John B. Warfel received his education in the public schools of Lancaster, at the Strasburg Academy, and at Lewisburg (now Bucknell) University. From the latter, in 1895, he received the honorary degree of A. M. He taught the public school in the village of Paradise during the term of 1849-50, and the public school in Strasburg borough during the term of 1853-54. In the spring of 1854 he commenced farming on the place where he was born, and he continued in that occupation until 1863. In 1855 Mr. Warfel was elected a justice of the peace for Paradise township, and was re-elected in 1860. When elected a justice he commenced the practice of surveying and conveyancing, and in the latter business had a large clientage. He was elected a school director for Paradise township in the spring of 1856, and was re-elected in 1859 and 1862. In January, 1863, Mr. Warfel was appointed an examiner in the United States Pension Bureau, at Washington, D. C. He then abandoned farming, resigned his several positions in Paradise township, and with his family moved to Washington. While in that city, and serving as an examiner in the Pension office, Mr. Warfel commenced the study of law at Columbia College, attending the lectures at night. He graduated with the class of 1867, and shortly afterward was admitted to practice in the courts of Washington city, and at Lancaster, Pa. In April, 1867, he was appointed by the President of the United States assessor of Internal Revenue for the 9th Pennsylvania District, and he then moved with his family from Washington to Lancaster. In the spring of 1869 he was elected a member of the Lancaster city school board, and he has been re-elected and has served as a school director from that time to the present (1902). He was president of the board in 1877-78-79-8O. In 1869 he was elected senator, to represent Lancaster county in the State Senate. He was re-elected in 1872, and again in 1875, and while in the Senate was chairman of the following standing committees: Federal Relations, Education, Private Claims and Damages, Railroads, and Pensions and Gratuities. In May, 1872, Mr. Warfel was appointed a State trustee of the Normal School at Millersville, and he has been re-appointed, serving continuously as such to the present time; he has been president of the board since May, 1897. In 1876 he was one of the Presidential electors for Pennsylvania, on the Republican ticket, elected to cast the vote of the State for Rutherford B. Hayes. He was president of the Howard Benevolent Association of Lancaster for a number of years; president of the Lancaster County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for more than a quarter of a century; a director of the Farmers National Bank for a number of years until 1888, and since then has been a director in the Lancaster County National Bank. He was one of the organizers and for some time the manager of the Inquirer (now Wicker-sham) Printing Company; was director and president of the Union Building & Loan Association; and director of the West End Building & Loan Association. He has been trustee and W. M. of Lodge No. 43, A. F. & A. M., and trustee of Lancaster Commandery, No. 13, K. T. He has been a trustee of the Lancaster Cemetery Association since Febrtiary, 1882. He is also a trustee of the Home of Friendless Children, of Lancaster; of the Stevens Orphans' Home, of Lancaster; and of the Henry G. Long Asylum, also of that city. As executor and trustee Mr. Warfel has had charge of a number of estates, several of them quite large, and these occupied a great deal of his time and attention from 1874 to 1897. In April, 1877, in connection with J. M. W. Geist, Mr. Warfel comnienced the publication of The New Era Daily and Weeklv newspapers, and continued thus engaged until May 15, 1897, when he withdrew from the partnership, and retired from active business.
Mr. Warfel was married to Mary, daughter of the late Col. Isaac Girvin, of Strasburg township, Lancaster county. Of the children born to this union the following survive: Ila, wife of William F. Beyer, Esq.; John G., one of the firm of The New Era Printing Company; and Jessie F., at home. One son, Robert, died young.
(Source: Biographical Annals of Lancaster County, Pa., Beers, 1903, pp. 136-7.)