OBIT: Andrew STIFFLER, 1931, near Hooversville, Somerset County, PA

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

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ANDREW STIFFLER

Suicide's Body Found by a School Teacher
Gruesome Find Made by Miss Anna Maurer While Walking on Camp Harmony Road

  Andrew Stiffler, aged 21, committed suicide last Thursday night along the Camp 
Harmony road between Hooversville and Stoyestown by shooting himself through the 
heart with a shotgun.  Stiffler used a pumpkin ball in his act of self-
destruction.  The body was discovered Friday morning at 7 o'clock by Miss Anna 
Maurer, a school teacher of Kantner, who was on her way from Hooversville to her 
school.
  No motive could be assigned for the young man's act, other than he had been 
unemployed since the first of the year.  He apparently was in the best of health 
and spirits Thursday and had been given assurance of employment Thursday 
afternoon.  Stiffler resided with his father-in-law, David Holsopple, near 
Hooversville, and until the first of the year had been employed on the Irvin 
Swank farm.  Last Thursday he visited at the Swank home and was told that he 
could have employment there again within the next two weeks.  Stiffler left the 
Swank home shortly after 4 o'clock.  It is believed, however, that he returned 
while Mr. and Mrs. Swank were engaged in milking the cows and procured a 
shotgun.
  The gun was not loaded when he took it, and was not missed until the body was 
found.
  Andrew Stiffler was a son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Stiffler, of Lutzville, 
Bedford County.  He is survived by his parents, his wife, a seven-month-old 
daughter, Evelyn, and these brothers and sisters: Charles Stiffler, of 
Holsopple; Roy Stiffler, at home; Samuel and Ross Stiffler and Mrs. Aaron Smeed, 
all of Johnstown.

Meyersdale Republican, January 22, 1931