Ida Sybella Altman

  General Notes:

Short history on Ida Altman: When Ida was six years old, the family moved to her grandmother's farm in Harrison City. The Altmans were members of the Brush Creek Lutheran Church and when Ida was 14 years old, she was eligible to begin two years of weekly instruction at the church prior to her confirmation at 16 years of age. It is interesting to note that Ida walked from Harrison City to Brush Creek Church every week, including the day of her confirmation. Ida Sybilla Altman was married to Simon Kifer at her family home in Harrison City by The Reverend A. E. Truxall, pastor of the Brush Creek Reformed Church. After her marriage, Ida transferred her membership to the Evangelical and Reformed Church in Adamsburg, which Simon's grandfather, Henry Kifer, Sr., was instrumental in constructing in 1815. After a wedding trip to Washington, DC, the couple went to housekeeping in Penn.
Just a year after their marriage, Simon Kifer lost his left hand in a corn husking machine while working on the Whitehead farm on Sandy Hill Road. Undaunted by this obvious handicap, Simon had a hook fashioned for use as a hand and he soon became legendary for his dexterity and expertise. In photographs, Simon hid the hook with his other hand.
When the Kifers returned to Westmoreland County, for a time they lived on the old Clohessy farm where the Murphy mart in Irwin now stands. Then for 27 years--from 1922 to 1957--their home was the beautiful John L. Ridinger house and property on Route 30 N. of Irwin.
During their years in Jacktown, Simon farmed and hauled water in a tank truck to farms and homes in Irwin, Greensburg, Jeannette. Meanwhile, Ida cooked, baked, cleaned, and did laundry for as many as 8 steady boarders--in addition to that of her own sizeable family!
Daughter Mary Minerva, her husband, E. Fink Lauffer, and their four children, Mary Louise, Charles F., Gerald K., and David A., lived with the Kifers for several years after the Turnpike Commission took most of their farm on Arona Road for the highway extension.
About 1945 Fink purchased a farm near Alverton, East Huntington, Westmoreland County, PA, and relocated his family. Charles, however, stayed behind to live with his grandparents so that he could finish his senior year at Norwin High School in Irwin.
Charles had many fond memories of life with his grandparents. He recalled his grandfather Simon as a very hardworking man who taught him alot about farming. Grandma Kifer kept a very tidy and clean house, was an excellent cook (especially the Apple Schnitz), and had 'fancy' pieces of dishware and furniture (Apple Schnitz recipe and some of Ida's 'fancy pieces' in the possession of Marnie Sweet Lauffer.
In later years, Charles bristled when passing by the Jacktown Hunt Club with its boarded windows and asphalted parking area, saying "they ruined a beautiful old home." Regretfully, no photographs have been located to show the property as it was when Ida and Simon lived there.
When the Ridinger property in Jacktown was sold to the Jacktown Ride and Hunt Club, Simon and Ida moved to the Baughman property on Arona Road where they lived until Simon died on 13 January 1958 at the age of 88.
To honor Ida on her 100th birthday, an open house was held in her honor on Sunday, 22 November 1970, at the Brush Creek United Church of Christ of Christ. Many relatives--including many of her 22 grandchildren and
35 great grandchildren--and friends were on hand to wish the Centenarian 'many happy returns.'
Over the years Ida Sybilla resided with her granddaughter and husband, Lorraine and Gaylord Loughner in Straw Pump, with her daughters, Sarah and Clara, and eventually at Westmoreland Manor, Greensburg, PA. She passed away on 05 March 1977 at the age of 107. Both Ida and Simon are buried at Brush Creek Memorial Cemetery.

Ida married Simon Kifer on 25 Oct 1892 in Harrison City, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. (Simon Kifer was born on 8 Jul 1869 and died on 13 Jan 1958.)

Ida next married Simon Kifer on 25 Oct 1892 in Harrison City, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. (Simon Kifer was born on 8 Jul 1869 and died on 13 Jan 1958.)