Harrisburg's oldest resident, George Garverich, who passed his ninety-seventh birthday on January 17, died yesterday at his home, 1223 Derry Street, after an illness of over a year's duration. Mr. Garverich had lived in Harrisburg since his birth in 1798. He was born in Penbrook and will be buried in the East Harrisburg Cemetery, near his birth place. He is survived by five children, three sons and two daughters, He had eleven children, twenty-five grandchildren, forty-five great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. The funeral services will be held tomorrow at two o'clock in Christ Lutheran church. Rev. Dr. Gilbert, of Zion Lutheran church, will officiate.
Patriot News, Tuesday, February 12, 1895

Unquestionably the best known of all the Dauphin County branch by reason of his great age, was born in a log cabin about 200 yards from the lot in the Harrisburg Cemetery where he was laid at rest about a century later. He was known for many years as "Grandpap Garverich" and his memory was remarkably keen, even up to the latter years of his life. He lived through the administrations of all the Presidents from Washington to Benjamin Harrison, and saw all the generations of the Gerberich family in America from the first unto the seventh. The only record we have of his traveling beyond the borders of Pennsylvania was a hike on foot in the year 1821 in company with a man named Krall, to Ohio, where some of his relatives lived. "Before starting," says Kelker's History, "he cut a stick from the Wetzel Swamp, and this he carried on the journey across the wilderness and brought it back to Dauphin County. There is a silver band across the head of his cane which bears his name and the date, 1821." It later came into the possession of his son Augustus. George Garverich served for many years as county commissioner in Dauphin Co., Pa. He is said to have been the first to use the spelling "Garverich" in writing the family name. [history of the gerberichs in America]
In every community there are those whose lives are prolonged to the allotted time spoken by the Psalmist, and they are looked upon by the young and middle aged with much respect and veneration, but with what veneration are we to put upon those who are born and resided always in the same community who reach almost five-score years, as in the case of "Gand-pap" Garverick, whose remains were laid away in the grave last week. George Garverick saw the first light of day in the house owned by Jacob Rheam, which stood on a piece of ground which is part of the Harrisburg cemetery. He followed farming until he retire in 1857 and then took up residence in Harrisburg. He owned and farmed the place now owned by Major Greenwaite. When a young man of 15, he drove a team and assisted in hauling the lumber used in the Capitol buildings. He cast a vote for every President since the year 1818. During the years 1860-1862 he served as one of the county commissioners of Dauphin county. He was confirmed at Shoops Lutheran church, in his sixteenth year and was a member of the Lutheran church eight-one years, being a communicant of Zion's Lutheran this city most of his life time. He cast his first vote at an election held where the late Samuel Mahan resided. He m. Jan 12, 1823, on his twenty-fifth birthday, Elizabeth Alleman, dau. of Martin Alleman, Sr., and had a number of children, some of who survive him. He married secondly, Aug. 1, 1844, Mrs. Catharine Alleman, his sister-in-law, widow of Martin Alleman, Jr., and an daughter of William Ewing and [unreadable] Wolford. [egle's historical notes and queries, jan 1895]
At the time of his death, he was living at 1223 Derry Street, Harrisburg.