History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, 1887



Shiffler Family - AARON GILBERT SHIFFLER Biography

One of the oldest and most respected citizens of Lycoming county is Aaron Gilbert Shiffler, of Williamsport. Mr. Shiffler is a member of the old Gilbert family which has long been resident in Lebanon, and is of good colonial and revolutionary stock.

Christian and Catherine (Gilbert) Shiffler were the parents of the following children: George, who was for a time a schoolmaster, then served as clerk in a general store, and died as the result of an accident; Henry, who married, had a family and resided in Dauphin county; Margaret, who married and had no children; Elizabeth, who married and was the mother of several children; Benjamin, who married, had a family and lived in Mansfield, Ohio; Mathias, who married, had a family and went west; Christian, who married, had a family and lived in Harrisburg; Catherine, who married arid was the mother of a number of children; John, who remained unmarried; Aaron Gilbert, mentioned at length hereinafter; one, name is unknown; Levi, the youngest child, lived in Lebanon, where he died. Christian Shiffler, the father of this large family, was the blacksmith of his native village in early days and owned a farm in later life.

Aaron Gilbert Shiffler, son of Christian and Catherine (Gilbert) Shiffler, in his boyhood attended the public schools and assisted in the labors of the farm. He also learned the trade of a carpenter and builder. Upon attaining his majority he went to Mansfield, Ohio, where he worked at his trade for a year, and then tiring of the place went to Milwaukee. He remained there for another year and then directed his course toward the Missouri river but, owing to the fact that he was a carpenter, was stopped at one of the country taverns to assist in the construction of a building. After completing this work he returned to Harrisburg, in the vicinity of which he had been born and reared, and from there removed to Middletown, where he stayed for a short time. In 1854 he went to Williamsport and was employed by a contractor in building the bridge across the Susquehanna. In 1855 he went to Northumberland and built the bridge there. The same year he purchased land in Williamsport for a residence on East Third street. He was the founder of the Keystone Bridge Company of Pittsburgh, and was the constructor of bridges in various parts of the country; at Washington, District of Columbia, across the Potomac, at St. Louis, across the Mississippi, at Philadelphia and many other places. In 1890 he retired from active labor. Previous to this event he had purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres just beyond the city limits, which he cultivates for purposes of general farming. He has a portion reserved for a dairy farm, having from fifteen to twenty-five cows. He has erected two barns and all other necessary buildings, in addition to a beautiful house equipped with all the modern improvements.

During the Civil war Mr. Shiffler was drafted, but was able to obtain a substitute, being compelled by the imperative demands of duty to remain at home. He belongs to the Masonic order, affiliating with Lodge No. 106, F. and A. M., and is the oldest Mason in the county, having joined in 1855. He is an Independent in politics and belongs to the Lutheran Church.

Mr. Shiffler has been thrice married. His first wife was Eliza Edkin, of Monroe county, by whom he was the father of three children, one of whom, Elizabeth, died in infancy, and a son who died young, and another, George, married and had three children. After the death of his wife Mr. Shiffler married her sister, Joanna Edkin, and when he was left a widower for the second time espoused Susan Weiss. By this thud marriage there were six children: Grace; Susan,; John; Mary, who is the wife of Albert Stetler; Allen; and Gilbert. Mr. Shiffler, who has attained to the advanced age of eighty-three, is enjoying in his retirement the fruits of a well spent life.


Source: Genealogical and Personal History of Lycoming County, John W. Jordan, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1906.










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