraham.  
Benjamin Garver moved to Huntingdon County, Penn., in 1851; was a 
member of the German Baptist Church.  He was a sober, industrious man, 
noted for his energy and honesty.  John B., our subject, was born 
October 11, 1840, on his father's farm in Franklin County, Penn.  He 
received his education in the common schools and at the academy at 
Shirleysburg, Penn.  At the age of twenty-two, becoming interested in 
religion, he joined the German Baptist Church.  The next year he was 
elected minister by the congregation.  He began preaching immediately 
in Huntingdon County, Penn.  In 1863 he married Miss Sarah S., daughter 
of Samuel Loutz, of Huntingdon County, Penn.  To them were born two 
children:  Ira A. and Loretta A.  In 1870 his wife died, and in 1872 he 
married Miss Sarah D., daughter of George and Sarah (Baker) Brindle, of 
Cumberland County, and by her he has two children:  Lizzie B. and 
Paulina E.  In 1875 Mr. Garver moved to this county and began 
preaching.  He and his wife are beloved by their congregation and the 
people for their Christian worth and high character.  Mrs. Garver is a 
member of one of the oldest families in Monroe Township, her great-
grandfather emigrating from Germany years ago, and was subsequently 
drowned while crossing the ocean, on a visit.  George Brindle (Mrs. 
Garver's grandfather) was born in Cumberland County, Penn., and was a 
farmer, land-holder and distiller in Monroe Township.  He married 
Elizabeth Bricker, of this county, by whom he had six children:  John, 
George, Peter, Solomon, Elizabeth and Susan.  He was a member of the 
German Reformed Church.  George Brindle (father of Mrs. Garver) was 
born in this township in 1796; married Sarah Baker, daughter of Daniel 
and Barbara (Keller) Baker, of Lancaster County, Penn., by whom he had 
seven children:  Cyrus, Elizabeth, Amos, Barbara, Rebecca, George and 
Sarah D. (twins).  Mr. George Brindle was a very prosperous man, a 
member of the State Legislature, and held other offices of trust.  He 
was administrator of a number of estates and guardian of several 
families of children.  He lived to the patriarchal age of eighty-five, 
respected by all, and his death was deeply lamented by his many 
friends.