OBIT: Moses A. KIEFFER, Rev., 1932, St. Paul, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

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MOSES A. KIEFFER

St. Paul Pastor Cancer Victim
Popular Pastor Succumbs to Dread Disease After Six Weeks' Illness

  Funeral services were conducted for Rev. Moses A. Kieffer, pastor of Wilhelm 
Reformed Church at St. Paul, Tuesday evening.  The services were held in the 
church of which Rev. Kieffer was pastor, and the funeral sermon was preached by 
Rev. B. A. Black, pastor of Amity Reformed Church of Meyersdale.  Rev. Kieffer's 
death came as a distinct shock to all but the immediate circle of his family and 
friends.  Not until about six weeks ago did his condition become alarming, nor, 
in fact, was the cause of occasional periods of illness known till then.  The 
cause of his death was cancer of the liver.  In appearance Rev. Kieffer was very 
healthy and robust, and for this reason the news of his death startled most of 
those who knew him.  Rev. Kieffer began his St. Paul pastorate, which terminated 
last Sunday afternoon, in December, 1930, moving from Alexandria, Pa., to take 
charge of the pulpit vacated by Rev. Karl Beck, who is doing missionary work in 
China.
  Moses Augustus Kieffer was born December 31, 1869, near Mercersburg, in 
Franklin County.  He was of French protestant descent, and his ancestors were 
tillers of the soil.  His work with the church began when he was eighteen and 
did not stop until his death.  He received early schooling in the schools of his 
neighborhood, and in 1890 entered Mercersburg College, which he attended three 
years, being graduated with the last class of the college, which was opened the 
following term as Mercersburg Academy.  He then entered Franklin and Marshall 
College, and upon receiving his degree there, entered the theological seminary 
at Lancaster.  He was ordained in the Christian ministry by the Mercersburg 
Classis, and served his first charge at the Olivet Reformed Church, Reading.  
Later charges that Rev. Kieffer served were Timberville, Va., Everett, 
Schuylkill Haven, Mifflinburg, Alexandria and St. Paul, all in Pennsylvania.
  In 1899 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Hagerman, of Williamson, Pa., who 
survives him.  Three children were born to this union, two daughters and one 
son:  Mrs. Fred H. Spigler, of Hagerstown, Md.; Miss Elizabeth Kieffer, at home, 
and Walter H. Kieffer.  He is also survived by three sisters and a brother.
  Practically all the ministers of Somerset Classis, of which Rev. Kieffer was a 
member, attended the funeral.  Numerous friends from other towns in which Rev. 
Kieffer served were also present, besides sympathetic friends and neighbors from 
this section and from his pastorate.
  Interment was made in the family lot in the cemetery at Mercersburg Academy.  
The Kieffer family has not yet definitely decided where they will locate.
  During his pastorate at St. Paul, Rev. Kieffer made many warm friendships, not 
only among his parishioners in his home community, but also at Grantsville, Md., 
where he also preached and among the people generally in and about the several 
communities near his home in the village of St. Paul.  In him the people in 
general recognized a man of sincerity and real worth to any community, and they 
sympathize deeply with his bereaved family, the members of whom are also popular 
wherever known.

Meyersdale Republican, June 30, 1932