Rev. Ephraim Kieffer served as minister of Simeon Reformed Church, Gratz, Dauphin County, from 1857 to 1865 [during the Civil War].
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Ephraim Kieffer was born 17 January 1812, near Mercersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. In childhood, he lived in Virginia, where his mother died when he was ten years old.
In about 1830, when eighteen years old, Ephraim Kieffer moved to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, where he spent the next two years as a clerk in a store. It was during those years that he received religious instruction and was confirmed on 28 May 1831. Soon after he “resolved to dedicate himself more fully to Christ,” and in October 1831 he moved to York and prepared himself for responsible work in the ministry. His first charge, which consisted of five congregations, was in November 1836, in Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania. In 1840 he moved to Union County, and remained there for almost seventeen years.
Rev. Kieffer came to the Lykens Valley Charge on 1 September 1857. During his pastorate of six and one-half years in the charge, he had eight congregations extending over a wide section of the county. It was too much for him, causing his health to be impaired. He was admonished to withdraw from this field and take a much needed rest. He resigned 1 Apr 1864 and returned to his former home in Mifflinburg, where he spent a few years in retirement. About two years later in 1866, he felt able to return to the ministry and accepted a call to Sulphur Springs and other congregations near Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Poor health returned, forcing him to retire in 1870. He died 11 May 1871.
Simeon Reformed Church records indicate that Rev. Kieffer baptized twenty-nine infants and had one hundred seventeen candidates for confirmation during his service in the Gratz church. According to the history of the East Susquehanna Classis, published in 1941, Rev. Kieffer was the last minister in this charge to serve the Stone Valley Church, as Rev. Samuel Dubendorf, Rev. James Reilly, Rev. Isaac Gerhart, and Rev. John Leis has before him.
In person, Rev. Kieffer was wall, slender and erect, with slightly curled dark hair. He was of a mild and pleasing aspect, courteous, genial and warm hearted. He was twice married. In 1837, he married Eleanor Spangler of York, Pennsylvania. To this marriage, six children were born (four sons and two daughters) Three of the sons became ministers. In 1848, after Eleanor died, he married Margaret M. Kinn of Union County, There were nine children born to the second marriage (six daughters and three sons).
A biographical sketch of Rev. Kieffer can be found in Fathers of the Reformed Church, available as a free download from the Internet Archive.
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A brief biography of Rev. Kieffer appeared in a Gratz history published in 1997.
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