BIO: William S. VARNER, Huntingdon County, PA

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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, page 193.
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  WILLIAM S. VARNER, Alexandria, Huntingdon county, Pa., son of George 
and Hannah (Devinney) Varner, was born on a farm in Fayette township, 
Juniata county, Pa., December 3 1840. His great-grandfather, Stuffel 
Varner, was born in the province of Hesse Cassel, Germany. He came to 
America with the Hessian troops employed by the British during the 
Revolution; but the love of liberty natural to every true German must 
soon have made him feel himself on the wrong side in fighting against 
the American patriots, for at Valley Forge he deserted from the British 
army, and fought under Washington during the remaining years of the 
struggle. When the war was ended, he settled in Schuylkill county, Pa., 
where he lived to see his one hundred and third year. His son, John 
Varner, born in Schuylkill county, grew up there and married Miss 
Bailey. He took up a tract of land in Schuylkill county, but abandoned 
it and moved to Juniata county; where he rented a home, but died soon 
after; nor did his wife survive him very long. Their children are: 
John, resident of Juniata county; George; Daniel, passed his boyhood in 
Juniata county, learned the jewelry business, went to Ohio, and 
afterwards to Missouri, where he died; Catherine, married and removed 
to a distance, has not been heard from for a long time; and David, 
passed his youth in Juniata county, went west, and has not been heard 
from for twenty-five years.
  George Varner was born near Pottsville, Schuylkill county in 1816. He 
was still a boy when his parents removed to Juniata county. He received 
a limited education, married in Juniata county, and has ever since 
resided there; he is now living on a farm in Lack township, but has 
relinquished active employment. The children of Mr. and Mrs. George 
Varner are: William S.; Rebecca (Mrs. Daniel Lobb), Harrisburg, Pa.; 
Annie (Mrs. Lemuel McKinley), McCoysville, Pa.; Edward, farmer, near 
Mansfield, O.; Barbara; David, resides in Alexandria; Jennie (Mrs. 
Harvey Gray), Juniata county. Mrs. George Varner died in 1876, at the 
age of fifty-eight.
  William S. Varner attended school during the winter terms of three 
months each, until he was fourteen, when he was employed as farm hand 
on his father's place. He was thus occupied until the spring of 1862, 
when he enlisted in Company F, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, for 
three years, and soon after enlistment, was assigned to the army of the 
Potomac. This regiment was in active service until the close of the 
war. Mr. Varner took part in thirty-six regular engagements and one 
hundred and forty skirmishes. He was discharged at Lynchburg, Va., July 
1, 1865. During all this gallant and perilous service, Mr. Varner was 
wounded four times, but none severely. He received three bullet wounds 
and a saber cut on the lip, which knocked out some teeth. Returning 
home at the close of the war, Mr. Varner served an apprenticeship of 
two years and a half with John Burns, millwright, of Lack township, 
Juniata county. For two years after, he worked as journeyman for J. F. 
Ellsworth, of Williamsburg, Blair county, and Sanford Burley, of 
Tyrone, Pa. At the end of this time, he went into business for himself 
in Alexandria. His engagements call him to all parts of Pennsylvania, 
and into parts of New York and Maryland. His own wages as a beginner, 
after the war, were $2.50 per week and board; he pays his employees 
$2.50 per day, they boarding themselves. Mr. Varner is a Republican. He 
has never been an office seeker; is now serving his first term as 
school director.
  In Alexandria, March 2, 1866, William S. Varner was married to 
Elizabeth, daughter of David and Johanna Albright, a native and 
resident of Alexandria. Their children are: George, born December 14, 
1866, in Alexandria; Annie D., born November 4, 1869, is a graduate of 
Cleveland Homoeopathic Medical College, and is entering upon an 
engagement in a women's and children's hospital in Philadelphia; Grace 
S., born February 23, 1873; Edward Arnold, born October 1, 1877, died 
December 1, 1877; Ida Mary, born September 24, 1878; and Nellie 
Frances, born December 24, 1889. Mrs. Elizabeth Varner died September 
13, 1891. Mr. Varner was married again, October 12, 1893, to Mary, 
daughter of John and Elizabeth Arnold, a native of Porter township. 
They had one child, Edith Margaretta, born February 19, 1895. Mr. 
Varner is a member and office-bearer of the Presbyterian church.