Bartholomew (Bartol) Laffer

  General Notes:

There are different version of the Bartle Lauffer name. The 1790 census for Westmoreland County has Bottle Lawyer. It indicates that there was one free white male over the age of 16, two free white males under 16, four free white females, no "other" persons and no slaves.


On 2 June 1796, letters of administration on Christian's estate were granted to Bartel Laffer. Bartel was a county Commissioner for Westmoreland County in 1796; he also kept a tavern in (Greensburg) which temporary courts were held for about three tears. In 1797, he appears on a tax list for Brady Twp., Butler Co., PA. in 1810 he was living in Sugarcreek Twp., Armstrong Co., PA, where his wife died in 1814. Bartel then moved to Tuscarawas Co., Ohio where he married Catharina Mosser on 30 November 1815. Bartel died in Sandyville, Ohio on 1 January 1822.

Bartol's creativity and business adventures included: Proprietor of the Saw Mill, the Grist Mill, and a Hotel. He also speculated in real estate. In 1795 Bartol "Loffer" was listed as a County Commissioner Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

1810 Census. Sugar Creek Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania (Note: Armstrong is an offshoot of Westmoreland County.) Laffer, Bartel males; 2 between 10 and 16, 1 over 45 (Bartel): females; 1 over 45 (Anna Maria Drumm)

1820 Census, Sandyville Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio Bartel Laffer males; 2 between 10 and 16, 2 between 16 and 26, 1 between 26 and 45, 1 over 45 (Bartel): females; 1 45 and over (Catherine Mosser) Religion: Reformed, Methodist Episcopal

From wills of Northampton Co., the will of Philip Drumm, yeoman, of Moore Twp., probated Nov, 22, 1788, we learn that his daughter, Mary Angle, was the wife of Bartol Lawfer. Also that Simon, husband of Susanna Laffer, was the son of this Philip Drumm. Father Drumm lies buried near the stump of a big chestnut tree along the fence to the right of Old Stone Church, three miles north of Seigfrieds, Pa.

Heir ruhen die Gebiene der Philip Drumm. Er war geboren den 27, Sept. 1721, und entschlief den 14 Nov. 1788. Text war Luc 2 vers 29.

In the year 1889, about, Peter Piper, (an extensive traveler, formerly of Greensburg), after a long journey through the west, visited Hezekiah Waugaman. He told them that in California he had met a very intelligent fellow by the name of Laffer, who said that he was a descendant of Bartol Laffer, of Greensburg, and that Bartol had built the first brick house in that town.

As proprietor of the saw mill and grist mill, and hotel property, besides his real estate dealings, Bartol lived a very busy and useful life in Greensburg. His son Peter was a steam boat pilot, and was blown up in an explosion on the Ohio River shortly after the War of 1812.

Another son of Barthol was a Judge in Canton Co., Ohio. Simon Lauffer, of Irwin, met Rev. P. A. Lauffer (Philip), of Meadville, and tells us he is a grandson of Bartol, and served for some years as President of Allegheny College. Dr. Cornelius C. Laffer, of Meadville, is of the Bartol Laffer family, and a son of P. A. Laffer.

Bartol also had daughters, and a son Henry. The latter moved to Tuscarora, near Philadelphia. The source of our information is this: In the fall of 1824 John Lauffer, Jr., of Harrison City, the centenarian, and Frederick Steck, the father of Daniel Steck, a former sheriff of Westmoreland Co., went afoot to Philadelphia with a drove of 170 cattle that were purchased in the Manor Valley at from $10 to $12 per head.

It took five weeks to make the trip. John Lauffer, Jr., on this trip visited Henry, the son of Bartol, and saw his sons and daughters. His descendants no doubt are extant somewhere, and it is sincerely hoped that their family records have been kept carefully, and may some day be annexed to ours.

We do not know the year Bartol left Greensburg to go into Ohio, but the venerable John Lauffer tells us, he went with the great stream of migration of 1812.

From the records of Westmoreland County we glean the following entries:

1. Bartel Lafer from Christian Lafer, Vol. I, p. 426: 20 May, 1785. Both of Mt. Pleasant Twp., Westmoreland Co., 200 A. "on the waters of the Sewickley" for £450.

2. Bartel Lafer from Peter Cook, Vol. D, 1,. 430 : Jan., 1791. £170 for 1-3 of the tract in Hempfield Twp., Westmoreland Co., known as "Cookery, Patent Book No. 12, p. 501 ," 801/2 acres. 17


3. Bartel Laffer from Robert Ralston. Vol. 2, p. 490: 3 Oct., 1796.

4. Bartel Laffer from Thomas Gilbert, Vol. 2, p. 492: 30 Oct., 1796

5. Bartel Laffer from Margaret Wigton, Vol. 2, p. 506: 30 Oct., 1796.

6. Bartel Laffer from Andrew McCleu. Vol. 2, p. 508. 30 Sept., 1796.

7. Bartel Laffer from Isaac James. Vol. 2, p. 507: 3 Oct., 1796.

8. Bartel Laffer from Henry Bareley Vol. 2, p. 558: 3 Oct., 1796.

9. Bartel Laffer from Alexander Bears, Vol. 2, p. 560: 19 May, 1796.

10. Bartel Laffer from William Smith; Vol. 2, p. 592: 3 Oct., 1796.

11. Bartel Laffer from Andrew Robinson, Vol. 2, p. 615: 3 Oct., 1796.

The early land deals of John Laffer, Sr., and John Laffer, Jr., and John Lauffer, son of Henry, Sr., are appended :-

1. John Laffer from Bartel Laffer. Vol. 2, p. 159: 3, Apr., 1795. .

Both resided in the town of Greensburg at the date of this entry. For £300 a tract containing 100 A. _and all allowance of six per cent. for woods and highways_ is deeded over; Bartel Laffer transfers to the said John Laffer the woods, water courses, (dam, race, etc.), buildings, mills, and premises, and the said Bartel Laffer for him and his heirs doth warrant and defend the land and saw mill as aforesaid. This deed is of interest, showing that John sawed lumber for building the town, when Bartol became tavern keeper. Greensburg being a town "on the pike" where stages stopped en route for Pittsburgh and the west.

Vol. D, p. 435, shows that this land was conveyed to Bartol Laffer 5 May, 1791, by Christopher Truby and Isabella, his wife ; and that the land was "a tract of land called Seat of Justice," granted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to Col. Christopher Truby, Esqr., 25 Aug., 1790.

2. John Laffer from Alex. Cohean. Vol. 7, p. 603 : 18 Mar., 1806. 3. John Laffer from Henry Laffer, Vol. 9, p. 261 : 13 Apr., 1811. 4. John Laffer from John Mellon, Vol. 16, p. 431: 3 Apr., 1826. 5. John Laffer from Philip Steinmate, Vol. 16, p. 455: 3 Jan., 1827. 6. John Laffer from A. W. Foster, Vol. I8, p. 413: 24 May, 1830. 7. John Laffer from Eliz. Long. Vol. 18, p. 414: 30 Apr., 1829. 8. John Laffer, Jr., from Aaron Teegarden's heirs. Vol. 20, p. 382 : 8 Apr., 1833. 9. John Laffer from Philip Stemity. Vol. 29, p. 6: 17 Oct., 1837. 10. John Lauffer from Henry Lauffer. Vol. 29, p. 355: 23 Apr., 1847. 11. John Lauffer from Henry Lauffer. Vol. 41, p. 96: 2 Apt., 1850. 12. John Lauffer et al., Trust from Susan Suetler. Vol. 43, p. 630 : 23 Mar., 1856. 13. John Lauffer et al., Trust from Elizabeth Dick. Vol. 43, p. 632: 21 Nov., 1856. 14. John Lauffer from Seth Lauffer. Vol. 42, p. 471 : 30 Dec., 1850. 15. John Lauffer from David Anderson. Vol. 50, p. 429: 1 Apr., 1864.

For the interest of those concerned in titles to land we append the following list, before 1860; Henry, Sr., Henry, Jr., and Henry Paul, son of the centenarian, are included :

1. Henry Laffer from Jacob Christman. Vol. 9, p. 262: 15 April, 1811. Both of Mt. Pleasant Tp. Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Christman, was the daughter of Christian, the Pioneer, one of the five daughters mentioned in our introduction. THE LAUFFER HISTORY. 19

"Whereas the Honorable John Penn and Richard Penn, by their attorney John B. Coates by their indenture bearing date of 24 Feb., 1806. did grant and confirm unto the said Jacob Christman his heirs and assigns a certain tract of land situated in Mt. Pleasant Tp., Co. of Westmoreland, containing 135 1/4 A. Vol. 7, p. 598.

Now this indenture WITNESSETH : 'That the said Jacob Christman and Elizabeth his wife for and in consideration of £37. 4. S. paid to them by Henry Laffer, for which the receipt whereof is hereby fully acknowledged, Do grant--31 A. of said tract bounded by lands of Adam Hartzell .& etc. To have and to hold-

2. Henry Laffer from David Silvies. Vol. 16, p. 41 : 5 Jan., 1813.

3. Henry Laffer from Jacob Baum. Vol. 25, p. 26: 15 Nov., 1839.

4. Henry Lauffer from Henry Lauffer's heirs. Vol. 29, p. 355 : 23 Apr., 1847.

5. Henry Lauffer from Christian Pore. Vol. 34, p. 443: 3 Feb., 1852.

6. Henry Lauffer from John Ygest, Vol. 6, p. 524: June, 1853.

7. Henry Lauffer from Joseph Baum. Vol. 40, p. 48; 288 Nov., 1844.

8. Henry Lauffer from John Williams. Vol. 40, p. 49: 9 June, 1843.

9. H. P. Lauffer from Steven Ridinger, Vol. 40, p. 531 : 7 Mar., 1857. Vol. 40, p. 531 : 7 Mar., 1857.

10. H. P. Lauffer from F. G. Oxley, Vol. 43, p. 411: 16 Aug., 1854.

For reference on the part of such as are interested in early real estate deals recorded in the Register of Deeds office in Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Pa., we append the following :

1. Christian Laffer from John Montgomery. Vol. D, p. 164: 17 Sept.. 1789.

Christian, of Westmoreland Co., millwright, for £260 buys two tracts of land of John Montgomery, of CarlisIe. 203 A. 80 P., in Salem Twp., and 280 acres on the Kiskiminetas River.

2. Christian Laffer from Bartol Laffer. Vol. 2, p. 506: 20 Jan., 1796. 5 acres in Hempfield Twp. 3. Christian Laffer from Adam Laffer. Vol. 8, p. 526 : 20 Feb., 1798.

Adam, of Allegheny Co., Christian, of Franklin Tp., Westmoreland County, situated on south side of Crooked Creek, for £135. (This Adam is a son of Christian, the Pioneer). The land in question-389 1/2 A. in Armstrong Tp., was purchased for £190 of Matthew McDonnell, of Derry Tp., Westmoreland Co., at the time Adam resided in Greensburg. 22 Dec., 1796 : Vol. 8, p. 525.

4. Christian Laffer from John Penn. Vol. 9, p. 434: & Nov., 1811.

John Penn, Sr., through his attorneys, John R. Coates and John B. Alexander, "acknowledges satisfaction on the margin of the record of a certain mortgage from Christian Laffer to the said John Penn and John Penn, Sr., the principal and interest money secured to them by the said mortgage having been paid to me, the said John R. Coates."

So many tempting tracts of choice land, led them to incur debt, in their deals: the early Laffers were land sharks, and their holdings will show that they recognized good land when they saw it. (About this time Christian, son of Christian, moved to Ohio, and Christian, son of John, Sr., son of Christian, the Pioneer, dealt in land).

5. Christian Laffer from David Gilleland. Vol. 24, p. 273: 10 Apr., 1837. 6. Christian Laffer from George Ambrose. Vol. 26, p. 30: 24 May, 1841. 7. Christian Lafter from SamueI F. Earnest. Vol. 42, p. 98: 13 July, 1858. 8. Christian Laffer from Jos. Knappenberger. Vol. 45, p. 270: 22 Mar., 1841. 9. Christian Laffer from H. M. Robertson. Vol. 45, p. 272: 16 Mar. 1860.


10. Christian Laffer from John Laffer. Vol. 65, p. 393: 31 Jan., 1828. 11. Christian Laffer from George Detes. Vol. 147, p. 433: 7 Apr., 1842. 12. Christian Laffer from John Kistler. Vol. 147, p. 435: 24 Apr., 1841.

Christian, Jr., and Bartel were older than Henry and John, and both were married when they came into Westmoreland Co. (Henry was 20 years old and John 5 years old when Christian, the Pioneer, moved into Westmoreland Co., from Moore Twp., Northampton Co.

In the little cemetery on the Old Esquire Conthin farm, now owned by Thad. W. Baum, near Pleasant Grove School House, Pickaway Co., Ohio, is the grave of Christian Laffer, died Oct. 2, 1823, in the 53rd pear of his age, and buried on the farm on which he had lived. This date places his birth at 1770, which would make Christian, Jr., younger than his brother John. If that be true, John, the centenarian, is confused in his dates in this particular.

From the letter of Anna E. (Lauffer) Strayer, 1329 Forsythe Ave., Columbus, Ohio, we learn substantially as follows :

Part of our information of the Christian Lauffer branch we derive from John Lauffer, the centenarian. In his earlier days he described his trip into Ohio thus: "On the 1st of November, 1826, in company with Col. Paul Brinker, I took a steamboat at Pittsburgh for Cincinnati. We arrived at the latter place at the end of three days. A day or two later we started afoot for Dayton, Ohio, thence to Chilicothe, thence to Pickaway Co., to visit among the Teegardens, near St. Paul, Ohio, who had been pioneer settlers in Westmoreland Co. After visiting a week among old-time friends and relatives, the journey was resumed to Columbus, thence to Wooster, Cleveland and Canton, stopping with friends along the way. From Canton to Rumley, a village on the Tuscaroras River, thence to Steubenville by way of Harmony, and thence by way of Beaver Falls to Pittsburgh. The whole journey occupying about six weeks."

Bartles religion was Reformed, Methodist Episcopal Note: source: "Cemetery Inscriptions of Tuscarawas County, Ohio", Vol. IV,Tuscarawas County Genealogical Society Pg. 70 Bartel left Greensburg, Pa in 1812 with the great stream of migration. This is may be incorrect, as he is listed in the census as living in Armstrong County, PA where his first wife is buried. He probably left after she died. 1795 Barton Loffer listed as a County Commissioner "From 1794 until 1795, the courts were held in a tavern kept by Robert Taylor, and after that for about three years they were held in a tavern kept by Bartel Laffer."Bartel Laffer and Jacob Truby are listed as witnesses to the will of Nicholas Walhe (Walhey) of Sugarcreek Township,Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. The will was written 13 July 1810 and registered on 18 June 1811. 1. "The Lauffer History",September, 1905, The Westmoreland Journal Press, Jeannette, Pa. from the chapter on the Bartol Branch. 2. "History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania with Biographical Sketches of Many of the Pioneers and Prominent Men", edited by George Dallas Albert, Philadelphia; L. H. Everts &,1882, press of J. B.Lippincott &,Philadelphia Pg. 471 3. "Old and New Westmoreland",John N. Boucher, The American Historical Society, New York 1918,Vols. I ,II, III Genealogical and Personal History under the Supervision of Capt. Fenwick Y. Headley A.) Pg. 446 Vol II B.)Pg. 428 Vol II. 1800 Canaugh Quenessung Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania Pg 348 1 HIST Lauffer, Bartel males; 3under 10, 1 between 10 and 16(Henry), 1 between 16 and 26(Peter), 1 over 45 (Bartel): females; 1 between 10 and 16, 1between 16 and 26, and 1 over 45 (Anna Maria Drumm) 1 HIST 1810Sugar Creek Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania Pg. 392(Note: Armstrong is an offshoot of Westmoreland County.) 1 HIST Laffer, Bartel males; 2 between 10 and 16, 1 over 45 (Bartel):females; 1 over 45 (Anna Maria Drumm) 1 HIST 1820 Sandyville Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio Pg 159 1 HIST Bartel Laffer males; 2 between 10 and 16, 2 between 16 and 26, 1 between 26 and 45, 1 over 45 (Bartel): females; 1 45 and over (Catherine Mosser) Bartol LAFFER was one of the first comers, and lived on the tract which was subsequently purchased from him by Conrad SNYDER. Laffer Christian 2 Jun. 1798 Bartel Laffer Sur. Daniel Dlingelsmith & Philip Steinmatz

Bartholomew married Anna Maria (Mary Anne) Drumm, daughter of Philip Drumm and Unknown, on 27 May 1769 in Moore Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. (Anna Maria (Mary Anne) Drumm was born in 1753 in Moore Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, died in 1814 in Perry Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania and was buried in Truby/Rumbaugh Cemetery, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.)

Bartholomew next married Catherine Mosser on 27 May 1769 in Moore Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.