BIOGRAPHY: Charles Franklin KISSINGER, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 454-455.

  CHARLES FRANKLIN KISSINGER, Lewistown, Mifflin county, Pa., was born at the 
village of Gratz, Dauphin county, Pa., November 3, 1854, son of Jacob and 
Susanna (Buffington) Kissinger.  The Kissinger family originated in Germany.  
The grandparents of Charles F. Kissinger were Mr. and Mrs. George Kissinger, 
whose family consisted of the following children:  George;  Jonas;  John;  and 
Jacob.  The last-named, who was the father of Charles F., was born and reared in 
the Lykens Valley, in Dauphin county.  He attended the common schools, and 
became a farmer, residing all his life in the Lykens valley.  Following his 
important vocation with skill and diligence, he was prosperous, and occupied a 
respectable position in the community.  Jacob Kissinger died in November, 1852.  
Of the ten children who made up the family of Jacob and Susanna Kissinger, four 
died young;  the others are:  Catherine, wife of Hon. H. B. Hoffman, of the 
Lykens valley, has two children;  Henry, married Miss Martz, of Dauphin, Pa., 
and died in 1870, leaving six children;  Amanda (Mrs. Josiah Riegel), has two 
children;  John, married Catherine Hoffman, has nine children;  Hannah (Mrs. R. 
G. Bower), has two children;  George M., married first Miss Leiser, of 
Watsontown, Pa., afterwards Margaret Moffitt, by whom he has seven children.  
Susanna (Buffington) Kissinger was a descendant of Benjamin Buffington, the 
first settler of that name in Dauphin county, having come thither from Berks 
county, Pa.  He died in 1814, and was buried, according to his request, in the 
graveyard at Short Mountain.  His sons were Eli;  George;  Levi;  and John.  The 
three last-named intermarried with the Hoffman family, had large families and 
were long-lived men.  Eli settled near Gratz, where his grandson, Jeremiah 
Buffington, now resides.  He married Elizabeth Kissinger, and had sons:  Abraham 
and John E.  The latter was born in 1799 and died in 1867.  He married Susanna 
Artz, and had sons:  Elias;  Jeremiah;  and Daniel.  Jacob Buffington, Sr., born 
in 1800, died in 1878, was a mechanic.  He was one of the most expert hunters of 
his day.  He married Mary Guntryman, and had sons:  Isaac;  Jonas;  Jacob;  
Emanuel;  and Levi.  Solomon Buffington was born in 1819, and died January 1, 
1878;  was a mechanic and farmer.  He was for many years an active member of the 
United Brethren church.  He was married to Margaret Matter, and had sons:  Moses 
C.;  Edward;  and Uriah, two of whom were in the Union army during the war of 
the Rebellion, in which Solomon Buffington was zealously and actively 
interested.
  Until he reached the age of seventeen, Charles F. Kissinger attended the 
public schools of Shamokin, Pa., being for the last two years of that time in 
the high school.  He then left school, and entered the employ of the 
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at McClure, Snyder county, Pa., in the capacity 
of station agent and operator.  This was in November, 1871, and in September, 
1872, he was transferred to Paintersville, Pa., where he remained until the 
following April;  he was then transferred to Middleburg, Snyder county, and 
remained there until October 15, 1873.  On this date he was promoted to the 
position of yardmaster and ticket and freight agent at Selin's Grove, Pa., in 
which he continued until, on January 1, 1875, he was transferred to the 
Philadelphia and Erie Railroad, still remaining, however, an employee of the 
Pennsylvania Railroad Company.  From this position, on August 1, 1876, he passed 
to that of train dispatcher at Lewistown Junction, Lewistown division of 
Pennsylvania Railroad, and on August 1, 1882, six years later, he was promoted 
to his present place, that of train master and division operator of the 
Lewistown division.  These promotions speak for Mr. Kissinger's capability and 
faithfulness and in his official relations as nothing else could do.  He takes a 
warm interest in local affairs, and is a supporter of Republican principles.
  Charles Franklin Kissinger was married, March 26, 1879, to Lula E., daughter 
of William and Anna (Davis) Eckbert.  Their only surviving child is George 
Buffington Kissinger.  Mr. and Mrs. Kissinger are members of the Presbyterian 
church at Lewistown.
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TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:  Charles Franklin Kissinger was born in November of 1854, 
yet the author records that his father died two years earlier in November of 
1852.  This appears to be a typo and I believe the father actually died in 
November, 1854.  Also, the author records that Jacob and Susanna (Buffington) 
Kissinger had 10 children of which 4 died young.  He then proceeds to list the 
other 6 plus son Charles F.  So, the names of 7 of the children are known and if 
4 died young, they had 11 children (or if they had 10 children, then 3 died 
young).