Henry Z. (Zephaniah) Lauffer

   Another name for Henry was Pappy.

  General Notes:

Residence was Jeannette, Westmoreland Co., PA. H.Z. Married Mary Ellen Hill who was his first cousin, one generation removed. Mary was the daughter of Elizabeth Lauffer, daughter of John Lauffer. H.Z. was the grandson of John Lauffer.

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From the 1905 Lauffer History

Family of Henry Z. Lauffer, son of Peter, son of John, son of Henry, Sr., son of Christian Lauffer, the Pioneer, was born in Penn Township, Westmoreland County, Pa., January I, 1868; married April 23, 1891, by Rev. James S. Freeman, to Mary E. Hill, who was born March 14, 1868. Like boys raised on the farm he grew to manhood without being exposed to the vices that belong to idleness. He helped his father in the summer and attended the district school in the winter. He never knew the value of a mother's love, his mother dying when he was but six years old. His father died when he was eighteen, leaving Henry to shift for himself. He proved himself equal to the emergency and for two years worked for is brother, receiving $10.00 per month in the summer and his board in the winter. The third summer he secured work with a cousin, Simon Trice, and at the expiration of his time attended the Greensburg Seminary. He entered Duff's Commercial College, where, in order to pay his way he worked in an office for $5.00 a week. He diligently pursued his studies in the evenings, graduating with honor, After completing his course he accompanied one of his teachers, Prof. Thompson, whose health had failed, to Wilmerding, and clerked in his grocery. He remained with Mr. Thompson until the latter disposed of his business when he worked for Snyder Bros. during the illness of a clerk. Having nothing in view he accepted an offer to carry papers for William Adams, a news dealer, receiving very meager pay. But soon John R. Montgomery, a Turtle Creek merchant, found a place for Mr. Lauffer in his office and store, where he remained sometime. On April 23, 1891, Mr. Lauffer was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Hill, a dress maker of Wilkinsburg. Having been working on very small salaries since leaving college, he conceived the idea of becoming a dress maker. With him to think, was to do, and soon he became quite proficient in the art. Later he secured a position with Johnston Bros., at Wilkinsburg, remaining two years. He also spent two years as head bookkeeper for a wholesale confectionery company, of Pittsburg. Returning to his native township in August, 1895, he accepted a position as bookkeeper at the Union Planing Mill Co., of Jeannette, where he remained for more than five years, resigning July 31, 1901, to accept a position as chief clerk to the Hon. John H. Brown, who was appointed Controller of Westmoreland County, by the Governor. This position he held for a term of three years, filling it very acceptably. Soon after leaving the County Controllers Office, he was elected assistant Cashier of the Jeannette National Bank, which position he now holds. Mr. Lauffer is an expert accountant, a careful business man and has hosts of friends. He resides with his wife and children in a pleasant country home, near Jeannette.

From the Westmoreland County Biographical:

HENRY Z. LAUFFER.Lauffer is a name which has been most intimately associated with the life of Westmoreland County from a very early period, when Christian Lauffer, the first of the name of whom we have any definite information, came from Northampton County to Westmoreland county some time prior to the year 1770. He brought with him his wife and a son, John Lauffer. Christian Lauffer lived near Pleasant Unity and became a prominent man in that region. He was born as early as 1730, and died in 1800. He and his wife were the parents of six sons and five daughters, the former being as follows: Christian, John, Henry, Peter and Adam.

It was through Henry Lauffer that Henry Z. Lauffer is descended, he having been his great-grandfather. He spent his life on the farm, cleared and started by his father, the old Lauffer homestead near Pleasant Unity, and it was there that his death occurred in 1821, at the age of sixty-eight years. He is buried in the Bash Cemetery, where also his father lies. He married Barbara Alliman, and their son, John Lauffer, as the grandfather of Henry Z. Lauffer.

John Lauffer was born in 1789. He lived in Franklin Township, and carried on the occupation of farming during his entire life. His death occurred in 1873 and he is buried in the old Hills Cemetery at Manordale. He married Elizabeth Andrews, and they were the parents of a large family.

One of their sons, Peter Lauffer, was the father of Henry Z. Lauffer, and was well known in the community, popularly known as the generous-hearted Peter, on account of the kindness of his heart and the charitableness of his disposition. Early in life he secured a tract of poor land in Pennsylvania and this, despite many vicissitudes, he finally converted into a highly improved and valuable farm. In 1873 he erected thereon a fine brick residence, which is still very much of a landmark in the vicinity. In politics he was a Republican, but he had no very strong taste for active political life and avoided rather than sought anything in the nature of public office. A man of strong religious impulses, he was a member all his life of the Reformed church and liberally supported its work in the community. Indeed, there was no charitable movement undertaken which Mr. Lauffer did not ardently assist, and it was in a measure the liberality of his gifts that won from him the sobriquet which he so greatly prized. To Peter Lauffer and his wife the following children were born: Israel B., Jacob W., Sarah E., who became the wife of William H. Kemerer; John P.; Henry Z., mentioned below; and Joseph A. who is engaged successfully in a mercantile business at Greensburg.

Born January 1, 1868 in Penn township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, on his father's farm near Harrison City, Henry Z. Lauffer spent his childhood and early youth on the old homestead. His mother died when he was but six years of age, and at the age of eighteen his father also died, so that the young man was thrown upon his own resources at an early age. During his childhood he attended the Greensburg Seminary, at that time in charge of the well-known educator, Professor Board, and later took a commercial course at Duff's Business College; from which he was graduated. Upon completing his studies at this institution, he secured a position as clerk in a grocery store at Wilmerding, Pennsylvania. He did not remain here very long, however, but worked in a similar capacity for two years in a wholesale confectionery establishment in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He then returned to Greensburg and the next five and a half years of his life he spent as bookkeeper in the Union Planing Mill Company in the neighboring town of Jeannette. His ability as an accountant soon spread beyond the limits of this concern, and in 1901 he was made first deputy controller of Westmoreland County, under John Brown, who held the office of controller there. The two offices had only just been created and Mr. Lauffer, as deputy controller, opened the first set of books kept in that office. He continued to serve in this capacity for about three years and half and during that entire period continued to keep this set of books. His ability as accountant led to his selection as assistant cashier for the Jeannette National Bank which not long afterwards liquidated its affairs and merged with the Jeannette Savings and Trust company. Mr. Lauffer was particularly interested in banking, however, and desiring to engage in that business chose the town of Delmont as a suitable location, and here began a campaign for the organization of a new institution. It was not long before he had interested a number of the leading men of this region, and accordingly the People's National Bank of Delmont was founded and opened its doors for business in May, 1911. Practically the entire responsibility for the management of this prosperous concern has dissolved upon the shoulders of Mr. Lauffer, and it is not too much to say that it has been his close attention and masterly business foresight upon which this success has been founded. It is Mr. Lauffer's doings that have given the People's National Bank a high standing as a banking institution, which it now enjoys throughout the entire region and the enviable reputation which it to-day enjoys in financial circles. At the time of its foundation, the People's National Bank elected the following officers: C. J. Shuster, president, Hugh Dunning, vice-president, and Henry Z. Lauffer, cashier. The first board of directors contained fifteen members, but this number has gradually dwindled to seven, all of whom are men identified with this locality. The present board now consists of the following gentlemen: C. J. Shuster, Henry Z. Lauffer, H. A. Waddell, John S. Lauffer, Dr. S. P. Earnest, C. M. Sheffler and H. F. Kunkle. At the time of its organization its capital amounted to twenty-five thousand dollars.

But while the service that he has rendered to his community in this respect has been a great one, it does not by any means make up the sum total of what Mr. Lauffer has done for the community. A man of wide interests and easily aroused to sympathies, he has identified himself with many departments of the city's life and has taken a particularly keen interest in local public affairs. He is a Republican in politics an is deeply interested in all political issues, whether of local or general significance, but is nevertheless entirely devoid of ambition to hold public office of any kind. In his religious belief Mr. Lauffer is a member of the Reformed church, and is active in the advancement of its interests in the community. As well as being Deputy Controller for the county. He has supported liberally its work, both with his time and fortune, and has been superintendent of its Sunday school for a number of years, in which connection and in others he has done valuable work in shaping the young men of the community to the best and highest ideals of citizenship.

Henry Z. Lauffer was united in marriage, April 23, 1881, with Mary E. Hill, of Wilkinsburg and Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of James and Catherine (Cline) Hill, where Mr. Hill still resides. To Mr. and Mrs. Lauffer the following children have been born: 1. Sadie Catherine, who died in her fifteenth year. 2. J. Freeman, who graduated from the Delmont High School, took a business course in the college, is employed as an assistant in the People's National Bank, and is now in the National Army, Three Hundred and Twentieth Infantry; married Lucinda R. Fritchman, by whom he has had two children: J. Freeman, Jr., born May 7, 1916, and Dorothy Jean, born October 19, 1917. 3. Alta Mary, who was a student in the Wilkinsburg High School, class of 1917, now in Cleveland taking hospital training. 4. Ruth Hill, a graduate of the Delmont High School, class of 1916, and at the present time is an assistant in the People's National Bank. 5. Ethel C. a freshman in the Delmont High School. 6. H. Ringer. Mrs. Lauffer is an active church and Sunday school worker and conducts a well-known and popular Bible class.

The early history of the Lauffer family in Pennsylvania is exceedingly interesting and deserves a few words in this place. Christian Lauffer, who has already been mentioned as the pioneer in this part of the country, came to Westmoreland County at about that time of the settlement of the feud between Pennsylvania and Virginia. This feud was waged over the ownership of a large part of what is now Western Pennsylvania, and the very early settlers were in the unfortunate position of having to pay two sets of taxes, one to Pennsylvania and the other to Virginia in order to secure protection against the Indians, with the result that they gained it from neither. In those perilous times, the dangers of which had been partially alleviated by the final surrender of its claim by Virginia, the Lauffers came to live here, and we find in the Pennsylvania archives, third series, volume twenty-three, page two hundred and twenty-six, that Henry Lauffer, Christian Lauffer's son, was enrolled in that hardy band of men known as the "Rangers of the Frontiers," from 1778 to 1783. These records bring us back to the time when the foundations of our Nation were being laid by those courageous men who dared the perils of the uncharted wilderness for the sake of freedom and adventure, and the members of the Lauffer family themselves may well be included in this characterization and from the first to the last of their association with this part of the country had stood for all that was best in its life and tradition.

With all his talents and the multitude of activities which call them into play, Mr. Lauffer is essentially a domestic man. He is very retiring and, although he greatly enjoys the society of his friends, he shrinks from anything like public office or the kind of political activity that would bring him into the public eye. Although so uniformly successful and so universally liked because of his sense of justice and generosity, by all his business associates, yet his chief happiness is found in the retirement of his own home and the intercourse of his own household. The same qualities that make him a devoted husband and parent also make him a faithful friend, so that of the great number who are originally attracted to him because of his unusual personality there are none who do not remain bound to him by a sense of his sterling worth and simple heart.

Mostly duplicate but needs merges if anything is added:
Henry Z. Lauffer
Born January 1, 1868, in Penn township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, on his father's farm near Harrison City, Henry Z. Lauffer spent his childhood and early youth at the old homestead. His mother died when he was but six years of age, and at the age of eighteen his father also died, so that the young man was thrown upon his own resources at an early age. During his childhood he attended the Greensburg Seminary, at that time in charge of the well-known educator, Professor Board, and later took up a commercial course at Duff's Business College; from which he was graduated. Upon completing his studies at this institution, he secured a position as clerk in a grocery store at Wilmerding, Pennsylvania. He did not remain here very long, however, but worked in a similar capacity for two years in a wholesale confectionery establishment in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He then returned to Greensburg and the next five and a half years of his life he spent as bookkeeper in the Union Planing Mill Company in the neighboring town of Jeannette. His ability as an accountant soon spread beyond the limits of this concern, and in 1901 he was made first deputy controller of Westmoreland county, under John Brown, who held the office of controller there. The two offices had only just been created and Mr. Lauffer, as deputy controller, opened the first set of books kept in that office. He continued to serve in this capacity for about three years and a half and during that entire period continued to keep this set of books. His ability as accountant led to his selection as assistant cashier for the Jeannette National Bank which not long afterwards liquidated its affairs and merged with the Jeannette Savings and Trust Company. Mr. Lauffer was particularly interested in banking, however, and desiring to engage in that business chose the town of Delmont as a suitable location, and here began a campaign for the organization of a new institution. It was not long before he had interested a number of the leading men of this region, and accordingly the People's National Bank was founded and opened its doors for business in May, 1911. Practically the entire responsibility for the management of this prosperous concern has dissolved upon the shoulders of Mr. Lauffer, and it is not too much to say that it has been his close attention and masterly business foresight upon which this success has been founded. It is Mr. Lauffer's doings that have given the People's National Bank a high standing as a banking institution, which it now enjoys throughout the entire region and the enviable reputation which it to-day enjoys in financial circles. At the time of its foundation, the People's National Bank elected the following officers: C. J. Shuster, president, Hugh Dunning, vice president, and Henry Z. Lauffer, cashier. The first board of directors contained fifteen members, but this number has gradually dwindled to seven, all of whom are men identified with this locality. The present board now consists of the following gentlemen: C. J. Shuster, Henry Z. Lauffer, H. A. Waddell, John S. Lauffer, Dr. S. P. Earnest, C. M. Sheffler, and H. F. Kunkle. At the time of its organization its capital amounted to twenty-five thousand dollars.But the service he has rendered to his community in this respect has been a great one, it does not by any means make up the sum total of what Mr. Lauffer has done for the community. A man of wide interests and easily aroused to sympathies, he has identified himself with many departments of the city's life and has taken a particularly keen interest in local public affairs. He is a Republican in politics and is deeply interested in all political issues, whether of local or general significance, but is nevertheless entirely devoid of ambition to hold public office of any kind. In his religious belief Mr. Lauffer is a member of the Reformed church, and is active in the advancement of its interests in the community. He has supported liberally its work, both with his time and fortune, and has been superintendent of its Sunday school for a number of years, in which connection and in others he has done valuable work in shaping the young men of the community to the best and highest ideals of citizenship.Henry Z. Lauffer was united in marriage, April 23, 1891, with Mary E. Hill, of Wilkinsburg and Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of James and Catherine (Cline) Hill, where Mr. Hill still resides. To Mr. and Mrs. Lauffer the following children have been born: 1. Sadie Catherine, who died in her fifteenth year. 2. J. Freeman, who graduated from the Delmont High School, took a business course in the college, is employed as an assistant in the People's National Bank, and is now in the National Army, Three Hundred and Twentieth Infantry; married Lucinda R. Fritchman, by whom he has had two children: J. Freeman, Jr., born May 7, 1916, and Dorothy Jean, born October 19, 1917. 3. Alta Mary, who was a student in the Wilkinsburg High School, class of 1917, now in Cleveland taking hospital training. 4. Ruth Hill, a graduate of the Delmont High School, class of 1916, and at the present time is an assistant in the People's National Bank. 5. Ethel C., a freshman in the Delmont High School. 6. H. Ringer. Mrs. Lauffer is an active church and Sunday school worker and conducts a well-known and popular Bible class.With all his talents and the multitude of activities which call them into play, Mr. Lauffer is essentially a domestic man. He is very retiring and, although he greatly enjoys the society of his friends, he shrinks from anything like public office or the kind of political activity that would bring him into the public eye. Although so uniformly successful and so universally liked because of his sense of justice and generosity, by all his business associates, yet his chief happiness is found in the retirement of his own home and the intercourse of his own household. The same qualities that make him a devoted husband and parent also make him a faithful friend, so that of the great number who are originally attracted to him because of his unusual personality there are none who do not remain bound to him by a sense of his sterling worth and simple heart.

Henry married Mary Ellen (Ella) Hill, daughter of James Pierce Hill and Catharine Ann (Katie) Cline, on 23 Apr 1891 in Wilkinsburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. (Mary Ellen (Ella) Hill was born on 14 Mar 1868 in Franklin Twp, Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, died on 2 Feb 1945 in Jeannette, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and was buried on 6 Feb 1945 in Hills Church Cemetery, Export, PA.)