Stauffer Family History in Pictures
Compliments of Thomas Ridenour
Compiled by K. R. Overholt Critchfield, © 9-20-00
~~ Updated & Renovated, © 1-1-06 ~~
~~ Updated August 23, 2017 ~~


The Stauffer Homestead House (1901)


The Stauffer Flouring Mill (1901)


From the Alte Menist Cemetery


Bishop Abraham Stauffer (1752-1826)
Anna Nissley Stauffer (1752-1817)

About 25 years ago, vandals destroyed the gravestones, but the
Scottdale Mennonite Church has replaced them with a granite monument.


Maria Stauffer Overholt (1791-1874)
+ m. (1809) Abraham Overholt (1784-1870)

Maria was the daughter of Abraham Stauffer (c.1752-1826)
In this 1855 photograph, Maria was 64 years old.


Elizabeth Meyers Stauffer (1782-1878)
m. (----) Abraham Overholt Stauffer (1786-1853)


Catherine/Katrina Sherrick Stauffer (1812-1887)
m. (1835) John M. Stauffer (1813-1862)


Catherine/Katrina Sherrick Stauffer (1812-1887)
m. (1835) John M. Stauffer (1813-1862)
~~ Charcoal Portrait ~~


Joseph R. Stauffer (1836-1910)
m. (----) Ann Eliza Freed (---- ----)



Dexter Mines and Coke-Works (c. 1900)
J. R. Stauffer & Co. (Built in 1878)



The Weekly Courier
, Connellsville, PA
Thursday, July 21, 1910

J. R. STAUFFER DIES AGED 74

Had Been Ill for About Ten Days
From Acute Indigestion.
_________________________

WAS PROMINENT AS FINANCIER.

Coke and Coal Operator and a Man Beloved
in Scottdale in the Up-building of Which He
was Conspicuous -- Interests Were Varied.

SCOTTDALE, July 11 - - Joseph R. Stauffer, one of the best known financiers of Western Pennsylvania one of the foremost builders of Scottdale, a modest, approachable, kindly gentleman with friends of all ages and conditions died at his country home, Zephyr Glen, near town at 1:15 this morning. He was born in 1836 and a clean, regular, active life brought him up until Saturday a week ago one of the most active men in mind and body in this section. Then an attack of acute indigestion seized upon him. From the start the physicians had very grave fears of the outcome.

Everything that medical science and affection could suggest was done and the patient made a wonderful fight to retain his life. His death was quiet, peaceful and painless and his bedside was surrounded by all the members of the family.

The funeral services were held from his late residence in the country near town at 4 o’clock, Friday. Interment was private at the Scottdale Cemetery. Rev. W. G. Russell, pastor of the Baptist Curch at which the deceased was a member, and Dr. Leroy Stephens of Lewisburg, an old friend had charge.

Mr. Stauffer was actively connected with about xxx corporations and firms of Westmoreland, Fayette and Somerset counties, and also engaged in business elsewhere. He was the founder and President of the Scottdale Bank, was First Vice President of the First National bank of Connellsville, a director in the Fayette Title & Trust Company of Uniontown, a director at the First National Bank of Mt. Pleasant, and the First National Bank of Vanderbilt. He owned large coal interests in Somerset county, and had just turned in $100,000 interests at West Newton to the consolidated U.S. Radiator & Boiler Company, the big heating merger. His life was insured for about $x00,000, much of it taken at the age limit his xxx active life making him an excellent risk in the eyes of the companies. He was a thirtysecond degree Mason, a member of the Heptasophs and Royal Arcunum. He was a prominent and active member of the First Baptist Church and active in good works.

Joseph R. Stauffer, son of John M. and Katherine (Sherrick) Stauffer, was born in Fayette county, Pa., June 2x, 1836. He attended the common schools and then established himself in the merchantile business in Mt. Pleasant, gradually extending his interests to coal, coke, banking and the iron and steel business. With his brother Abraham K. Stauffer, he began to operate coal mines and make coke on the old home farm near Scottdale, and for 37 years the name of J. R. Stauffer & Company has been identified with the coke business. He was also identified with Stauffer & Wiley Horne and Dexter, the two coke plants in which he was most interested, are located near Scottdale.

Mainly, it was to the banking business that his attention was most given. In 1852, he joined with the late Peter S. Loucks and established the Scottdale Bank, a private financial institution. The successful partnership existed for more than 2x years and Mr. Stauffer in 1906 purchased the entire interest of the estate of P. S. Loucks and continued the bank as the sole owner with capital and surplus of over $200,000, and total assets over $1,000,000.

The iron and steel business attracted him in 1887 and he with other Scottdale men most successfully developed the Scottdale Iron & Steel Company by the expert management of Robert Skemp. In 1901 the iron and steel business was sold to the United States Steel Corporation. Besides being president of the Scottdale Bank, Mr. Stauffer was elected the Vice President of the First National Bank of Connellsville and was a director and stockholder in a number of banks and trust companies of Fayette, Westmoreland and Somerset counties.

Mr. Stauffer was a man of great force of character, alert and alive to progress and handled the great details and cares of his interests with close personal attention. He was a man of great activity, and at the same time of a very plain, unostentatious and careful life.

Mr. Stauffer married Miss Ann Eliza Freed on December 19, 1858. Mrs. Stauffer was born in Fayette county, February 21, 1842 and died August 27, 1891. She was a daughter of John and Frances Robinson Freed. The following children all living were born to the couple.

John M. Stauffer, a banker and coal operator, whose time has for the last few years been largely given to the development of the Indian Creek Valley railroad. He is married to Frances [Scull], a daughter of George R. and Isabel Warren Scull of Westmoreland county.
.

 


Eva, who is the wife of Fred L. Brown, a manufacturer of Scottdale. Fannie, wife of Andrew S. Keister an official of the Pennsylvania Railroad of Pittsburg [sic]. Walter Freed Stauffer, married to Nellie P. Hill, daughter of Mrs. Emma Long Hill and the late John D. Hill. Walter R. Stauffer is largely interested in banking and manufacturing interests. DeRead Stauffer, interested in the coal and coke business and living at home.

Joseph R. Stauffer was a thirtysecond degree Mason and so are the three sons, and all are affiliated closely with the First Baptist Church of Scottdale. Mr. Stauffer resided during the winter months in his fine residence at Chestnut and Mulberry streets, Scottdale, and the summer was usually spent at Zephyr Glen, the beautiful summer home east of Scottdale where he was taken sick. While identified with the life and business of Scottdale, Mr. Stauffer never relinquished his residence in Upper Tyrone township and always voted there and attended perhaps every election held there. He was a Republican, always taking a keen interest in political matters but would never consent to hold any office.


FUNERAL HELD FRIDAY

It Was Attended by Large Concourse
of Friends of Financier
_________________________________

SCOTTDALE, July 16 -- From the old homestead that he had come from years ago, the body of Joseph R. Stauffer the capitalist was borne late yesterday afternoon. The funeral services were attended by probably the largest number at any funeral that has been in this neighborhood. Many came from Pittsburg [sic], Greensburg, Mt. Pleasant, Connellsville, Uniontown, and other places and represented their leading professional and business men who had been associated with the departed financier during his very active lifetime. The services were simple.

The body lay in the room immediately to the right of the entrance. At one side of the door a bunch of lilies hung downward. Inside the room where the body lay, the flowers were so many and of so magnificent type that the casket was almost hidden by them. Shortly after noon friends began to come to gaze for the last time upon the face of the man known, respected and liked by so many. These people came and went until 4 o’clock. Those who were present for the services were gathered in the house, a great throng of them seated on the big old-fashioned porch that extends the entire length of the great house and many were standing on the lawn. The intermingling of the wealthiest men of the section with those of but little earthly goods denoted the widespread xxx that surrounded the dead. A quartette composed of W. W. Eicher, Will xxxx Char xxxx son Luwellyn Jones and Lyman xxx sang Rock of Ages.

The services were in [the] charge of Rev. W. G. Russell, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Scottdale and Rev. Leroy Stephens D.D. of Lewisburg, an old friend. There was a bit of prayer and scripture readings. Dr. Stephens spoke principally of the helpfulness that had characterized Mr. Stauffer in his lifetime. He depicted him as xxxx businessman and a man true to the highest ideals. He spoke of how the people are now trying to straighten out a good many things in business life and said that he felt all those present would agree that Joseph R. Stauffer had embodied in his character the ennoblements of the [self same?] aggressive and courageous business men. He said that he knew much of Mr. Stauffer’s quiet helpfulness, and how for illustration when he, the speaker, had been given the task of saving the Mt. Pleasant Institute, he had gone to Mr. Stauffer and felt that had it not been for the latter, the Mt. Pleasant Institute would have passed out of existence. He then spoke of a remark that he believed pictured the character of the man of whom he spoke in [the] aptest way.

The speaker said that during a dismal slump in the coke business, Mr. Stauffer was running his coke works when all the others were shut down and he asked Mr. Stauffer why he continued to make coke. “I am not losing anything, but my own work, and I have people dependent upon me. The coke workers are not paid enough anywhere to lay aside anything. You may say that they drink away their money or idle it away, but it is only evading our responsibility. If I keep my works running, it is keeping the workers in something on which to live, and it is a responsibility that I have,” was the answer. He asked that the same thing he knows of often that Mr. Stauffer felt that they had a responsibility to others to help them.

Rev. Mr. Russell spoke along the same lines and said that in his brief acquaintance with Mr. Stauffer, he had found him very helpful in the church and that he was a man interested in others, ready to help, and solicitous of the welfare of others, and all in a very simple everyday manner, without any show whatever. The quartette sang familiar hymns and the funeral services ended in less than an hour after they began. The burial took place at the Scotttdale cemetery later, it being of a private nature.

_______________________
.


Abraham K. Stauffer (1838-1918)
m. (----) Catherine Slonecker (---- 1913)


Abraham K. Stauffer Obituary, 1918


.

Barbara Ann Stauffer Dixon (1845-1908)
m. (----) Andrew Dixon (1834-1902)


Elizabeth Stauffer Ridenour (1848-1932)
m. (1869) Aaron S. Ridenour (1844-1914)


Sarah Stauffer Eicher (1854 ----)
m. (----) Abram Eicher (---- ----)


[Karen's Note: Names in Thomas Ridenour's direct line are CAPITALIZED.]


The Stauffer Family Tree
Thomas Ridenour's Branches
Beginning with Christian Stauffer of Donegal Township, Lancaster County, PA


1. CHRISTIAN STAUFFER (c. 1711-1759)
m. 1st (----) Maria Fellman (---- 1741)
(1 Child)
*name*

m. 2nd (----) BARBARA *name*
[Barbara Fellman or Barbara Oberholtzer]
[Barbara m. 2nd (c. 1768) Martin Nissley, widower]
(8 Children)
John, Jacob, Barbara, ABRAHAM,
. . . others, maybe Samuel.


2. Rev. ABRAHAM STAUFFER (1752-1826)
m. (1772) Anna Nissley (1752-1817)
[Anna: daughter of Martin Nissley & his 1st wife]
(9 Children)
Barbara, Nancy Anne, Christian, Martin, Frances,
ABRAHAM O., John W., Maria, Elizabeth.


3. Barbara Stauffer (1773-1874)
m. (1793) Henry Smith
[Perhaps John Smith]


3. Nancy Anne Stauffer (1775-1857)
m. (c. 1805) John Sherrick, Sr. (c. 1767-1846)
(13 Children)
Abram.
[Abram Sherrick m. Annie Overholt]


3. Christian Stauffer (1777-1852)
m. 1st (1797) Agnes Overholt (1773-1845)
(7 Children)
Anne, Esther, Christian, Elizabeth, Abraham,
Mary, Sarah.
m. 2nd (c. 1845) Nancy Rist (---- 1872)


3. Martin Stauffer (1780-1869)
m. 1st (1801) Elizabeth Overholt (1777-1832)
(5 Children)
Abrahm D., Henry, Anna, Sarah, John T.

m. 2nd (----) Anna Overholt Loucks (1770-1845), widow of Peter Loucks (1760-1825) & sister of his first wife

m. 3rd (----) Elizabeth Stoner Sherrick, widow


3. Frances Stauffer (1783-1869)
m. (----) John Tinstman (1778-1849)
(9 Children)
Adam, Abraham, Anna, Elizabeth, Barbara,
Martin, John, Fanny, Mariah.


3. ABRAHAM O. STAUFFER (1786-1853)
m. (1807) Elizabeth Meyers (1782-1878)
(6 Children)
Nancy, Mary, JOHN M., Martin B.,
Abraham, Elizabeth.


4. Nancy Stauffer (1808-1900)
m. (----) Martin Loucks


4. Mary Stauffer (1810 ----)
m. (----) Jacob Tinstman


4. JOHN M. STAUFFER (1813-1862)
m. (1835) Catherine/Katrina Sherrick (1812-1887)
(6 Children)
Jacob S., Joseph R., Abraham K.,
Barbara Ann, ELIZABETH, Sarah.


5. Jacob S. Stauffer (---- died age 8 mo.)


5. Joseph R. Stauffer (1836-1910)
m. (----) Ann Freed


5. Abraham K. Stauffer (1838/9-1918)
m. (----) Catherine Slonecker (---- 1913)


5. Barbara Ann Stauffer (1845-1908)
m. (----) Andrew Dixon (1834-1902)


5. ELIZABETH STAUFFER (1848-1932)
m. (1869) AARON S. RIDENOUR (1844-1914)
(9 Children)
Jennie S., Chess B., Addie S., Homer S., Nettie S.,
Edith S., LESTER S., Clark L., Pearl M.


6. LESTER STAUFFER RIDENOUR (1886-1969)
m. (1910) Laura M. Johnson (1890-1974)
(4 Children)
Elizabeth P., Donald W., KENNETH E., Robert W.


7. KENNETH EUGENE RIDENOUR (1927-1995)
m. (1945) Dorothy F. Daugherty (1928-1997)
(3 children)
Laura L., Kenneth E., THOMAS P.


~~ 8. THOMAS PAUL RIDENOUR (b. 1960) ~~
m. (1988) Kelly L. McLaughlin (b. 1964)
(2 Children)
JOANNA E., SUSANNA D.


5. Sarah Stauffer (1854 ----)
m. (----) Abram Eicher


4. Martin B. Stauffer (1817-1876)
m. (----) Charlotte Hough


4. Abraham Stauffer (1820-1878)
m. (----) Elizabeth Newmyer


4. Elizabeth Stauffer (1822-1900)
m. (----) James C. Harkness


3. John W. Stauffer (1788-1852)
m. 1st (----) Catharine Loucks (c. 1793-1871)
(5 Children)
Elizabeth, Anna (Nancy), Mary (Polly),
Sarah, Abraham (d. infant).
[
Note: Only Sarah survived to adulthood; m. Solomon Keister.]

m. 2nd (----) Barbara Strickler (---- ----)


3. Maria Stauffer (1791-1874)
m. (1809) Abraham Overholt (1784-1870)
(8 Children)
Henry, Anna, Jacob, Abraham, Elizabeth,
Martin, Christian, John.


3. Elizabeth Stauffer (1794-1887)
m. (1811) Christian Overholt (1786-1868)
(6 Children)
Abraham, Sarah, Henry, Anna, Elizabeth, Christian.


Compiled with information taken from several sources, but chiefly from Thomas Ridenour, Mike Stofer's “Descendants of Christian Stauffer,” and “The Stauffer-Stouffer (Stover) Family of Pennsylvania,” by Meredith B. Colket, Jr., M.A., F.A.S.G.
[www.geocities.com/graciestover/stover/article10.html]

[Note: Additional data found in Winifred Paul's,
Along the Banks of Jacobs Creek.]

[Karen's Note: Additional information, or corrections, are welcome.]


Return to Our Stauffer Cousins -- or return to Karen's Branches