My Genealogy Hound

JULIUS B. KAUFMAN, a capitalist and representative citizen of New Cumberland, Cumberland county, was born Oct. 29, 1843, in Newberry township, York county.

Mr. Kaufman attended school up to the age of twelve years, in Newberry township, when his parents removed to Fairview township, and there he completed his education, at the age of eighteen years. He followed the life of the usual intelligent young farmer of his locality, teaching school during the winters, and other work through the summers, for two years. In 1864-65 he attended the Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and in the spring of 1865 came to New Cumberland and went into the office of the Musser & Coover Lumber Co., remaining with this firm and its successors for twenty-two years. In 1888 he engaged in the lumber business with Henry R. Musser. his former employer, locating at Steelton, and they operated in the lumber regions of Tioga county with great success. In 1891 he bought Mr. Musser’s interest and continued the business at Steelton until 1900, when he closed it out. Since that date Mr. Kaufman has devoted his time to looking after other interests, as he owns much real estate and is a stock-holder in the Susquehanna Woolen Mill.

On Feb. 4, 1869, Mr. Kaufman was married to Miss Susan R. Bigler, who was born in Lower Allen township. Her father, John Bigler, spent the greater part of his life in Cumberland county, where he was reared a farmer, and there married Sarah Wagoner. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bigler settled in Lower Allen township, Cumberland county, and reared the following children: Simon, who is a resident of Carlisle; Rebecca, Mrs. Samuel Weaver, of Shiremanstown; Jacob, of Mt. Pleasant, York county; Elizabeth, Mrs. Shedrick Stevens, of Shiremanstown; Caroline, widow of James McGrannagan, of Harrisburg; Susan R., who became Mrs. Kaufman; John, of Sanford, Fla.; Priscilla, who died unmarried; and Ira, who married a Miss Bowman and is a railroad employee at Lemoyne.

Mr. Bigler was an active Democrat, but not as a seeker for political honors. He was deeply interested in the cause of education and gave his children the advantages which he had never enjoyed in his youth. His death occurred in 1894, on his farm, when he was aged about ninety-one years. His wife died in 1889. Both were worthy members of the religious body known as the Church of God.

Mr. and Mrs. Kaufman had two children born to them, Charles and Edith, both of whom died in infancy. They adopted a child, but it died at the age of six years. Both Mr. Kaufman and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Church at New Cumberland, of which he is a trustee and treasurer, while Mrs. Kaufman is a leading spirit in the local and foreign missionary societies and the Epworth League. Politically Mr. Kaufman is identified with no particular party, for although he takes a deep interest in public matters he finds it more satisfactory to cast his vote independently, and he has never accepted any public office except a position on the school board. Fraternally he is a member of the Heptasophs.

Samuel Kaufman, the father of Julius B. Kaufman, was born in 1818 in Fairview township, York Co., Pa., and was a son of parents of very modest means. His education was the best afforded by the public schools of the locality, which he attended until he was old enough to work, after which he made his own way in the world. After his marriage he located on a farm in Fairview township, York county, and he died in Lewisberry, York county, in 1879. His widow survived until July, 1903, dying in New Cumberland. The children of Samuel Kaufman and his wife were as follows; Julius B. has already been mentioned. Lydia Ann died aged three years. John married Rebecca Keister, and is a merchant in New Cumberland. William married Sophia Haines, and died in 1901, in New Cumberland, leaving two children. Hattie married Lilborn Miller, of New Cumberland. Albert died at San Bernardino, Cal., where he was engaged in mining for the past eighteen years; he was unmarried. Levi married Sarah Weigle and died in 1889 in New Cumberland, and his wife later became Mrs. Irving Bates, of that city. Joseph L. married Letitia McCarthy and resides in Harrisburg. Samuel, who married Ella Davis, lives in New Cumberland. The members of this large family are all prominent and have made the name honorably known in several localities.

John Kaufman, the grandfather of Julius B., was probably also born in Fairview township, where he was a farmer all his life and died aged eighty-three years. The great-grandfather was Jacob Kaufman, who was born in Germany and came to America with his two brothers, settling first in Lancaster county, Pa., but Jacob located permanently in York county, and later one brother went to Franklin county. The early Kaufmans took part in the Revolutionary war, and they have always been honorable men and useful citizens. Julius B. Kaufman is a worthy descendant of such ancestors.