OBIT: Harrison Tyler STIFFLER, 1932, Canoe Creek, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Michael S. Caldwell Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _______________________________________________ VETERAN SOLDIER DIES AT HIS HOME Harrison Tyler Stiffler Succumbs to Second Stroke of Paralysis After Several Week's Illness, Aged 92. Harrison Tyler Stiffler, well known veteran of the Civil war and lifelong resident of Frankstown township, died this morning at 11.45 o'clock at his home at Canoe Creek, death following a second stroke of paralysis which he suffered yesterday afternoon. Mr. Stiffler celebrated his 92nd birthday on Nov. 1 and about one month later suffered a slight stroke, and he fell suffering some minor injuries. He had been confined to his bed since, although for the past few days he was apparently gaining strength and was able to sit up for short intervals each day. Mr. Stiffler was a son of Joseph and Mary (Leighty) Stiffler and was born in the Loop, Frankstown township, on Nov. 1, 1840, near the time on which General W. H. Harrison was elected president of the United States and John Tyler, vice president, and his parents gave the young son the name, Harrison Tyler Stiffler. At a later period, the Stiffler family moved to Canoe Creek and it was there that he spent his entire life, being engaged in farming, as post- master for many years and he also conducted a store. It was just fifty years after his birth, that he was appointed post-master at Canoe Creek by President Benjamin Harrison, a grandson of the president after whom he was named. Mr. Stiffler came from a long lived family. His father died at the age of 91 and his mother lived to be over 90. Surviving are two brothers and two sisters, Abraham L. Stiffler of Canoe Creek, George R. Stiffler of Geeseytown, Mrs. Esther B. Sell of Hollidaysburg and Mrs. Sarah E. Metzker of Martinsburg. Mr. Stiffler was united in marriage about 1869 with Mrs. Clara Harpster, who died about sixteen years ago, since when Mr. Stiffler resided in his home at Canoe Creek alone. W. Howard Harpster of Canoe Creek is a stepson. When President Lincoln issued his call for 75,000 men immediately after the fall of Fort Sumpter in 1861, Mr. Stiffler was visiting relatives in Ohio. Without waiting to come home he enlisted in the service for three months and went at once to the front. When his term of enlistment expired, he returned to Blair county and soon he reenlisted, becoming a member of the famous 9th Pennsylvania cavalry, and he served with distinction during the remainder of the war in the armies of Generals Grant and Sherman in the west. He was in more than a score of hard-fought engagements and was complimented on many occasions for the bravery which he displayed in action. He had the distinction of being one of the men selected by General Sherman to accompany him when he rode out from the Union lines in North Carolina in April, 1865, for the conference with General J. E. Johnston which resulted in the surrender of the latter's army. He had two brothers, William W. and Sylvanus L. Stiffler, in the service. They were in the famous 13th cavalry. After the war when Colonel William G. Murray post, No. 39, of the Grand Army was formed in Hollidaysburg he joined the post and thereafter until the end of his life he took a great interest in the affairs of the Grand Army. Until the present year he seldom missed a state or national encampment and he never missed a reunion of his old regiment. When 90 years of age he went to Des Moines, Ia., to attend the national encampment. While arrangements for the funeral have not been completed it is planned to have the services in the United Brethren church at Canoe Creek on Saturday at a time to be announced later. In the meantime the body may be viewed at his home until the day of the funeral when it will be taken to the church where it will lie in state until the time of the funeral. Interment will be made in the family plot in the United Brethren cemetery at Canoe Creek. Altoona Mirror, Wednesday, 28 December 1932, p. 1, col. 2 & p. 2, col. 2