Isaiah T. Buffington, senior member of the firm of Buffington and Enders, proprietors of the Elizabethville Planing Mill and Furniture Factory, and also funeral directors, was born in Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 20 July 1850. He is a son of Josiah Buffington and Susan [Yeager] Buffington.
Solomon Buffington, grandfather of Isaiah T. Buffington, was born in Dauphin County, and was a farmer and shoemaker, doing business in this and other counties.
Josiah Buffington, father of Isaiah T. Buffington, was born in Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County, 16 January 1826. He was a prominent resident of Elizabethtown for forty years, during which he was engaged in contracting, cabinet making, and undertaking. He was village postmaster fr over twenty years. He is now seventy-one years old, and has resided in Elizabethtown since his retirement in 1892. His wife is also living. Their children are:
Isaiah T. Buffington;
John W. Buffington, residing in Elizabethville;
Mary Buffington, wife of Andrew Chubb, Elizabethville;
Henrietta Buffington, wife of Henry Bickel, near Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania;
Benjamin Franklin Buffington, Elizabethville;
Kate Buffington, residing at home;
Harry Buffington, resident of Shamokin;
Lizzie Buffington, wife of Charles B. Potter, Elizabethville;
Emma Buffington; and
Alvah Buffington, who died young.
Isaiah T. Buffington, when about three years old, was brought by his parents to Mifflin Township, where they remained a few years. They then removed to Washington Township, where Isaiah was educated. His father gave him the choice between working on the farm and going to college. He chose farm work and was brought up a farmer boy. At ten years of age he went to work on neighboring farms, and was engaged a farm hand for five years. He then began to learn cabinet making, carpentry and house building, and followed those branches of business with his father until he was twenty-two. All this time he had worked for his board and clothing. For the next four years his wages were $1.75 or $1 per day. in 1876 Mr. Buffington began business for himself, in Elizabethville, as cabinet maker, undertaker and contractor, and conducted business alone until 1888. In the beginning he worked in a small room, ten by sixteen feet, and made additions as business demanded. He was the architect and builder of many of the most imposing residences of Elizabethville. In 1888 he took in C. W. Enders as a partner and formed the firm of Buffington and Enders, under which name the business has ever since been carried on. They manufacture flooring, siding, moulding, sash, doors, shutters, and blinds; also hard and soft wood chamber suites, parlor suites, lounges, tables and chairs.
Isaiah T. Buffington was married, at Elizabethville, 1 September 1872 to Miss Mary Kemmerer, a native of Upper Paxton Township and a resident of Washington Township. Their children are:
William E. Buffington, at home, graduate of a commercial college;
Edward F. Buffington, died an infant;
Nellie Pearl Bufington;
Ray K. Buffington;
George C. Buffington; and
Lewis Buffington, all at home; and
Annie Buffington, died aged five year.
Mr. Buffington’s political principles are Republican. He has served on the school board of the township for one term, and was elected burgess for the first year of the borough. Formerly he was a member of P.O. S. of A. and of the I.O.O.F. Mr. Buffington is president of the Enterprise Hosiery Company, and also a director of the Cemetery Association. He belongs to the United Brethren church and is a trustee. Hew has acted as Sunday-school superintendent for eight years. He is a member of the Young People’s Christian Union (United Brethren) Church Society. Mr. Buffington has made his own way in the world. He began with only strong hands, a clear head and a good heart. His career is successful as it is honorable, and his example is an inspiration to all boys who have only themselves to depend upon, for it shows that industry, frugality, wisdom and virtue are sure to win.
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The above information was modified/edited from Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1896 by J. M. Runk and Company of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. A free download is available from the Internet Archive.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.