[p. 888] one of Perry Township's prominent citizens and successful agriculturists, resides about three miles northeast of Ellwood City, on his valuable farm of eighty-six acres. Mr. Van Gorder was born November 1, 1876, in the farmhouse which stands south of his present home, in Perry Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Alvi S. and Rebecca (Marshall) Van Gorder.
Alvi S. Van Gorder was born in Perry Township, where he died January 14, 1908. He inherited his farm from his father and conducted it through his active years, and was also interested in both a lumber and grist mill, both of which were built on the farm now owned by his son Joseph. The saw mill is dismantled, but the grist mill is still operated by Joseph Van Gorder. He married Rebecca, a daughter of Joseph Marshall, a well-known farmer of Perry Township. To this union were born seven children, namely: Nannie, deceased, was the wife of Wesley McElwain, of Perry Township, and they had the following children: Roy, Earl, Clarence, Lillian, May, Arthur and Maud; Lila, who married William Hazen, has three children: Merrill, James and Harry; Mary, who married William Ferrel, has one child; Joseph, who resides in Perry Township; Irvin, who is unmarried, is in the undertaking business at Bedford, Ohio; and Jennie and Birdello, both of whom reside at the homestead.
Joseph Van Gorder was educated in the country schools, at Wurtemburg College and the Slippery Rock State Normal School, where he spent three terms. When he returned home permanently he became the operator of the grist mill, and two years later embarked in a mercantile business at Wurtemburg, where he continued for five years. Before the death of his father, he resumed farming, and came to his present place on December 20, 1907, and completed the building of his handsome residence in January, 1908.
Mr. Van Gorder married Nellie Baldwin who is a daughter of Lafayette Baldwin: a prominent citizen of Lawrence County and its present treasurer. Mr. and Mrs. Van Gorder have five children, as follows: May, Ross, Hazel, Martha and Elizabeth. Mr. Van Gorder is a member and liberal supporter of the United Presbyterian Church at Wurtemburg. He is a leader in the Republican party in this section and is a member of the Republican County Committee. Fraternally, he is an Odd Fellow.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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