CHAPTER   XXXllI
 

^ EV. JOSEPH SPANGLER KIEFFER,
D. D., son of Rev. Ephriam and Eleanor
(Sjiangler) Kieffer, was born in Alifflin-
burg. Pa., February' 3, 1842.
In the year 1748, Dewald Kieffer, of Ger¬
many, emigrated with his father, Abraham Kieffer,
Jr., and two brothers, from Zwei-Brucken, on the
Rhine, to America; they landed at Philadelphia,
September 15, 1748. Dewald Kieffer grew to
manhood in Berks County, Pa., near Kutztown.
After the Revolution, he removed to Franklin
County, Pa., and in 1789 purchased from James
Clark the tract of land called "Clark's Fancy,"
now the site of the village of Upper Strasburg.
Mr. Kieffer laid out that town in the same year,
naming it for the famous German city of Stras¬
burg; and here he passed the remainder of his
life. The village prospered for many 3'ears; be¬
fore the day of turnpikes, it was the most im¬
portant place in the County. Air. Kieffer's house
of "entertainment for man and beast" was long
a noted resort. Dewald Kieffer married Hannah
Fox; their children were: Abraham; Peter; De¬
wald; Gideon, Ludwig, Jacob; Christian; Han¬
nah ;  Catherine; and Rebecca.

Abraham Kieffer, their eldest son, was born
near Kutztown, Pa., November 18, 1758; he died
x-August 18, 1855. He was a farmer and team¬
ster,, residing near "Kieffer's Post-office." He
was widely known as "Uncle Abraham." He
served in the Revolution, and upon his monument
is inscribed his name, with the simple words, "A
Revolutionary Soldier," He died at the extreme
age of ninety-six years; his remains are interred
at   Kieffer's   Church,  in  Franklin   County,   Pa.
 

Abraham Kieffer married Catherine, daughter of
George Beaver; she was born November 9, 1763,
and died August 10, 1833. Their children were:
John; Joseph; Abraham; Daniel; Dewajd; Louis;
Simon; Hannah; Sibbie; Alary; Rebecca; Ehz¬
abeth; Catherine; and Susan.

Joseph Kieffer, second son of Abraham and
Catherine (Beaver) Kieffer, was born in Frank¬
lin County, Pa., June 22, 1784; he died October
5, 1849. He was a farmer and tanner, and passed
most of his business life in Virginia. He mar¬
ried Hannah Falk; their children were: Ephriam;
Maria; Stephen; and Justus. After Mrs. Han¬
nah Kieff'er's death, he.married Aliss Stuckey; of
this marriage there was no issue.

Ephriam Kieffer, eldest son of Joseph and
Hannah (Falk) Kieffer, was born January 17,
1812; he died Alay 11, 1871. He was reared in
Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, Virginia, and at
the age of eighteen years, yvent to Chambersburg,
Pa. There, w-hile employed in a store, he received
catechetical instruction from the Rev. Frederick
Rahauser, through which he was led to adopt as
his life-work the ministry of the Reformed
Church. He obtained his literary and theological
training at the German Reformed High School
and Theological Seminary at York, Pa., from
1831 to 1835. In 1836. he was ordained }iastor
of a new charge, comprising Bellefonte, Schnei¬
der's and Best's churches, in Centre County, Pa.
He vvas afterwards pastor 'of Miffiinburg charge.
Union Co., Pa., 1840-57; of the L3'keiis A'alley
charge, 1857-64; and of the Sulphur Spring
charge, near Carhsle, Pa., 1866-70.

Rev. Ephriam Kieffer was married to Eleanor,