Simon Schaeffer
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
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