BIO: John W. HOUSEHOLDER, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************** __________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, pages 274-275. __________________________________________________________________ JOHN W. HOUSEHOLDER, wagon manufacturer, Markleysburg, Pa., was born January 3, 1855, in the town where he now resides. He is a son of John and Catharine (Vandevander) Householder. His grandfather, Michael Householder, was born at Antietam, and removed to McConnellstown, where he engaged in farming and also in driving a stage to Philadelphia. He married Miss Martha Westbrook. They had six children: Margaret; Elizabeth; John; Levi; William; and Mary A. Mr. Householder was an old line Whig. He and his wife both died in Markleysburg. John Householder, the father of John W., was born in McConnellstown, Huntingdon county, September 13, 1807. Early in life he learned the trade of wagon-making with Isaac Vandevander, of McConnellstown. Part of his busy life was spent in farming in Walker and Penn townships. He was the first wagon- maker in Markleysburg, and it was in this town that he spent the greater part of his life, and died in 1880. he was married October 27, 1836, in Walker township, to Catharine, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Enyeart) Vandevander, born December 15, 1815. Her mother's ancestors were natives of Holland. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Householder were: Martha (Mrs. G. W. Gorsuch), of Martinsburg, Blair county; William J., deceased; Harrison, deceased; Washington, deceased; Rebecca (Mrs. J. H. Anderson), Colorado; Vandevander, deceased; Matilda, deceased; Mary E. (Mrs. A. B. Frank), of Markleysburg; Sarah A. (Mrs. G. W. Isett); Margaret J., deceased; John W.; and Nannie B. (Mrs. H. H. Davis), of Grafton, Pa. Mr. Householder took an active part in political affairs, was justice of the peace for twenty years, and county commissioner from 1864 to 1867, elected on the Republican ticket. He was a consistent worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, and was class leader and Sunday-school superintendent for many years. His wife resides with her son, John W. Householder. This son received his education in the public schools of Penn township, and learned wagon-making with his father, in whose employ he remained until he was twenty-six. He continued the business a year after his father's death, and then took a pleasure trip of four months to Colorado. The next two years he was employed as carpenter for the Broad Top R.R., and then embarked in his present business in Markleysburg. He has built many houses in the valley, one of which is his own residence, a house costing upwards of $1,400. John W. Householder was married in 1880, in Markleysburg, to Annie B., daughter of Washington Shultz, of Lincoln township, now deceased. Their children are: Ada; John C.; and Grace V., deceased. Mr. Householder is a member of Atlas Castle, No. 322, K. of G. E., Markleysburg. He is a Republican and has served as councilman for ten years.