OBIT: Silas W. PIPER, 1921, Allegheny Township, Blair County, PA

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SILAS W. PIPER

  Silas W. Piper, one of Allegheny township's foremost citizens, veteran of 
the Civil war and prominent township official and last of the founders of the 
Duncansville Lutheran church, died at his home near Duncansville yesterday 
morning at 3:30 o'clock, death following a short illness from complications 
incident to advanced age.  Mr. Piper was born in Allegheny township, near 
where he died, on February 5, 1841, and resided all his life in the vicinity 
of Duncansville.  He was the son of Daniel W. and Catherine Stiffler Piper 
and was the last member of the family of seven sons and three daughters.  He 
was married to Anna M. Clapper on December 18, 1866.  Mrs. Piper died about 
four years ago.  To this union eight children were born, who survive.  They 
are Mrs. Clara Dell, Mrs. Turrie Glunt, Mrs. Mary Gearhart and Walter E. 
Piper, of Duncansville; A. Blair Piper, of Cross Keys; Charles E. and Boyd E. 
Piper, both of Altoona, and Harvey S. Piper, of Youngstown, O.  He enlisted 
in the Union army in October, 1861, and was mustered out of the service in 
November, 1864.  He enlisted as a private in Company A, 84th regiment, 
Pennsylvania Volunteer infantry, and rose from the ranks to a lieutenant, 
which place he was filling when mustered out of the service.  Mr. Piper, up 
to his last illness, possessed remarkable health and up to two years ago was 
never ill enough to require the services of a physician, and even then he was 
ill but a short time.  He was exceedingly active for one of his years.  He 
was a stalwart Republican and was a member of the county committee for many 
years from the First district of Allegheny township.  He served his district 
at various times as tax collector and on the election board and was only 
recently released from those strenuous duties upon his own request.  He also 
served the district as school director for many years and was progressive in 
his ideas and did much to advance the schools of his district.  Being a 
resident of the county practically all his life and of an historical turn of 
mind, Mr. Piper became well versed in the county's history and in the history 
of various families with which he was associated.  He was working on a family 
history of the Stiffler clan, to which he was related, at the time of his 
last illness.  Mr. Piper was always a Christian man and a worker in the cause 
of his Master and the church.  He was one of the founders of the Duncansville 
Lutheran church, and as far as is known was the last of the founders.  He 
served as a member of the official board of the church for many years, being 
a member of the council at the time the present structure was erected, in 
which he took an important part.  He acted as secretary of the church council 
for many years and held that position at the time of his demise.  Mr. Piper 
was also a member of the board of road supervisors of the township and 
devoted considerable of his time in the interests of the taxpayers and was a 
strong advocate of better highways.  In spite of his advanced age he always 
moved along with the times and applied modern methods to all his interests.  
The good condition of the many roads of the township and the schools of his 
district bear evidence of his progressive spirit.  The funeral will be 
conducted in the Duncansville Lutheran church tomorrow afternoon at 2 
o'clock, and interment will be made in the Carson Valley Cemetery.

Altoona Tribune, Wednesday, May 18, 1921