BIOGRAPHY: John W. DIFFENDERFER, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 626-627.

  JOHN W. DIFFENDERFER, M. D., Allensville, Mifflin county, Pa., was born at 
McVeytown, Pa., January 12, 1861, son of Samuel and Mary (Kimberly) 
Diffenderfer.  His paternal great-grandfather was a Hollander, who came to 
Pennsylvania and settled in New Holland.  His grandfather, Stephen Diffenderfer, 
who was born here, learned the trade of blacksmith and iron worker.  He came to 
Mifflin county, and settled in the Kishacoquillas valley at Horrellstown, now 
Allensville.  He was the first blacksmith of the village, and the shop which he 
built is one of the old landmarks of Allensville.  Mr. Diffenderfer was for many 
years a justice of the peace in Menno township, and was highly esteemed in the 
community.  He was a Whig.  He was married in Mifflin county, and had a family 
of children.  Mr. Diffenderfer died in Allensville, and was buried in the 
Methodist graveyard.  He was an earnest and faithful member of the Methodist 
church.  Samuel Diffenderfer, after attending the subscription schools of the 
valley, entered his father's shop and learned the trade, which he followed until 
1870, when he went to Cass county, Missouri, and engaged in farming and stock 
raising.  He enlisted, August 18, 1862, for the war of the Rebellion, was 
mustered into service at Mt. Union, Huntingdon county, and was assigned to 
Company I, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, "Bucktail 
Regiment," as sergeant.  He was promoted to second lieutenant March 25, 1863;  
to first lieutenant, January 29, 1864;  and to captain March 17, 1864.  On May 
4, 1864, he was discharged from the service on surgeon's certificate.
  About 1870 Mr. Diffenderfer removed with his family to Missouri, where he 
cleared and cultivated his farm of 160 acres, built a house and barn, and made 
many improvements.  His untiring energy and perseverance rewarded him with 
abundant success.  In 1889 he retired from farming, and returned to Mifflin 
county, Pa., where he resided until his death, which occurred in March, 1894.  
Mr. Diffenderfer was an ardent Republican.
  Samuel Diffenderfer was first married to Mary Kimberly, of McVeytown, who was 
of English descent, and who died of consumption in 1862, leaving four children:  
Annie (Mrs. H. E. Loomis), of Kansas City;  Alice (Mrs. Thomas L. Wilson), died 
in Freeman, Cass county, Mo.;  John W.;  and Harry, who was burned to death in 
Colorado.  Afterwards he married Catharine Ost, of Burnt Cabins, Pa.  Their 
children are:  Samuel G., resides in the west;  May P.;  Rachel E.;  George, of 
Bellefountain, O.;  Belle;  and Maude.  His widow resides in Allensville.
  John W. Diffenderfer attended the public schools of Mt. Union until he was 
nine years of age, when his parents removed to Cass county, Mo.  Here he 
attended the district schools, and assisted his father on the farm until he was 
twenty-two years of age.  He took a course of instruction at the Missouri State 
Normal School, to prepare himself for teaching, and taught five years in the 
district and graded schools.  During this time he read medicine under Dr. G. W. 
Farrow, of East Lynne, Cass county.  He then entered the Rush Medical College at 
Chicago, where he spent two years, and afterwards became a student of the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons at Kansas City, where, in 1889, he completed 
a two years' course, and was graduated with honor.  He first practised his 
profession in Ellis county, Kan., afterwards in Springview, Keya Paha county, 
Neb.  In 1892, he removed to Allensville, Pa., where he now resides.  His skill 
as a physician and surgeon is well-known in the valley, and he has a large 
practise.  He is a Republican.  Dr. John W. Diffenderfer was married at 
Springview, Neb., to Lucy A., daughter of Daniel Hollis, a retired farmer of 
Blacklick, Indiana county, Pa.