BIO: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN GARMAN, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson OCRed by Judy Banja Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/ _____________________________________________________________ >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 325-326 _____________________________________________________________ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/ BENJAMIN FRANKLIN GARMAN, a prosperous farmer of Silver Spring township, Cumberland county, and one of the leading men of his vicinity, was born on the Garman homestead Nov. 13, 1859. The earliest ancestor of whom there is any definite record is John Garman, his grandfather, who lived at Allisons Hill, near Harrisburg, Dauphin county, whence he moved in 1838 to the place on which our subject now resides, and began the occupation of farming. John Garman was married to Miss Elizabeth Berriger, of Dauphin county, and became the father of the following named children: Samuel married Betsy Voglesong, of Silver Spring township. John married Miss Loose, of Silver Spring township, had four children by that union, and for his second wife married Mrs. Finkenbinder, by whom he had two children. Benjamin married Hannah Susan Albright, of Perry county, and had three children. Michael became the father of our subject. Hetty married Daniel Handshew, and they had one child; eleven months from the date of their marriage the husband died, and Hetty later married David Shank, of Shippensburg, and became the mother of four children. Catherine married John Jacobs, of Middlesex township. Michael Garman was born in Dauphin county Sept. 24, 1835, and was brought to Cumberland county when only three years of age, being reared within its confines, and receiving a fair education at the schools of Silver Spring township. After attaining his majority he married Hannah Susan (Albright) Garman, widow of his brother Benjamin, and assumed the care of his three children, caring for them as though they were his own. Six children were born to himself and wife: Emma married H. A. Thomman, a farmer of Middlesex township. Benjamin F. is our subject. George married Miss Anna Burget, and is now living in Frankford township, and they have eight children. Suvillia married John Young, lives in Plainfield, Pa., and has eight children. Alice married Clayton Snell, of Silver Spring township, and they have two children. Ida married Leonard W. Ziegler, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. Benjamin F. Garman was educated at Fairview Hall school, Silver Spring township, attending there until he was about eighteen years of age. After leaving school he worked on the farm for his father until he was twenty-nine years of age. On March 18, 1888, Mr. Garman was married to Miss Susan Zeigler, daughter of Andrew and Mary (Gutshall) Zeigler, of Middlesex township, and two children were born to them, Verda May and Jessie, both of whom are at home. Mrs. Garman died April 30, 1903, deeply lamented by her family and a wide circle of friends. Mr. Garman has been a member of the Lutheran Church since boyhood, and is a very active worker in that body. He has allied himself with the Democratic party, and was elected 326 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. school director, but refused to qualify, preferring to devote his time to his children. All of his life he has followed farming, and at present makes his home on his fine farm of 148 acres, the greater portion of which is under cultivation and in an excellent condition. All of his life he has been industrious, working hard and practicing thrift in his daily life. As a result success has crowned his efforts, and he is to-day numbered among the solid, reliable men of his township.