PROMINENT BUILDER TAKEN BY DEATH

Death removed one of the best known and most useful citizens of Kittanning on Saturday, October 21, 1922 at 7:45 p.m. when Henry Shaffer died at his residence on north Grant avenue following an illness of several weeks.

Mr. Shaffer was born in Somerset, Pa., March 8, 1848 and spent his boyhood days in his father's farm. At the early age of 15 years and 4 months he enlisted in Company I, 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry and served in that regiment from July 1, 1863 until July 8, 1865. At the close of the Civil War he returned to his home at Somerset, where he learned the carpenter trade. In 1868 he went to Pittsburg and secured employment as a carpenter with the Keystone Bridge Company. About 1870 Mr. Shaffer came to Kittanning and went to work for James McCullough, Jr., in the erection of the present county jail. Two years later he returned to Somerset but in 1879 moved back to Kittanning where he engaged in the contracting and carpenter business successfully for 35 years.

He organized and established in 1909 the Henry Shaffer Lumber Company of which he continued to be at the head up until the time of his death. Under Mr. Shaffer's direction some of the largest and best know buildings in this section were erected. Among them the new Central school building probably stands out the most prominent. His ability as a builder was widely known and during his busy lifetime he saw almost a complete transition in the contracting business from the time when everything entering into building had to be constructed practically by hand until the arrival of the day when the material was turned out by machinery.

He was united in marriage with Nancy Bell Stivason who preceded him in death on July 25, 1920. From this union came 10 children, six sons and three daughters survive as follows: James F., Edward H., George W., William A., Stanley R., Walter T., Mrs. E.J. Cushman, Mrs. Don Cameron, all of Kittanning; Mrs. O.C. Jacobs, of Pittsburg. Seven grandchildren and two brothers, James and Albert of Somerset, also survive. Funeral services will be held at the late residence Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock by Rev. Harry Newcomer, Pastor of St. John's Lutheran church, assisted by Rev. H.M. Carnahan of the First Methodist Episcopal church. Interment in the Kittanning cemetery. Mr. Shaffer was an industrious progressive citizen and a gallant soldier, in whose death the community has sustained a distinct loss.

From: The Simpson's Leader-Times, Kittanning, Pennsylvania, The week of October 22, 1922

Son of Bodice & Isabel Shaffer

Married: Nancy Belle Stivenson May 31, 1871