My Genealogy Hound

JOHN N. GARVER, one of the proprietors and advertising manager of the Springfield Republic-Times, one of the leading journals of Southern Ohio, and a member of the firm of A. D. Hosterman & Co., publishers of that and other papers, is classed among the ablest and most scholarly members of his profession in this part of the West. He is a native of Clark County, born in Bethel Township, September 28, 1858. His father, Benjamin C. Garver, was born near Harper’s Ferry, Va., while his grandfather, Abraham C. Garver, was a native of Beaver Creek, Md., a son of Christian Garver, one of two brothers who came to this country from Germany late in the eighteenth century and located in Maryland. He was a farmer, and bought land on Beaver Creek, Washington County, and resided there until death closed his mortal career. He was the father of eighteen children. The grandfather of our subject was reared in Maryland, and about 1820 bought land near Harper’s Ferry, and resided there until 1830, when he came to Clark County, accompanied by his wife and seven children, making the journey with a team. He cast in his lot with the pioneers of Bethel Township, buying seven hundred acres of land, which was heavily timbered, a small portion cleared and a log house standing thereon constituting the only improvements. The family moved into the log building, which he afterward included in a more pretentious frame house, which is still standing. His death occurred in 1857, in that home which he had reared with hard pioneer labor. He had in the meantime cleared the greater part of his land and had a fine large farm. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Rice, and she was born in Maryland, and spent her last years on the old homestead in Bethel. They reared six children, of whom the following is recorded: Catherine, now deceased, married Samuel Kable; John resides in New Carlisle; Susan is the wife of James Kable, of Macoupin County, Ill.; Elizabeth is the wife of Dr. Isaac Meranda, of New Carlisle; Benjamin C., the father of our subject; Sarah is the wife of James Lamme, a resident of Springfield.

Benjamin Garver was two years old when his parents brought him to this county, and he was reared and educated in Bethel Township. He inherited a part of the old homestead, and resided on it many years, conducting agriculture. In 1885 he removed to Kansas, and buying a tract of land ten miles from Anthony, has resided there ever since. He was converted to Methodism after marriage, and became a power in the church as a local preacher. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Ruth A. Rohrer, and she was born in Springfield, Clark County. Her father, John Rohrer, was a native of Southeastern Pennsylvania, coming, from that State to Springfield about 1840. He was a blacksmith, and opened a shop here and plied his trade, and accumulated quite a property, which he lost, however, by going security for others. His death occurred in this city at a ripe old age, in 1875. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah Thrall, and she died in Springfield in 1880. Of the eleven children born to the parents of our subject nine are living, namely: John N., Abraham R., Frank R., James L., Walter B., Edward M., George G., Clara E. and Arthur C.

John N. Garver, of this sketch, passed the early years of his life on the old homestead that his grandfather had redeemed from the primeval forests, and as soon as large enough assisted in farming. He was a studious, thoughtful lad, and was given fine advantages to obtain an education, laying the foundation of his knowledge at the district school, which he attended part of each year; in 1874 he entered the High School at New Carlisle, and in 1876 became a student at Wittenberg College, where he pursued a liberal course for two years, and during his college course taught school one year in his native township. After leaving Wittenberg he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, and from that institution of learning he was graduated with a good reputation for scholarship in the class of ‘82. After leaving the university he was engaged the ensuing two years as traveling salesman for the Superior Drill Company, and then turned his attention to law, studying for one year in Emporia, Kan., in the office of Buck & Feighan, leading lawyers of that city. At the expiration of that time he dropped his legal studies to give, his attention to newspaper work as city editor of the News and Globe, then owned by Jacob Stotler, and in 1886 he was appointed city editor of the Sioux City Tribune. In the fall of that year our subject went to Kansas City to engage with the New England Trust Company, as inspector of lands in Missouri and Kansas, and was thus employed one year. We next hear of him in Lincoln, Neb., where, with A. D. Hosterman and others he aided in forming a company, called the Lincoln Newspaper Union, and established a publishing house in that city. In the fall of 1888 the company disposed of its plant at a good profit and Mr. Garver came to Springfield with his brother-in-law, A. D. Hosterman, and with him and others bought an interest in the Republic-Times, and has been connected with the paper ever since.

Since coming here Mr. Garver has established an attractive home in our midst, and to the gracious and accomplished young wife, who so cordially unites with him in extending its charming hospitalities to their numerous friends, he was united in marriage in the fall of 1888, and baby Benjamin completes the happy household circle. Mrs. Garver is a native of Springfield, her maiden name Anna Geiger, and she is a daughter of Prof. H. R. and Nancy (Harford) Geiger, of whom see sketch on another page of this volume.

As a man and as a citizen our subject is highly regarded in this city, where he has a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He possesses an unusual degree of geniality, tact and quick wit, together with good business qualifications, that seem so necessary to success in the journalistic profession. He is a stalwart Republican in his political sentiments, and he is prominently identified with the social and religious interests of the community; he is a member of the college society, the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, and belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, No. 51; and he and Mrs. Garver are members in good standing of the High Street Methodist Episcopal Church.