BIOS: John J. KAUFMAN, Davidsville, Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Candace Roth Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ History of Bedford & Somerset Counties, PA; v.3; Bedford County by E. Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; Lewis Pub. Co., NY/Chicago 1906; ppg. 491-493 John J. KAUFMAN John J. Kaufman, of Davidsville, is a lineal descendant of Stephen Kaufman, who came from Switzerland in 1760 and settled in Berks county, Pennsylvania. His son, Jacob Kaufman, was born in 1751 and was therefore nine years old at the time of the emigration of the family. In 1807 Jacob Kaufman came from Berks county to Somerset county and settled near Davidsville, on what is now known as the "Isaac Kaufman" farm. His wife, Catharine, bore him two children: Isaac, see forward; and Kate. Mr. Kaufman married (second) ______ Miller, by whom he became the father of the following children: Samuel, born June 15, 1808; Barbara, born November 10, 1809, wife of Christian Hochestler; Susan, born September 11, 1811, wife of Tobias T. Yoder; Sarah, born May 4, 1813, wife of Tobias W. Yoder; and Jacob M., born December 20, 1815, married Elizabeth Yoder. Jacob Kaufman, the father, died in 1844 at the great age of ninety-three. Isaac Kaufman, son of Jacob and Catharine Kaufman, was born in 1806 in Berks county and was an infant when his parents moved to Somerset county. He was a farmer, and on the occasion of his marriage purchased two hundred and fifty acres of land, to which he made additions until he became the owner of sixteen hundred acres. This estate, which increased greatly in value, was subsequently divided among his heirs. He was a member of the Amish church and an old-line Whig. He married, in 1829, Polly, daughter of John Lehman, and their children were: John I., see forward; Elizabeth, wife of Levi Yoder; Polly, wife of Tobias Miller; Jacob, married Christine Eash; Sarah, wife of Joseph Wingard; Susan, wife of John Shaffer; Tobias, married Caroline Lohr and, after her death, Amelia Lohr; Isaac, living in Ohio; Mary, wife of Daniel Huffman; Joseph, married Mary M. Myers and, after her death, Nancy Salo; Catharine, wife of Jacob Lohr; and David, married Lizzie J. Rinehart. The death of Mr. Kaufman occurred October 17, 1886. John I. Kaufman, son of Isaac and Polly (Lehman) Kaufman, was born in 1830 in Conemaugh township and settled near Davidsville, where he led the life of a farmer. For several terms he served as assessor and collector of the township. During the Civil war he was twice drafted, the first time paying a fine of three hundred dollars and the second time furnishing a substitute. His action in the matter was determined by the objection to the war, which forms part of the tenets of the Amish church, of which he was a member. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican. Mr. Kaufman married, in 1850, Margaret Wingard, and their family consisted of the following children: 1. Mary, born in 1852, wife of David Gilmer, has three children: Clara, Maggie and Hettie. 2. Jacob, born in 1854, married Catharine Blough and had children, three of whom died in childhood, and those who survived childhood were: Maggie; Crist, deceased; Norman; Amos; Harris. Catharine (Blough) Kaufman died June 22, 1889, and Mr. Kaufman subsequently married Carrie Blough, the issue of the marriage being one child, Vinnie. 3. Elizabeth, married Simon Layman. 4. John J., see forward. 5. Hettie, married Isaac S. Kaufman. 6. Levi, married Amanda Froner. 7. Isaac W., married Lucinda Blough. John I. Kaufman, father of these children, died July 22, 1880, and his widow, Margaret (Wingard) Kaufman, died June 11, 1891. John J. Kaufman, son of John I. and Margaret (Wingard) Kaufman, was born April 20, 1858, and obtained his education in the common schools. In 1888 he purchased his father's farm near Davidsville, and has since given his attention to agriculture. On the land is a barn which was built in 1806 by Nicholas Keim, and is still in use and in a good state of preservation. He is a Republican and a member of the Mennonite church. Mr. Kaufman married, in 1878, Malinda, daughter of Christian and Polly Blough, and the following are their children: 1. Jessie, born May 15, 1879, wife of John F. Hershberger, has two children, Annie and Irvin. 2. Hettie, born in 1881, wife of Amon Wingard, has two children, Minnie and an infant son. 3. Christian, born in 1883, killed by an accident, February 6, 1905. 4. Minnie, born November 12, 1885. 5. John, born February 19, 1893. The mother of these children died January 7, 1897, and on July 29, 1900, Mr. Kaufman married Sarah Layman, the issue of the marriage being three children: Paul, born June 29, 1901; Nannie M., born June 14, 1903; and a son, who died in infancy.