BIO: William Elias Pifer, Jefferson County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kitty Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/pa/jefferson/ http://usgwarchives.net/pa/jefferson/beers/beers-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens. Chicago, Ill.: J. H. Beers, 1898, pages 1077-1078. _____________________________________________________________________ WILLIAM ELIAS PIFER. Although, at this writing, in his eightieth year, the subject of this biography is active physically and mentally, and if he choose could successfully compete with many a young man in a day's work. His fine constitution, strengthened in youth by the simple and wholesome life of a pioneer farmer's son, has endured, without serious impairment, the toil of many years, and, fortunately, the leisure of later days is not clouded by the lack of strength and vigor. With a beautiful home, and the companionship of his beloved wife and children, Mr. Pifer would be difficult to please if he could find cause for discontent. He was born December 27, 1817, near Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Penn., where his mother's ancestors were early settlers. His father, John Pifer, a native of Dauphin county, Penn., was married in Westmoreland county to Miss Charlotte Frye, and made his home there until 1829, when he moved with his family to Jefferson county, traveling with an ox-team. The weather was very cold, and the journey occupied seven days. Our subject had been taken sick just before the time for starting, and his parents bought an old jumper sleigh for his especial use. They located in the wilderness in Henderson township, where John Pifer and Frederick Kunley purchased 202 acres of land at one dollar an acre, which they divided. The Pifer tract is now in possession of the family, our subject's brother, David, occupying it. The family lived in a truly primitive fashion for many years, their meal and flour being ground in an old mill which broke a grain of corn in about eight pieces. The father died suddenly in 1851, at the age of sixty-two, a half mile from Brookville while returning home with his son, George. The mother lived to the age of seventy, passing away in 1871, and the remains of both now rest in Rider's graveyard one mile from the old homestead. Of the children born to this worthy pioneer couple, Jonas, the eldest, died in 1884, aged sixty-five; John F. is a retired farmer in McAlmont township, now 1897, eighty-four years old; Simon died in his youth; William Elias is mentioned more fully further on; George is now living in retirement in Henderson township, at the age of seventy-seven; Elizabeth, aged seventy-four, is the wife of James Dickey, of Winslow township, Jefferson county; David, now seventy-one, resides at the old homestead in Henderson township; Mary A. died at an early age, and Thomas, who at the age of sixty seven weighs 340 pounds, is living in retirement in Henderson township. William Elias Pifer remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority, his time being occupied with the farm work. On leaving home he worked through the spring months for Mr. Rhodes, clearing a field, and in the fall of the same year he married his first wife, Miss Lida Shetterly, daughter of Jacob Shetterly, and located at his father-in-law's farm which he cultivated for three years. He bought fifty acres of woodland from his brother, John, at three dollars per acre, and building a small house, he resided there four years. On setting out he moved to his present homestead, which has since been enlarged until he now has 253 acres of the finest land in the township. Three of his sons have settled upon adjoining farms, and one, Solomon T., relieves his father of the care of the homestead. Our subject's marriage to Miss Shetterly, who was a native of Huntingdon county, Penn., occurred in 1839, and on October 6, 1888, after nearly fifty years of wedded life, she passed away at the age of sixty-four, her mortal remains being interred in the Rhodes graveyard, where repose also her parents, Jacob and Mary Ann (Gearhart) Shetterly, natives of Armstrong county, Penn. On July 31, 1890, at Punxsutawney, Mr. Pifer was married to Mrs. Barbara (Wise) Winger, widow of Henry Winger, a farmer, who died June 11, 1886, aged sixty-nine years, one month and twenty-eight days, and was buried in Polk township, Jefferson county. They had twelve children, all of whom are living. Mrs. Pifer was born January 1, 1827, at Lembach, Germany, the daughter of Adam and Barbara (Syphert) Wise, who came to the United States in 1835 and settled upon a farm in Jefferson county. The mother died August 24, 1861, aged seventy, and the father, May 23, 1873, both being buried in the cemetery at Troutville. They had four children: Adam, a farmer in Jefferson county; Mary, the second in order of birth; Barbara, Now Mrs. Pifer, and Catherine, wife of Henry Weaver, of Troutville. Mrs. Pifer is a handsome woman, and no one would imagine from her appearance that she has five great-grandchildren. Mr. Pifer now numbers two great-grandchildren among his descendents. He had ten children (all by his first marriage): (1) James D. died when fifteen years old. (2) John P. a farmer and lumberman in McCalmont township, married Miss Elizabeth Weaver, and has four children - Lida C., Simon A., Mary A. and Emma C. (3) George C., a farmer in McCalmont township, married Miss Catherine Weaver, and has five children - Melsina, Henrietta, Cyrus, Milton and William. (4) Solomon T., who operates the homestead, is one of the ablest agriculturists of this section, the farm showing in every department the results of his progressive and energetic management. (5) William was killed at the age of fifteen by a fall from a chestnut tree. (6) David is a hardware merchant in Bug Run. (7) Elizabeth married John North, a farmer in McCalmont township, and has had three children - Verna, Cordelia, and Seely (deceased). (8) Philip, a farmer in McCalmont township, married Miss Lena Mooth, and has one child - Myrtle. (9) Simon Alexander died when two years old. (10) Jacob, a farmer in McCalmont township, married Miss Sarah Conrad, and has had six children - Cleveland (deceased), Clyde, Morrow, Alice, Homer and Elmer. As a citizen William Elias Pifer has always held a high place in public esteem. He served for three years as supervisor and for one year as school director. He is regarded as one of the leading Democrats of his locality. In religious faith he is a Lutheran, and, although he resides four miles from the church at Stuart, with which he united three years ago, he is a constant attendant.