BIOGRAPHY: Mitchel H. VARNES, Patterson, Juniata Co., PA
  
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Mike Williamson 
  Transcribed by Patty Frank
  
  Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/juniata/
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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 II, 
  Page 844.
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    MITCHEL H. VARNES, Patterson, Juniata county, Pa., was born in
  Juniata county, February 17, 1836. He is a son of Isaac and Jane
  (Arnold) Varnes. His grandfather, Valentine Varnes, was a native of
  France, who came to America during the Revolutionary war, and was
  captain of a company in the Continental army. He then settled on
  Duncanis Island, Dauphin county, Pa. His children were: Valentine;
  George; Isaac; Abraham; Rebecca; and Susan. Isaac Varnes, father of
  Mitchel H. Varnes, was born in Perry county in 1801. When a young man
  he settled near Mifflintown, Juniata, county, but later removed to
  Milford township and rented a farm. He married Jane Arnold, and had
  ten children: Arnold; Phoebe; Isaac; Ezra; Mary; Mitchel; Michael;
  Maggie, Lizzie; and Sarah.
    Mitchel H. Varnes was educated in Milford township. After working
  on his uncleis farm for thirteen years, he received an appointment as
  watchman in the Lewistown Narrows. In 1867 he rented and seven years
  later purchased the farm on which he now resides. He is a Democrat,
  voting, but not seeking office for himself. He was overseer of the
  poor for sixteen years. In 1863 Mitchel H. Varnes was married to
  Martha Heikes. Their children are: William; Jennie (Mrs. William
  Isenberg); Sarah (Mrs. Grant Honer); Mary (Mrs. Allen Buckwalter);
  John; George; Rebecca; Andrew, deceased; Emma; and a child who died
  in infancy. Mr. Varnes attends the Old School Baptist church.