BIO: James B. STAUFFER, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 675 - 677. _____________________________________________________________ JAMES B. STAUFFER, who is prosperously engaged in the lumber business at Burnside, this county, was born in this place, November 26, 1869, a son of John and Anna (Smith) Stauffer. His paternal grandfather was John H. Stauffer, who was born at Lancaster, Pa., and subsequently removed to York county, whence he came in 1849 to Clearfield, settling near Burnside. He was a broom maker by trade but also followed farming. He died in Franklin county, Pa., in 1876, at the age of 65 years. His wife, whose maiden name was Susan Troyer, was born in Adams county in 1801; she died in 1892. Of their children there are now living, John, the father of our subject; Susan, who married Andrew Anderson, is now deceased. John Stauffer, who was engaged in farming or farm work up to the age of 18, enlisted in 1864 from Harrisburg, Pa., in an independent company, but later became a member of the First W. Va. Cavalry and his regiment forming a part of the Army of the Western Potomac, he took part during the 120 days of his service in a number of skirmishes. Mustered out March 30th of that year, he took up his residence at Lewisberry, Pa., where he engaged in agriculture, but a year later came to Burnside township, Clearfield county, where he followed teaming and lumbering until 1908. For twelve years he was engaged in conveying merchandise by team from Indiana, Pa. to Burnside, and later from Curwensville for ten years. He then retired from active industrial life. He is a Republican and is now serving his second term as assessor of the borough of Burnside, having also served on the school board and as supervisor. He was married July 29, 1867, to Anna Smith, who was born March, 1849, in Burnside township. Her father, David F. Smith, came from Ireland as a boy with his parents, William and Nellie (Dean) Smith, they settling in Clearfield county. Of the fourteen children of John and Anna (Smith) Stauffer, five are now deceased and nine living. The latter are: James B., whose name appears at the head of this sketch; Gertrude, who is the widow of John Tawzer and resides with our subject; Abram T., who married Emma Bloom and resides in Cambria county (has two children); Beulah, wife of A. Null and the mother of four children; Horace, who resides at Heilwood, Pa., is married and has three children; Elizabeth, the wife of A. Armstrong, of Jefferson county, who has one child; Mack, who married Effie Strickland and has one child; Paul, who married Rebecca Adams and resides in Clearfield, Pa.; Willie, residing at home (and one grandson, Robert). James B. Stauffer after his school days were over found employment in the woods, cutting timber. He also for several years followed the trade of shoemaking and was otherwise variously employed. He remained at home until twenty-six years old, when he married and located in Burnside, following teaming here for several years, subsequent to which he was in the employ of John H. Patchin for about twelve years. About this time he formed a partnership with Carl Patchin in the lumber business, which has since continued. Mr. Stauffer was bookkeeper and general manager for John H. Patchin and has a thorough knowledge of the lumber business both in the inside and outside departments. He has been successful in his present connection and is now one of the substantial and prosperous citizens of his township. When a boy of sixteen he carried the mail between Burnside and Curwensville and the habits of industry he thus acquired so early have remained with him and have had much to do with his advancement in life. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, No. 679, at Burnside, and of the Red Men's lodge at Glen Campbell, Pa. He also belongs to the Encampment, I. O. O. F. A Republican politically, he is at present serving on the school board of the borough and has also served two terms in the council. Mr. Stauffer was married June 7, 1895, to Minnie Thompson, who was born in Burnside township, this county, February 19, 1875, daughter of Alexander and Hannah (Fulton) Thompson. Her father, who died in 1902 at the age of sixty-one years, was a lumberman and farmer of Burnside township. Her grandfather, Ebenezer Thompson, who was a shoemaker, was one of the early settlers at Patchinville. He married Julia Crispen. Mrs. Stauffer's parents were married in 1862, her mother being then twenty years of age. The latter was the daughter of Simon Fulton and a granddaughter of David H. Fulton, of Frankstown, Blair county, Pa. The latter after learning the tailor's trade in Philadelphia, settled in Burnside borough and later near the Squire Smith home in Clearfield county where he followed his trade and also devoted a part of his time to agriculture. He married Elizabeth Rorabaugh. Simon Fulton was born in Center county and afterwards followed farming on the parental homestead in Clearfield county. He married Elizabeth Young, daughter of Henry and Hannah (Saylor) Young, and she died in 1854. Mrs. Stauffer was the sixth born in a family of thirteen children. She died February 7, 1911, deeply regretted by her family and a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. She was an active member of and worker in the Pentecostal church and an earnest Christian woman. Kind and generous of disposition, she was a helpful neighbor and it will be long ere her memory shall pass away. To our subject and wife were born the following children: Ruth Alice, born July 11, 1896, who is now attending the Burnside high school; Lura Imagene, born April 16, 1898; John A., born December 31, 1899; and George F., born April 13, 1903.