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Simon Schaeffer
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SIMON SCHAEFFER, of Blanket Hill, Armstrong county, has been engaged in the
general mercantile business there for several years, previous to which time he
carried on farming. He is serving as justice of the peace and is one of the
most respected citizens of Kittanning township. Mr. Schaeffer was born June 6,
1837, in Kittanning township, son of Isaac Schaeffer and grandson of John
Philip Schaeffer.Anthony Schaeffer, great-grandfather of Simon Schaeffer, was the first of
the family to come to this country from Germany, and settled in Northumberland
county, Pa., in or about 1782. Shortly afterward he was married, and he had
two sons and several daughters, his sons, George Peter and John Philip, coming
to Armstrong county, Pa., and settling near Cochran Mills, both on farms.John Philip Schaeffer was born in Northumberland county, Pa., and as
Previously stated came to Armstrong county in 1810. In his early life he
learned blacksmithing; and he followed that work and gunsmithing as well as
farming. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Zerphas, had the following
children: John, Philip, Isaac, Anthony, Michael, Frederick, Mary and
Elizabeth.Isaac Schaeffer, son of John Philip, was born in Burrell township, and
educated in the country schools in Armstrong county at home until his
marriage. In 1832 he located at Blanket Hill, in Kittanning township, his farm
being the original Blanket Hill, and he became one of the well-known farmers
of his district, a man esteemed by all who met him. He was a Democrat, and a
member of the Lutheran Church. He married Elizabeth Schall, a native of
Armstrong county, and they became the parents of thirteen children of whom the
following grew to maturity: Adam, who is now deceased; Sarah, deceased;
Catherine, deceased; Mary Ann, now deceased, who married Daniel Forster, a
veteran of the Civil war (she survived him, living in Kittanning township
until her death); Simon; John P., who is engaged in farming on the old
homestead; James, living at Manorville, Pa.; and Eve, who married Isaac
Dunmire, of Kittanning township.Simon Schaeffer lived at home until his marriage, and in his boyhood
attended the common schools of the neighborhood. On Sept. 15, 1864, he
enlisted, becoming a member of Company M, 199th Pennsylvania Volunteer
Regiment, was sent to Richmond, and took part in the battles of Petersburg,
Hatcher’s Run and Appomattox Court House, and was discharged at Richmond, Va.,
June 28, 1865. He was taken sick in front of Richmond with fever and ague, and
was ill for some time. Upon his return from the army he took up farm pursuits,
living in Valley township from 1868 to 1884, and in Kittanning township from
1884 to 1907, owning 140 acres, where he engaged in general farming. In 1907
he settled at Blanket Hill, where he has since done a thriving business as a
general merchant. He has always taken a prominent part in public affairs in
his locality, served twenty years as supervisor and member of the school board
in Valley and Kittanning townships, was tax collector one term, and has been a
justice of the peace for the last fifteen years. Mr. Schaeffer has been a
wide-awake citizen, alert and enterprising in the discharge duties connected
with the different trusts with which he has been honor his intelligent and
broad ideas have made him a very valuable worker. He is well read, and has an
excellent memory, being in fact well preserved in every respect. He is widely
known, all over the county, and his high character has won him excellent
standing.He is a Democrat in political connection, a member of the Lutheran Church,
and belongs to Fraley Post, G.A.R., at Elderton.On March 29, 1860, Mr. Schaeffer was married to Sarah Cravner, of Blanket
Hill, who died June 8, 1910. He was married (second) Feb. 29, 1912, to Flora
Dunmire, of Plum Creek township, daughter of S.G. and Martha Dunmire.Of his children, all by the first union but Mildred, we have the following
Record: William Anderson is a farmer in Plum Creek township, and is married to
Mary J. Watterson; John Ambrose, who is deceased, married Anna Boarts; Isaac
A. married Nancy Hemphill and is living in Kittanning; James A., a Lawyer,
living at Mount Vernon, Ohio, married Minnie Welsh; Lambert Austin is
deceased; Elizabeth is deceased; Rebecca married C.M. Heilman, of Wick City,
Pa.; Simon Lewis, who is a traveling demonstrator and collector for a
publishing house of Chicago, Ill.; Mildred Irene was the only child of the
second marriage.Source: Page 468-496, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and
Present, J. H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed May 1999 by Michael S. Caldwell for the Armstrong County Beers
Project
Contributed for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
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