Rev. John J. Stauffer served as minister of Simeon Reformed Church, Gratz, Dauphin County, from 1891 to 1902.
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John J. Stauffer was born at Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania on 11 July 1860. He was a son of Daniel Stauffer and Fannie [Long] Stauffer. His family came from Spain in the early 1800s. His father was a cabinet and coach maker, and a staunch prohibitionist, which had a strong influence on his sons. Rev. Stauffer graduated from Ursinus School of Theology in 1886, and was ordained by the Gettysburg Classis on 2 June 1886. He served in the East Berlin Charge (Pennsylvania) until 1889. His next pastorate was at St. Joseph’s Church, Weissport, Pennsylvania.
On 27 February 1891, Rev. Stauffer was accepted by Simeon Congregation. That year East Susquehanna Classis was formed, consisting of the Simeon Congregation in Gratz, Salem in Elizabethville, St. Peter’s (Hoffman’s) in Lykens Township, and Peace in Berrysburg.
In December 1892, the Simeon Congregation presented Rev. Stauffer with a special Christmas gift – a harness set worth about twenty-five dollars, given in appreciation for his service.
During the ministry of Rev. Stauffer, the Reformed Centennial Celebration was held on 12 August 1893 in the grove of Isaac Daniel in Lykens Township. A great crowd assembled for the event. A photograph was taken, which was previously posted on this blog. See:
Rev. Stauffer continued his ministry in Gratz until September 1901. During that time 132 baptisms were conducted and the Sunday School grew.
A newspaper article written in July 1901 mentioned that Rev. Stauffer submitted his resignation for the second time and it was reluctantly accepted. The article stated:
Rev. Stauffer had been enthusiastically engaged in the Prohibition Organization. He submitted his resignation, in order to give all of his time as pastor and energy to the overthrow of the legalized liquor traffic which is doing so much to curse humanity, and neutralize the work of the church.
He had helped to organize the Prohibition Picnic, which was held each year in Jacob Boyer’s Grove, west of Gratz. See:
From the Lykens Valley, Rev. Stauffer moved to Thornville, Pennsylvania. From 1903 to 1921, he pastored in Zion’s Charge in York County, Pennsylvania. Then he served as a supply pastor in Dillsburg until his sudden death on 5 September 1924 from cerebral apoplexy at his home in York. He is buried in Mr. Carmel Cemetery, Littlestown, Pennsylvania.
Rev. Stauffer married Ella Rebert of Littlestown and had three children with her: Rebert Ursinus Stauffer, who died at the age of 4; Emma Lulu Stauffer, who was was born in 1890; and Lottie May Stauffer, who was born about 1892. Two of Rev. Stauffer’s brothers were also ministers.
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A brief biography of Rev. Stauffer appeared in a Gratz history published in 1997.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.