Rev. John J. Stauffer, pastor of Salem Reformed Church, Elizabethville, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was born 11 July 1860, in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, a son of Daniel Stauffer and Fannie [Long] Stauffer, the latter deceased. He also served other Reformed churches in the Lykens Valley, including St. Peter (Hoffman) Reformed Church, Lykens Township; Salem or Peace Reformed Church, Berrysburg; and Simeon Reformed Church, Gratz.
Three Stauffer brothers came from Spain, one of whom settled in Bucks County, one in Montgomery County, and one in Chester County. All were farmers by occupation.
Jacob Stauffer, the grandfather, was a native of Bucks County, where he was engaged in farming and where he died. He married a Miss Schantz who survived him some years. Their children were:
Peter Stauffer, resides at Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania;
William Stauffer, deceased;
Jacob Stauffer, deceased;
Daniel Stauffer; and
Polly Stauffer, Mrs. Groff, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
The father, Daniel Stauffer, was born in Bucks County, in 1824, where he was reared and received his education in the common schools. He first learned the trade of cabinet maker, and afterwards that of coach maker. He married Miss Fannie Long and settled at Crockersport, where he continued business at his trade which he conducted for thirty years. He is now living retired at that place, and his son Harvey Stauffer continues the business. His wife died 11 September 1877. Their children are:
Annie Stauffer, Mrs. William Falk, Brookhaven, Pennsylvania;
Eugene E. Stauffer, painter for a railroad, Elizabeth, New Jersey;
Rev. John J. Stauffer;
Harvey D. P. Stauffer;
Rev. Samuel P. Stauffer, Lutheran minister, at present taking special course at Johns Hopkins University; and
George A. Stauffer, a theological student.
Mr. Daniel Stauffer is a strong Prohibitionist and a member of the Sons of Temperance for forty years.
Rev. John J. Stauffer attended the public schools until he was nineteen years of age, and during vacation was engaged in work with his father. At this age he entered State Normal School at Kutztown, and remained for two years, and then prepared for college at the Muhlenberg Academy at Allentown, taking a two year course, and was admitted to the Freshman class of Ursinus College in the fall of 1880, and was graduated from that institution in 1884. His theological course was also taken at the same college, and was completed two years later. He at once accepted a call to the church at East Berlin, Adams County, Pennsylvania, and on taking charge of that congregation was ordained to the same office in June 1886. He remained in this charge three years and was then called to Westport and East Mauch Chunk, where his pastorate continued until he was called to Elizabethville in 1891, where he has since labored. His work at this place has been crowned with success, of which the new parsonage and of the substantial improvements in the property and the growth of the Sabbath-school and increase in church membership are all marked evidences. Mr. Stauffer also looks after the spiritual welfare of the church at Berrysburg [Salem or Peace], Lykens Township [Hoffman], and Gratz [Simeon].
Rev. John J. Stauffer was married at East Berlin, 6 October 1887 to Miss Ella E. Refert, daughter of Edward Refert and Catherine Refert, by whom he has three children:
Refert Ursinus Stauffer, died aged four and a half years;
Emma Lulu Stauffer, born 26 August 1890; and
Lottie May Stauffer, born 18 September 1892.
Rev. Stauffer is a pronounced Prohibitonist, and believes that the suppression of the liquor business through public action is the prominent issue of the day and is to be attained by the creation of a high moral public sentiment.
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The above information was modified/edited from Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1896 by J. M. Runk and Company of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. A free download is available from the Internet Archive.
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A local newspaper article from July 1901 states that the resignation of Rev. Stauffer was reluctantly accepted effective September 1901:
Rev. Stauffer had been enthusiastically engaged in the Prohibition organization. He submitted his resignation in order to give all of his time as pastor and energy to the overthrow of the liquor traffic which is doing much to curse humanity and neutralize the work of the church.
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Top of Post: The obituary of Rev. John J. Stauffer is from the Reading Times and the Altoona Tribune of 6 September 1924:
REV. J. J. STAUFFER DIES AT YORK HOME
YORK — Stricken with apoplexy as he was directing preparations to move into a new home, Rev. John J. Stauffer, a retired minister of the Reformed Church, died here tonight. He was a graduate of Ursinus College and for 35 years conducted pastorates in Pennsylvania and Ohio. He was actively engaged in temperance work.
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See also:
Findagrave Memorial #39812231. Rev. John J. Stauffer died at his home in York, York County, Pennsylvania, on 5 September 1924. He is buried at the Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Littlestown, Adams County, Pennsylvania.