Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

KAUCHER,
JOHN R.

p. 1322

Surnames: KAUCHER, ROSE, CLEVELAND, TILL, LEEDOM, WRIGHT

John R. Kaucher, of Reading, represents a family resident in that
city for several generations, his father and grandfather before him
having been, like himself, natives of the place. The grandfather
John Kaucher was a hatter by trade and became later a manufacturer
of silk hats. He left a family of six or eight children.

John Kaucher (2), born in 1796, youngest child
of John, received his education in Reading and then took up his
father’s line of work, which he followed practically all his life.
He married Miss Catherine Rose and a family of nine children were
born to them as follows; Henry, deceased; Martin; John R.; Mary,
who died unmarried; Catherine, Mrs. Frederick Cleveland; Angeline,
who died unmarried; Hannah, Mrs. John Till; Sarah and Ellen, who
both died unmarried. Mr. Kaucher was in politics at first a Whig,
like his father, and then a Republican. In religious belief the
family were of the Reformed faith. Mr. Kaucher lived to the age of
sixty-six, dying in 1862, while his wife was born 1799 and passed
away in 1869, aged seventy.

After completing his course in the public
schools of Reading, John R. Kaucher entered upon his long and
prosperous business career, beginning as a clerk. In 1853 he
obtained a position in the discount and deposit department of the
Bank of Pennsylvania and remained there until 1878, when he was
appointed cashier of the First National Bank. His association with
the latter institution continued till 1899, when he practically
retired from active business life. Since then, refusing all
positions of heavy responsibility he has confined his work to life
and fire insurance and represents several of the best companies in
the country.

Mr. Kaucher married Miss Susan Leedom, daughter
of John and Louisa (Wright) Leedom, and six children have been born
to them, John, Richard, Thaddeus G., Sarah, Harriet and Maud. Mr.
Kaucher and his wife are connected with the Presbyterian Church. A
man of broad and varied interests, Mr. Kaucher has been identified
with many public enterprises in his city, has been director of the
Reading Library since 1857 and for a long time was secretary of the
board of directors of the Presbyterian Church. He is also a member
of the I. O. O. F.

KAUCHER,
WILLIAM

p. 1438

Surnames: KAUCHER, FREEMAN, STUMP, SPATZ, STEELE, TOBIAS, BOWMAN,
KELLER, LUTZ, CLAY

William Kaucher, of Reading, Pa., who has been in the employ of the
Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company for more than a quarter
of a century, was born in 1847, in Centre township, Berks county,
son of Leonard and Mary (Freeman) Kaucher.

John Kaucher, the grandfather of William, was
born in Germany, and on coming to this country settled in Bern
township, where the rest of his life was spent in agricultural
pursuits. He and his wife, whose maiden name is not known, were the
parents of these children: William, Mrs. Sarah Stump, Mrs. Mary
Spatz, Mrs. Betzy Steele, and Leonard. Leonard Kaucher was born in
Bern township and in early life learned the shoemaker’s trade,
which he followed all of his active period, his death occurring in
1864, in his fortieth year. He was a member of the National Guards
at one time. John Kaucher married Mary Freeman, and to them there
were born ten children: William; Eliza, who married Daniel C.
Tobias; Sarah, who married John Bowman; Charles, who married Emma
Keller; Samuel, of Reading, who married Amanda Lutz; Leonard, and
four who died in infancy. In religious belief the family were
Reformed.

William Kaucher was reared in Bern and Centre
townships, where his education was obtained, and until 1880 worked
in the ore mines of his community. In 1881 he came to Reading and
accepted a position with the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad
Company, which position he has held until the present time. Mr.
Kaucher is a faithful workman and has earned the esteem and respect
of his employers as well as his fellow-workmen. In 1871 Mr. Kaucher
was married to Sarah Ann Clay, a native of Centre township, and to
them there have been born ten children: John A., Franklin W.,
George W., Jacob H., James L., Elmer M., Calvin M., Debbie A., Mary
S., and Nora A. In religious belief the family are members of the
Reformed Church. Mr. Kaucher is a member of the P. & R. Relief
Association, and a Democrat in politics.

KAUFFMAN, ALBERT W.

p.
1711

Surnames: KAUFFMAN, RENTSCHLER, HIESTER, DEGLER, CLOUSER, SHOCK,
MOYER, SCHELLHAMMER

Albert W. Kauffman, proprietor of the “Carsonia Inn,” was born Nov.
3, 1860, in Upper Bern township, Berks county, son of Moses
Kauffman, and grandson of Christian Kauffman, of that township. The
progenitor of the Kauffman family in that section of Berks county
was George Kauffman, one of the three brothers who emigrated to
America and settled along the Blue Mountains in the early history
of the county, about one mile northeast of Shartlesville. His son,
Christian Kauffman (above named), secured a large tract of land in
that vicinity, which he cleared and cultivated very successfully,
hauling the grain realized to the market at Philadelphia. He
married Elizabeth Rentschler, and they had the following children:
William, Moses, Michael, George and Mary (m. Cyrus Hiester). He
died in 1881, aged eighty-eight years, and his wife died in 1880,
aged eighty-six years, and they were buried at St. Michael’s
Church.

Moses Kauffman, son of Christian, was born in
1818 on the homestead, where he was reared. He afterward carried on
the plantation, containing 116 acres, until his decease in 1892. He
was married to Esther Degler, daughter of Joseph Degler, a farmer
of Tulpehocken township, and they had five children: Emma (m.
(first) H. S. Clouser, and after his decease Frank Shock), Albert
W., Daniel F. (who resides on the homestead), Milton C. (a merchant
at Gouglersville, and director of the Mohnton National Bank) and
Alma D. (m. Frank Moyer, and both are deceased).

Albert W. Kauffman attended the public schools
in Upper Bern township, and then learned the carpenter’s trade,
which he followed for eleven years. Afterward he carried on the
produce business, having been thus engaged at Reading for eighteen
years. In April, 1907, he purchased the “Fair View Hotel,” in Bern
township, and carried on business there until September, 1908, when
he sold the place and located on the “Carsonia Inn” property (which
is connected with the Carsonia Park), in Exeter township, and there
he has carried on the hotel business in connection with farming
until the present time.

In 1887 Mr. Kauffman was married to Emma J.
Schellhammer, daughter of Prof. Henry W. Schellhammer, a prominent
school teacher in Berks county for many years [See sketch]. He is a
Democrat, and during his residence in Upper Bern township
officiated as a tax collector. He is a member of Washington Camp
No. 133, P. O. S. of A., at Shartlesville, and a charter member of
the Lodge of United Americans at Leesport. He is also connected
with the Reading Turnverein.

KAUFFMAN
FAMILY

p. 830

Surnames: KAUFFMAN, KAUFMAN, YODER, SHENKLE, LASKER, HILL, KEIM,
REIFF, GRIESEMER, LEVAN, KNABB, WEAVER, ROTHENBERGER, SNYDER,
DETURCK, SASSAMAN, SCHAEFFER, CLOUSER, BRUMBACH, HULTSHEISER,
KRUGER

Kauffman. This very old family of Oley township, Berks county, was
founded in this township between 1720 and 1734 by David Kaufman,
who came here from Germantown, Pa., where his mother resided. In
1734 he obtained a warrant for land from the Penns for property
located in Oley township, Philadelphia, now Berks, county. This
warrant bears the date of May 24, 1734, and is for one hundred
acres located in the eastern part of the township, and part of this
property is still in the possession of the family, being the
property of Frank Y. Kaufman. Later David obtained another warrant,
under date of July 1, 1740, for 54 acres, 154 perches. This tract
adjoined the former one, and part of it is also owned by Frank Y.
Kaufman. In addition to this property, David owned 200 acres, which
he obtained prior to 1734, and a portion of it is now owned by
Ephraim K. Kauffman, and the remainder by Frank Y. Kaufman. All
told the holdings of this Kaufman ancestor amounted to 354 acres,
which was admitted to be among the very choicest land of the
township. Upon this property David erected buildings, since
replaced by those more modern, but in their day they were
considered models of convenience and elegance. He is buried in a
private burying ground upon the premises, and his resting place is
marked by a limestone without any inscription. Five generations are
buried in that little plot, namely ? David, his son, Jacob; his
grandson, Jacob; his great-grandson, Jacob and his
great-great-grandson, Jacob. His wife Veronica, in 1763, with her
other children, released the property to her son Jacob. In the
release it is stated that she was the widow of David, and therefore
it is evident that David died some time prior to 1763. This release
is signed by the widow and her children, who were as follows: Annie
Yoder, Mary Shenkle, Barbara Lasker, and John, who settled in
Maiden-creek township where his descendants still reside. It is
evident that David had but two sons, Jacob and John.

Another interesting fact revealed by the records
of the township is that in 1758 and 1759 Jacob Kaufman paid heavy
taxes in Oley township, his assessment being thirty pounds.

David, the original ancestor of the Oley
township branch of the family, had a brother Jacob who died without
will, and his mother Anna of Philadelphia county took out letters
of administration in 1732, the letters stating that she was his
mother and next of kin. Anna, mother of David and Jacob, made a
will in which she bequeathed the grandfather clock to David, and
the balance of her estate to all the children of her son David,
except David’s son John, who was left out.

(II) Jacob Kaufman, son of David, obtained the family estate in
1763, as above stated, purchasing it from the other heirs, and he
retained it until his death, residing upon the property and
engaging in farming. His wife was a member of the family of Hill,
and among their children were: Jacob, John, Nicholas, Peter, Samuel
and David. There is a tradition in the family that two of these
sons, David and Nicholas, settled in Union county, Pa., and that
Samuel settled in the State of Indiana. It is also believed that a
son of the first Jacob located in the then wilds of Texas, where a
county, town, a paper and a post-office bear the family name.

(III) Jacob Kauffman (2) inherited the homestead and followed
farming all his life. He was born March 10, 1757, and died April
27, 1843, aged eighty-six years, one month and seventeen days. He
is buried on the estate. On Sept. 14, 1807, he married after he was
fifty years of age, Susanna Keim, born July 20, 1781, died March
16, 1870, aged eighty-eight years, seven months and twenty-six
days. The children born to them were: (1) Jacob (3) inherited a
part of the homestead. (2) Isaac inherited the other part. (3)
David, born Sept. 14, 1819, died Dec. 7, 1843, aged twenty-four
years, three months and three days, and is buried on the homestead;
he m. Hannah Reiff, and they had no children. (4) Daniel owned the
mill property now owned by Ammon Kauffman, of Oley. (5) Esther m.
Daniel Griesemer, of Spangsville, Pa. (6) Hannah m. Daniel Levan of
Oley. Others died in infancy. Jacob Kaufman (2) was a teamster in
the Revolutionary war, taking the oath in 1777.

(IV) Jacob Kauffman (3), son of Jacob (2), was born on a portion of
the homestead, March 13, 1813, and died Nov. 14, 1852, aged
thirty-nine years, eight months and one day. He was a farmer and
veterinary, and his services were in demand throughout his
neighborhood. His wife was Margaret Yoder, daughter of William
Yoder, of Oley, who lived on an adjoining farm. Four children were
born to them: Jacob and Mary died in infancy: Frank Y. and Hiram.

(IV) Isaac Kauffman, son of Jacob (2) and a brother of Jacob (3),
also father of Ephraim K., was born on the homestead in 1815, and
died in 1880, aged sixty-five years, one month and nineteen days.
He engaged in farming all his life, and became the owner of some
very valuable property, aggregating 373 acres of the best land in
Oley township. He was progressive in his methods, and developed his
land. Mr. Kauffman was among the heaviest tax payers in the
township. After his death the land was divided among his children,
but some of it was purchased by Ephraim K. Kauffman. He was active
in church life, and was a member of the Oley Reformed Church where
he is buried. He married Lucy A. Knabb, daughter of Daniel H. and
Eleanor (Weaver) Knabb, of Oley township. Mrs. Kauffman was born
Oct. 25, 1816, and died Dec. 28, 1907, aged ninety-one years, two
months and three days. Her mother attained to a still greater age,
dying aged ninety-four years, four months and one day, and both are
buried at Oley church. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Kauffman had the
following children: Rebecca, of Oley township; Ephraim K.; Miss
Susan K., of Oley township; Daniel B., of Oley; Jacob K., a farmer
of Amity township; Ellen K., m. to James Rothenberger, a farmer of
Oley; Emma A., m. to James E. Snyder, of Oley.

(V) Ephraim K. Kauffman, a substantial farmer of Oley township, was
born Aug. 9, 1838, son of Isaac Kauffman. He was born and reared on
the Kauffman homestead, where he still resides. His education was
obtained in the schools of his neighborhood, and at the Mount
Pleasant Seminary at Boyertown, the Freeland Seminary at
Collegeville, and the Oley Academy at Friedensburg. He then engaged
in farming for his parents, supervising the large farms which his
father owned, and since 1865 has supervised the cultivation of some
475 acres of the best agricultural land in Oley township. His own
farm consists of 225 acres of excellent farming land. It is
fertile, level, well-located and very valuable. This property is a
portion of the original Kauffman estate. The residence is in
colonial style, spacious and well-built, surrounded by a fine lawn
studded with shrubbery, flowers and Norway pines. This house was
erected in 1832, as was also the large Swiss barn.

In addition to this valuable farm, Mr. Kauffman
owns a valuable farm of 250 acres in Warwick and East Nantmeal
townships, Chester Co., Pa., which tract he has rented, although it
is stocked with his own cattle. On this farm, in 1904, there was
discovered a cannon of the Revolution, weighing 4550 pounds. This
he removed to his Oley township home, and it now decorates the
front lawn. In addition to this relic, Mr. Kauffman owns two
grandfather clocks that came into the Kauffman family from the
Weiser and Levan families.

Naturally as the owner of so much valuable
realty, Mr. Kauffman is a heavy taxpayer of the township. He has
other large interests, being one of the original directors of the
Keystone National Bank of Reading, which was organized in 1883. He
is connected with other organizations, and his private interests
are large. Mr. Kauffman is a member of the Oley German Reformed
Church, of which he was deacon for some years.

On Sept. 8, 1864, Mr. Kauffman was married to
Miss Willi L. DeTurck, born Aug. 21, 1843, a daughter of Daniel and
Willi (Levan) DeTurck. She died Dec. 8, 1904, aged sixty-one years.
Two children were born to this union: Ella K. and John N. Of these
Ella K. married a Mr. Sassaman and has one daughter, Mabel K., now
a student in the Womans College, at Frederick, Md. Mrs. Sassaman
resides with her father, and is a charming, accomplished woman.

(VI) John N. Kaufman, son of Ephraim K., was born Sept. 26, 1869,
on the homestead. He was engaged in a milling and lumber business
at Fleetwood where he had been for a number of years. He then
entered the service of the Metal Body Company, of Fleetwood, where
he did well. On April 1, 1909, the firm of Kaufman & Schaeffer,
of Fleetwood, was formed, he being the senior member. They deal in
flour, feed, grain, and coal. John N. Kaufman married Annie V.
Schaeffer, daughter of Joel Schaeffer, of Fleetwood, Pa., and they
have two children, Joel and Catherine Willi.

(V) Frank Y. Kaufman, son of Jacob (3), was born on the original
homestead, March 12, 1847. His father died when he was only six
years old, and so he was brought up in the home of his grandfather,
William Yoder, and that of his maternal uncle George S. Yoder.
Being in ill health in his youth his early education was neglected,
but he later made up this deficiency by attending the Oley Academy,
walking from Pleasantville to Friedensburg, a distance of three
miles twice a day. Later he went to the normal school, leaving it
in 1866. While living with his mother at Friedensburg he worked
upon the farm, and he now owns part of the original homestead, his
tract consisting of 124 acres of the best land in Oley township. He
resides on Main street, Friedensburg in a handsome colonial mansion
that was built in 1832.

Mr. Kaufman is a trustee of the Oley Academy,
and has been for many years. He is a director of the Manatawny Fire
Insurance Company; vice-president of the Oley Fire Company that was
organized in 1899. Mr. Kaufman has clerked at many sales, thus
serving his community since 1875. In politics Mr. Kaufman is a
Democrat. Six times has he been returned to the office of justice
of the peace, and so general has been the satisfaction with his
decisions that only once did he meet with any opposition.
Fraternally he is a member of Minnehaha Lodge, No. 154, K. of P.,
of Friedensburg, and he is the only charter member now living of
this lodge which was organized in 1869. For more than a quarter of
a century he has acted as its treasurer.

In 1870 Mr. Kaufman married Hannah Clouser,
daughter of Daniel and Susanna (Brumbach) Clouser. They have
children as follows: Sallie lives with the family of Edward
Hultsheiser, a banker of Bernardsville, N. J.; Emily is a
dressmaker residing at home; Elizabeth, a graduate of the training
school for nurses of the University of Pennsylvania, married
Charles O. Kruger, of Abington, Montgomery Co., Pa.; Rev. David, a
Lutheran clergyman at Emaus, Pa., has a son, David; Rebecca died in
1898 at Reading while taking a course to fit her as a trained
nurse; Rev. Roger, a Lutheran clergyman at Aurora, Ill., is a
missionary and built a church in 1907; Mary is a dressmaker and
resides at home.

Mr. Kaufman spells his name with but one “f”
because he claims that is is the original way of spelling it,
basing his claims upon family documents. One is one signed in good,
plain English by the original David with but one “f” and another by
the first Jacob signed the same way. Other members of the family
use the two “f’ way of spelling, but either way they all trace back
to the original David and his sons, and all are worthy to bear the
name of those sturdy pioneers who not only amassed fortunes, but
who raised a high standard of living and set examples of honorable
dealing which have come down to their descendants of this
generation, stimulating them to further effort.

KAUFFMAN, HENRY EDMUND

p. 1011

Surnames: KAUFFMAN, BAUSCHER, WAGNER, DIEFFENBACH, MILLER, BAER,
BATDORFF, HAWLEY, SCHLASMAN, LIVENGOOD, TREXLER, MYERS

Henry Edmund Kauffman, transcriber of indices under Jeremiah A.
Bauscher, recorder of deeds of Berks county, was born July 22,
1859, in Bethel (Millersburg), Bethel township, this county, son of
Edmund Kauffman.

Mr. Kauffman numbers among his ancestors some of
the earliest settlers of northern Berks county. On the paternal
side, besides being farmers, they carried on the manufacture of
wooden pumps, some of which are still to be seen in use. On the
maternal side were the Wagners and the Dieffenbachs, the former
being farmers, while the latter, although owning some good tracts
of land and raising their own produce, were largely mechanics,
chiefly of the wood-working class. John Jacob Dieffenbach, his
great-great-grandfather, is said to have been the first
American-born citizen to manufacture pipe organs in this country.

Edmund Kauffman, the father, followed in the
footsteps of his father, and engaged in the manufacture of pumps
and in carpentering in connection with farming. In the early
sixties he obeyed the call of patriotism, and enlisted in Company
E, 151st Pa. V. I., being mustered in Oct. 28, 1862, and mustered
out with his company July 30, 1863. On July 1, 1863, he was wounded
at Gettysburg.

Henry Edmund Kauffman received his education in
the schools in the vicinity of his home. He was still quite young
when he was trained to all manner of manual labor, being able to do
a man’s work while still in his teens. At an early age he was
apprenticed to A. I. Batdorff, and learned the tinsmith’s trade.
After completing his term of service, he, in 1877, took a
preparatory course under Prof. T. P. Miller, and passed the
examination under County Superintendent Prof. Samuel A. Baer,
receiving his certificate to teach. He was considered a success in
the school room, but, after a number of years at this work, he gave
it up and in 1899 moved with his family to Reading. He held various
minor positions for a time, and then entered the employ of the late
Jesse G. Hawley, proprietor of the Reading Daily, Sunday and Weekly
Eagles, where for more than fourteen years he held various
responsible positions, during the last seven of which he was market
master and assistant to the general superintendent of the Hawley
real estate.

On Jan. 11, 1879, Mr. Kauffman married Kate
Elizabeth Schlasman, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Livengood)
Schlasman, and two daughters and one son blessed this union as
follows: Elizabeth Stella, born Oct. 10, 1879, died Oct. 28, 1880;
Mary Ella, born Jan. 21, 1881, died May 5, 1897; and Barton Earl,
born May 14, 1892, died Feb. 12, 1894. In politics Mr. Kauffman has
always been a Democrat, and he has been active in party work. He
was confirmed in the Lutheran faith by the Rev. D. D. Trexler, and
has always taken an active part in church and Sunday-school work,
in the latter having been through the grades from pupil to
superintendent. In the Salem Union Church at Millersburg he was a
member of the choir; at Rehrersburg, Bible class teacher and member
of choir, and now deacon in Grace Lutheran Church, Reading, Rev.
William H. Myers, pastor.

KAUFFMAN, JAMES G.

p. 634

Surnames: KAUFFMAN, GREIM, SEAMAN, BUSHONG, KLINE, SPATZ,
ROTHENBERGER, LOOSE, SCHOCK, WERTMAN, PHILLIPS, BAGENSTOSE, MOSER,
WINTER, LIGHTFOOT, HARTMAN, LEINBACH, PARVIN

James G. Kauffman, farmer and lifelong resident of Centre township,
Berks county, was born there Sept. 21, 1862, son of David and
Elizabeth (Greim) Kaufman. He is one of the fifth generation of his
family in Berks county, where his great-great-grandfather settled
about the middle of the eighteenth century.

Jacob Kauffman came to America on the ship
“Phoenix,” landing Sept. 15, 1749, with 550 other passengers from
Zweibrucken, Nassau, Wurtemberg and the Palatinate. He and two
brothers located in Lancaster county, Pa., but the land there was
not what he wanted, so he did not remain long. He did not want to
undertake the work of clearing away the forests which then covered
that region, and land which could be converted into meadows, to
raise hay to feed his stock, seemed to him more desirable, so with
one brother he came to Berks county, settling in Bern (now Upper
Bern) township. He took up a large tract of land in the fertile
valley at the foot of the Blue Mountain, near the present site of
St. Michael’s Church, receiving a patent for about seven hundred
acres, part of which was meadow land, with an abundant water
supply. He built a log house with a cellar, particularly adapted
for defense against the Indians, there being no opening which
afforded an easy entrance, and an attack could be repelled by
shooting from a window. The few settlers then in the vicinity
suffered much from the treachery and depredations of the Indians,
and they accordingly established a military post, the men carrying
their guns when they went forth to their work in the morning and
returning to the fort when their day’s work was done. This state of
affairs continued from 1754 to 1764, but with all their precautions
about one hundred settlers were killed, a brother of Jacob Kauffman
being among the number. Jacob Kauffman, himself had many thrilling
adventures and some narrow escapes from death, but he continued to
work and prosper and in time became a well-to-do man. In later
years he built a substantial stone mansion upon this farm, and this
dwelling is still standing in a good state of preservation. He
followed farming on his old homestead until his death in 1804, and
he left a tract of a little over one hundred acres (the old
homestead) to his son Yost; this is now owned by the John Kauffman
Estate, the sixth generation. Jacob Kauffman was buried at St.
Michael’s Church, of which he was one of the promoters and an
active member. He reared a large family of children, and it is said
that his sons became great hunters, deer at that time being very
plentiful in that section. Tradition has it that a gun now owned by
one of his descendants has killed as many as two hundred deer.

Philip Kauffman, son of Jacob, born Dec. 21,
1757, died Nov. 17, 1843. He was buried at St. Michael’s Lutheran
Church, of which he was a member. He served as a soldier in the
Revolutionary war. For many years he carried on farming, living on
a portion of the original tract taken up by his father, where he
remained until his death. He married Magdalena Seaman, daughter of
Ludwig Seaman, and to them were born eleven children, seven sons
and four daughters.

David Kauffman, son of Philip, was born Sept.
24, 1790, in Bern township, after his marriage locating in Centre
township. He was reared to farming, and followed that vocation
throughout his active years, buying 190 acres in Centre township,
now known as the Bushong farm, and also owning 120 acres adjoining
this tract. He did not engage in active labors for fifteen years
prior to his death, but continued to live on his farm. He was a
member of the Lutheran congregation of Belleman’s Church, and in
politics was a stanch Democrat.

On Feb. 26, 1814, Mr. Kauffman married Magdalena
Kline, born April 15, 1793, died June 14, 1846, and he survived her
many years, dying March 6, 1868; he is buried at Belleman’s Church.
Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kauffman, namely:
Elizabeth, deceased, wife of Valentine Spatz; William, deceased, of
Centre township; David, who is mentioned further on; Mary,
deceased, wife of John Rothenberger; Lavina, wife of William Loose,
of Centre township; Catharine, widow of Dr. John Spatz, of
Centreport; Sallie, deceased, wife of John Kauffman; Matilda,
deceased, widow of John Rothenberger, of Reading; Levi, deceased,
who lived in Leesport; Lydia, deceased, wife of Leonard Schock, of
Leesport; Deborah, deceased; and George, deceased, whose family
live at Pottstown.

David Kauffman, son of David, was born Nov. 1,
1820 in Bern township, where he was reared, attending the public
schools and growing up into an intimate knowledge of farm work. He
followed farming on his father’s 190-acre farm for seven years
before purchasing an adjoining tract, the farm of 161 acres which
is now the property of his son James G. There he carried on general
agriculture until eleven years before his death, when he retired,
settling in Leesport, where he enjoyed a well-earned competency.
Besides the home place he owned two farms in Bern township, one of
130 acres and another of 108 acres, as well as his fine home in
Leesport. He was a stanch Democrat and took an active part in
public affairs of his community as well as in religious matters,
being a prominent Lutheran Member of Belleman’s Church, which he
served for a number of years as deacon and elder.

Mr. Kauffman married Nov. 24, 1849, Elizabeth
Greim, born April 20, 1824, daughter of John and Sarah (Wertman)
Greim, of Bern township. He died July 28, 1897, at the age of
seventy-six years, and Mrs. Kauffman passed away Jan. 6, 1898, aged
seventy-three years; they are buried side by side at Belleman’s
Church. They had children as follows: Sarah, deceased, m. Henry
Phillips, a farmer of Centre township; Isabella, deceased, m. Isaac
Bagenstose, who was a farmer of Bern township; John is deceased;
Elizabeth is deceased; David is deceased; Catherine (deceased) m.
Samuel Moser; James G. is mentioned below; Louisa G. m. John
Winter, of Reading.

James G. Kauffman received his education in the
public schools of Centre township, the Keystone State Normal School
at Kutztown, and the Central State Normal School at Lock Haven, Pa.
He was twenty when he left school, after which he engaged in
farming with his father until 1886, when he took up farming on his
own account. In 1893 he purchased the farm of 161 acres formerly
owned by his father, a fertile tract supplied with very fine spring
water. This farm was first purchased from the Pennsylvania
proprietors in 1749 by Benjamin Lightfoot, a pioneer of Berks
county, and was purchased by David Kauffman, father of the present
owner, in 1856. Mr. Kauffman not only carries on farming, but also
breeds stock, fattens cattle, and carries on a dairy business.

On Jan. 30, 1886, Mr. Kauffman married Mary L.
Hartman, daughter of George C. and Rebecca J. (Leinbach) Hartman,
of Bern township, and nine children were born to this union,
namely: Winfield Hartman, who died Sept. 24, 1887; Benjamin H., a
graduate of the Perkiomen Seminary, 1908, and now a student at
State College (he taught school three terms); Laura Rebecca H., who
died Aug. 21, 1889; George Robert H., who is a teacher in Bern
township at present; James Leinbach H., who is a student at the
Keystone State Normal School; Mabel Elizabeth H.; John Greim H.,
deceased; Irvin Hartman; and Harry E. H. Mr. Kauffman and members
of his family belong to Belleman’s Lutheran Church at Dauberville,
in Centre Township, and he has served several years as deacon of
that congregation.

In politics Mr. Kauffman is a prominent member
of the Democratic party in his locality, and he has acted upon
several occasions as delegate to county and State conventions. He
has been the choice of his party for a number of local offices,
having been elected assessor of the township shortly after he
reached his majority, served two terms as school director, and
since 1901 has served as justice of the peace. He was appointed to
the office in May of that year, and was elected in the fall of the
same year. His services in every position have been highly
acceptable.

Mrs. Mary L. (Hartman) Kauffman comes of a
family that has been well represented in the educational world. She
was born in Bern township, March 25, 1863, daughter of George C.
and Rebecca Jane (Leinbach) Hartman, of the borough of West
Leesport. She was the eldest of eight children ? six sons and two
daughters ? the others being: Carrie Jane, m. to M. S. Parvin, of
East Berkley; Capt. J. D. L.; a graduate of West Point Military
Academy, now a captain in the First U. S. Cavalry, and stationed in
the Philippines; Rev. George W., pastor of St. John’s Reformed
Church at Orwigsburg; Dr. Irvin H., of Reading; Prof. F. O.,
supervising principal of the Woodbine Schools, New Jersey; Harry
E., a member of the real estate firm of Barber, Hartman & Co.,
Philadelphia; and Prof. Winfield L., instructor in Latin and Greek
in Perkiomen Seminary. Mrs. Kauffman is a member of the Reformed
Church, and is greatly interested in the cause of education, having
done much to inspire in her children an ambition for learning. She
has been a faithful wife and mother, and her home is most pleasant
and hospitable.

KAUFFMAN, OLIVER F.

p. 943

Surnames: KAUFFMAN, FOCHT, BRUNNER, LAMM, LICHTY, BALTHASER

Oliver F. Kauffman was considered one of the most reliable and
promising young business men of Reading, and the news of his
untimely death was received with widespread regret. His store at
No. 48 North Eighth street was an evidence of prosperity not always
attained within a few years, and his high standing was due directly
to a degree of enterprise and irreproachable business methods not
always found in combination. Mr. Kauffman was born in Tilden
township, Berks county, in 1873, son of Nathaniel S. and Catherine
(Focht) Kauffman, the latter of whom died in 1877.

Nathaniel S. Kauffman, who is now connected with
a music house at Detroit, Mich., was born March 11, 1847, and
received his early education in the common schools and Prof. D. B.
Brunner’s Academy, Reading. He subsequently attended the Keystone
State Normal School, at Kutztown, after which he followed teaching
very successfully for a period of sixteen years, becoming one of
the best known educators in this section. His fitness for public
position was recognized by his fellow-townsmen, and he proved
himself very valuable in the various offices to which he was
chosen. He served as justice of the peace for sixteen years,
constable for seven years, judge of elections one year, postmaster
one year, and representative in the State Assembly one term,
1887-88. For two years he clerked in a general store, also followed
conveyancing and surveying, was a director in the W. M. A. and Fire
Insurance Company, and served as vice-president of that company for
a time. He is a prominent man in St. Michael’s Church, which he
served as secretary. He was the father of five children: Oliver F.,
Agnes (wife of Milton Lamm), Ethan (of Shoemakersville, in the
bicycle and automobile business), and Robert and Lillie (deceased).

Oliver F. Kauffman attended the public schools
and later a summer school, and at the age of sixteen years began
teaching, being thus engaged one term in Tilden township and one in
Upper Bern township… He came to Reading April 3, 1892, entering
the music store of C. H. Lichty as a salesman, and remaining with
him until Aug. 5, 1895, when he embarked in the music business on
his own account, at No. 25 South Seventh street. He was located
there but a short time, however, removing to No. 104 North Eighth
street, where by straightforward and honest methods of doing
business he gained confidence and built up a large trade. Finding
that larger quarters were necessary, owing to the great increase in
business, he erected his place of business at No. 48 North Eighth
street, a large and commodious three-story building 16 x 130 feet.
He carried a complete line of musical instruments, of all kinds, as
well as sewing machines, and commanded a high class of trade. Mr.
Kauffman dealt in the Krakauer, Fischer, Kroeger and Franklin
pianos, the well known Miller organ, the White sewing machine,
Standard sewing machine, and as a jobber of Edison phonographs,
records, and other musical merchandise. He was very successful in
business, and attributed his prosperity to honest dealing. He also
had a place of business at No. 911 Penn street, the Reading
Phonograph Company, where he established a trade in phonographs and
records really remarkable, but this store was discontinued in 1907.
His four delivery wagons were to be seen on the streets of Reading
almost any time.

Mr. Kauffman was married in 1894 to Susan A.
Balthaser, of Hamburg, Berks county, and two children were born to
the union, Arthur N. and Grace I. The family occupy a fine home at
No. 1508 Perkiomen avenue, Reading.

Mr. Kauffman was prominently connected
fraternally, being a member of Reading Lodge, No. 549 F. & A.
M.; Excelsior Chapter, No. 237, R. A. M.; Reading Commandery, No.
42, K. T.; Philadelphia Consistory, A. A. S. R.; and Rajah Temple,
A. A. O. N. M. S. He was also connected with the Eagles, the
Knights of Malta and the Modern Woodmen of America. He was one of
the victims of the wreck of the Shriners’ special train at Honda,
Ca., May 11, 1907, having been instantly killed. Mr. Kauffman was
buried in the Charles Evans cemetery, with Knight Templar honors,
his funeral being attended by the Grand Commander and staff of the
Knights Templars. He was a member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church.

KAUFMAN,
DAVID K.

p 738

Surnames: KAUFMAN, BERNDT, SELL, HAAS, KELLER, MADARY, KLOHS,
WILLETS, LEIGHTHEISER

One of the old and honored families of Berks county, Pa., is that
of Kaufman, which has a worthy representative in Reading in David
K. Kaufman, now living retired after a busy and successful career.

The Kaufman family was founded in America by two
brothers, Jacob and Samuel Kaufman, who emigrated from Switzerland
to America in 1770, the former settling in the Oley Valley and, the
latter, the great-grandfather of David K., in Maiden Creek, where
he became a very prosperous farmer and stock dealer and a man well
and favorably known in his vicinity. The name of his wife is not
known, but it is known that their son, Samuel, married Catherine
Berndt and had a large family, among whom were: John G., Samuel,
Daniel, David and two daughters, one of whom married a Mr. Sell,
and the other David Haas. In religious belief the family were
members of the Reformed denomination. The Kaufmans were Whigs up to
the time of the formation of the Republican party, when they joined
the latter organization.

David Kaufman, father of David K.. was educated
in the old-fashioned log schoolhouse of his day, where, although
the floor was rough and the benches poorly constructed and minus
the comfortably fashioned racks of the schools of today, he
received a substantial education. After spending a few years at
farm labor, Mr. Kaufman engaged in iron manufacturing, purchasing,
in company with Samuel Kaufman, the well-known Mt. Laurel Furnaces
property, and built up a mammoth business for those days-in fact,
the largest in the county. They were the pioneers of the industry
in this section, and their business formed the nucleus of the
present Temple Iron Works. It may be truthfully said that Temple
owes its present prosperity to the Messrs. Kaufman. They continued
in that business until they sold out to William H. Clymer &
Co., and Mr. Kaufman removed to Milton, Lycoming county. where he
built an iron furnace. These brothers also owned the Moselem Iron
Ore Banks, which were then and still are the most extensive in the
county, although they are not being operated at the present time.
Another brother owned and operated the furnace at Leesport. Mr.
David Kaufman operated his Milton furnace until his death in 1870,
in his fifty- sixth year. David Kaufman m. (first) Eliza Keller,
and to this union one child was born, David K. He m. (second) Miss
Madary, and to this second union there were born a large family,
members of whom reside today in Lycoming county.

David K. Kaufman was born at Mt. Laurel Furnaces
June 19. 1845, and educated in the schools of Maidencreek. When a
lad of twelve years he went to live with his uncle, Samuel G.
Kaufman, with whom he remained until attaining his majority. He
started his business life as a clerk for William S. Baer & Co.,
with which firm he continued several years, then going to Findlay,
Ohio. to accept a position as clerk in Senator H. P. Gates’
mercantile establishment. Here he remained one year and then
resigned to take a like position with Sanders & Co., of Tiffin,
Ohio, returning to his native county one year later. He secured
employment as baggage master and extra conductor with the East Penn
Railway, operating between Harrisburg and New York, this road being
later absorbed by the Philadelphia & Reading Company. Mr.
Kaufman then entered the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading
rolling mill, as a common laborer, and after a short time was
promoted to roller, continuing with the company for twelve years
and four months. At the end of this time he leased the Reading Oil
Refinery, which he conducted for one year, and then purchased a
farm in the northern part of the city. On this fertile, well
cultivated tract of eleven acres, on Centre avenue, between Amity
and Union streets, Mr. Kaufman engaged profitably in truck farming,
until he sold in 1907 for $36 000. The property was very valuable
for building purposes, containing 150 building lots and before
selling it, Mr. Kaufman received many flattering offers. He is now
living retired.

In 1869 Mr. Kaufman married Magdalena R. Klohs.
and to this union were born two children: William H.; and Sally A.,
m. to John G. Willets. Mr. Kaufman m. (second) Rosa Leightheiser, a
native of Reading, but there have been no children to this union.
Mr. Kaufman is fraternally connected with Mt. Penn Council, Royal
Arcanum. He is a member of the Evangelical Church, which his wife
also attends. For fifteen years he was a director of the Reading
Relief Society. In political affairs Mr. Kaufman is a Republican,
but he has never had a desire to hold public office, but for six
years was a member of the Reading school board. He is one of the
city’s substantial citizens, and is well and favorably known
throughout his vicinity.

KAUFMANN, ALBERT B.

p. 641

Surnames: KAUFMANN, BOYER, DRICK, BRAUN

Albert B. Kaufmann, connected with the insurance business in
Reading, is one of the influential men of that city. Mr. Kaufmann
comes from German ancestry, his father crossing the sea in 1850,
settling in Reading, and following his trade of a tailor with the
clothing house of Jameson & Co., whom he served faithfully for
nearly fifty years. He died Feb. 23, 1892, at the age of
seventy-one years. He married Christiana, daughter of John and
Christiana Boyer, and she died Dec. 11, 1894, at the age of
sixty-eight. She was the mother of ten children, four of whom are
deceased; the others are Carolina, m. to Charles Drick, a planing
mill operative; John, a clerk in Reading; Charles, a tailor with
Jameson & Co., for over thirty years; Adolph G., a grocer,
member of the firm of Smith and Kaufmann, Reading; Albert B.; and
William G., a tailor in Reading.

Albert B. Kaufmann, born Jan. 22, 1867, in
Reading, was educated in St. John’s Lutheran parochial school of
the city. He began his business life early, engaging as an
operative in a planing mill and this he followed for twenty-one
years, when he launched out into the real estate and insurance
business, which he has continued with success to the present time.
Fraternally Mr. Kaufmann is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the
Encampment and the Protestant Junior Association. He is quite
active in church work, being a member of St. John’s Lutheran
Church, where he has served as a member of the choir. He is also a
member of the organization known as St. John’s Beneficial Society
of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Kaufmann is a Democrat in politics.

On Oct. 29, 1888, Mr. Kaufmann married Miss Emma
R. Braun, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Braun, both now deceased.
Two of the six children born to this marriage, Florence May and
Emma R., died in infancy; those living are Adelaide, Elmer T.,
Walter J., and Ruth Elizabeth.