Notes:
"History of Springettsbury Township, York County, PA."
Data source is the Kauffman-Coffman Families genealogy by Chrales Fahs Kauffman, 1940, p. 184
KAUFFMAN FAMILY
Joseph Kauffman was a highly esteemed resident of what was then Spring Garden Township. He was born and died there, at age 66, his entire life spent in farming. His parents were Joseph and Catherine (Huber) Kauffman, who probably came from Lancaster County. After his marriage, the elder Joseph settled on a 77-acre farm east of Stony Brook. He died there in middle age and was survived by his wife, who died at age 62. They had four children:
Mary, who married Dietrich Steiner of York County;
Lydia, who married George Bohn;
Catherine, who married Daniel Witmer;
and Joseph, who married Susanna Sprenkel (she was born in West Manchester Township).
Joseph (the younger) owned a 200-acre farm east of Stony Brook. His family consisted of 8 children:
Henry, who died in 1893; Joseph of Windsor Township;
Emanuel, deceased young; Isaac of Springettsbury Township;
John of York;
Israel;
Mary, who resided on the old farm;
Sarah, who married Michael Smyser of York;
Susan, wife of Eli Kendig of Philadelphia;
and Martina, who lived in Philadelphia.
The mother of these children lived to be 83 years of age. Joseph and Susanna were members of the Mennonite Church. Susanna's parents were Daniel and Annie (Mumma) Sprenkle, of West Manchester Township. Their children were:
Daniel, a farmer, who died at age 70;
Mary, who married Daniel Graybill;
Susanna, who married Joseph Kauffman;
and Nancy, wife of Jacob Balinger.
Daniel Sprenkle died at age 77 years. His wife died at age 53 years. They also were pious members of the Mennonite church.
Joseph Kauffman (son of Joseph Kauffman, married to Susanna Sprenkle) had eleven children. A child, Isaac, of Springettsbury Township, acquired the farm, which is now the Weist farm and was the location of Camp Security. Isaac's descendants were: Alan Kauffman; Charles Kauffman, and Joseph Kauffman. (Charles never married.) Alan's children were: Frances (Mrs. Nau); Grace (Mrs. Butler); and Clair Kauffman. Henry Kauffman was born in 1824 in Spring Garden Township where he remained at home until he married Charlotte Ruby,
daughter of John and Elizabeth (Becker) Ruby. He farmed a 120-acre farm, which his father bought for him. He remained there for 24 years.
From there he went to West Manchester Township. He bought a 112-acre limestone farm. He farmed until 1886, and he died August 1896. His wife died in February 1886. They are both buried in the Mennonite Cemetery in what is now Springettsbury Township. Their children were:
Ephraim, who married Isabella Snyder (he died April, 1989);
Anna Mary, who died at age eight years;
Milton Ruby (more information on Milton to follow);
Cassandra, who married Michael Miller;
Henry, who married Sarah Hoke and died June 21, 1893;
Elizabeth, who married Samuel Baker of Adams county;
Samuel, who married Lizzie Kohr,
Harriet, who lived with Susan Ruby of Hellam Township;
Sarah, who married Charles H. Stonner;
and Emma, who married Abraham Hursh.
Milton Ruby Kauffman was born February 9, 1855, and attended schools in Windsor and West Manchester Township. He married Anna Maria Fahs on February 6, 1881. She was the daughter of William Henry and Anna M.E. (Fishel) Fahs, and was born February 19, 1858. They lived in York County for twelve years where Milton was a skilled mechanic in the machine business, and then in Dover Township on
a 106-acre farm, two miles west of Dover Borough, near Strayer's Church. (Mrs. Kauffman became heir to this property.) Later they purchased another 106 acres, which adjoined their tract. Their children were:
(1) Chearles F., born November 7, 1884. He attended York Academy and Millersville State Normal School. He began teaching school in 1904, specializing in history and collecting historical relics;
(2) Susan Ellen, born October 18, 1886. She attended Linden Hall Seminary at Lititz and the State Normal School at Millersville, Lancaster County;
(3) Elmer Frederick, born September 11, 1893. He also loved history and collected relics; and
(4) Clara Elizabeth, born March 27, 1897.
Milton Ruby Kauffman was a Republican, an honest person, and a good businessman with fine executive ability. Mrs. Kauffman, a member of the Moravian Church, was of Swiss origin. Her grandfather was John Fahs, husband of Susan Elizabeth Ilgenfritz. Together they produced seven children:
William Henry;
Sarah;
Capt. John Fahs, a Civil War soldier of Company A, 87th P.V.I.;
Charles, a physician who married Elizabeth Dean of Virginia;
Susan E., who married Gibson Smith;
Mary, who married Martin Wiegel;
and Emma Rebecca, who married Stephen Morgan Smith (i.e. S. Morgan Smith).
Mrs. Milton Ruby Kauffman's father was William Henry Fahs. Educated in area common school, he remained at home until he married. Mrs. Kauffman's mother was Anna Maria Fishel, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Brillhart) Fishel of Paradise Township, York County. Her father died in his forty-ninth year. William and Anna Maria Fahs' children were: William Henry Fahs, who married Katie E. Bender; John Augusta, who died young; Ellen Elizabeth; and Anna Maria, the youngest child.