Ifft/Ift/Eft Family History Project

Biographies

ELIZABETH IFFT ADAM KNAUFF, farmer, post-office Balm, was born June 3, 1824, in Germany, to Nicholas and Anna (Vining) Knauff, natives of the same country, who came to America in 1831 Michael, the grandfather of Adam, started on the same vessel, but died on the way and was buried in the ocean. The parents settled first in the woods of Butler County. There the father died in 1855 and the mother in 1834. They had five children: Nicholas, Michael, John, Michael (2), Adam and Margaret, who married Michael Senkan. The parents were members of the German Lutheran Church. Adam Knauff was educated in the German schools of his native country and in Butler County. He learned the tailor's trade with his brother, Michael, and followed it for some time. He was married April 7, 1846, to Elizabeth Ifft, daughter of Peter and Anna (Ginter) Ifft, natives of the same country, and who came on the same vessel with the Knauff family. Her parents settled in Beaver County, Penn. They had six children: Peter, Jacob, John, Eliza, Barbara and Gertrude. Our subject has had ten children, seven of whom are living: Adam, married Susannah Uber, and has Anna, Maggie, Ida, Joseph, Clara, Rosa and Mary; John, married Helen Reeber and has Freddie, Harry, Mabel and Dennis; Herman, married America Harman, and has Willie and Lestie; Jacob, married Magdalena Blumenshine, and has Clarence and Hattie; Anna. married Martin Bortz, and has Walter and Freddie; Mary and Charles are at home. Mr. Knauff came to his present farm of 126 acres in 1866. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church of Balm, and he is a Democrat. History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania , (Chicago, Ill., 1888), Page 963.

GEORGE IFFT Sr. , was born in Germany, in 1815, and at the age of seventeen years, in 1832, he immigrated to Pennsylvania, and found employment with his uncle, Peter Ifft, in Beaver county. In 1838 he married Sophia Reeb, and located on his father-in-law's farm in Cranberry township, Butler county. In 1841 he purchased a farm in Jackson township, and in 1850 removed to the present homestead in Jackson township, near the limits of Evans City. He died there April 19, 1891. His wife was born in Germany, in 1822, and came to the United States with her father, Nicholas Reeb, in 1827, and settled in Cranberry township, Butler county the same year. Her father served in one of the great Napoleon's cavalry regiments for twelve years. He finally retired from his farm to Evans City, where he died in 1869, dying as he had lived, a member of the Lutheran church. To George and Sophia Ifft were born eight children, seven of whom are living: George, of Jackson township. Catherine, widow of Peter Peiffer, of Forward township; William, of Zelienople; Sarah, wife of George Lotz, of Forward township; Henry J., of Evans City; Nicholas, of the same place, and Lewis, of Washington, D. C. Politically, Mr. Ifft was a Democrat, and filled a number of the township offices. He gave liberally towards the erection of two Lutheran churches at Evans City, and was an elder in the church for many years. History of Butler County, Pennsylvania , (R.C. Brown & Co. Publishers, 1895) Vol II, Chapter LXXIII: Biographical Sketches, Page 1103.

GEORGE IFFT is the eldest son of George and Sophia Ifft, and was born in Jackson township, Butler county, August 26, 1889, where he was also reared and educated. At the age of twenty-two he located upon a rented farm, and subsequently entered the employ of Frazier & Metzgar, paper manufacturers of Pittsburg, with whom he remained fifteen years. In 1875 he purchased his present farm, erected buildings thereon, and otherwise improved it. He was married in 1861 to Miss Amelia Shilling, who died in 1890. She was the mother of the following children: Sophia, wife of Herman Drebert; Emma. wife of George Twentier; William; Jennie, wife of John Bandy; Sarah, wife of J. B. Brown; George; Alexander; Lydia; Herman, and John. In politics, Mr. Ifft is a Dem-ocrat, has filled the offices of supervisor and overseer of the poor for twelve years, and is one of the present school directors of the township. For twenty years he has been an elder in the Lutheran church. History of Butler County, Pennsylvania , (R.C. Brown & Co. Publishers, 1895) Vol II, Chapter LXXIII: Biographical Sketches, Page 1104.

GERTRUDE IFFT (BUQUO) Jacob F. Buquo, farmer, P.O. Barrisville, was born in Lancaster township, Butler county; Pa., June 11, 1842,.a son of Jacob and Margaret (Hohanadle) Buquo, natives of Germany. The father immigrated to America In 1831 and located In Pittsburgh where he followed blacksmithing for several years, after which he engaged In merchandising until 1841. He then removed to Butler county and purchased a. 160-acre farm, which he carried on until 1867; then sold out and moved to Houston county, Tenn., where he bought a tract of land, to which he added from time to time until he now owns 700 acres, besides several pieces-of town property. He had seven children, five now living Sarah, Jacob F., Henry, Amelia and George. During the rebellion Jacob F. (Buquo) entered the service as teamster, and on his discharge at the close of the war removed to Venango county, Pa. and engaged in the oil business for about two years, at the same time following contracting. He then formed a partership with Jacob Ifft in leasing land and sinking wells, for some two years more, and in 1868 embarked in the lumbering business in Tennessee. In this he continued three years, after which he moved to North Sewickley and purchased of Daniel Haynes his present farm of 108 acres. Mr. Buquo was married in this township to Gertrude, a daughter of Peter Ifft, and they had eight children, seven now living, Anna Margaret, Clara, William Henry, Ferdinand, Gertrude Amelia, Sadie Eleanora, and John Jacob Frederick Dillworth. Mr. Buquo was elected supervisor one term; in politics he is a Republican. He and his wife of the United Presbyterian church. History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania 1888, (Philadelphia and Chicago; A. Warner & Co. Publishers, 1888.), Page 755.

HENRY J. IFFT , merchant, Evans City, was born in Jackson township, Butler county, May 1, 1849, and is a son of George and Sophia Ifft. He was educated in the public schools, and in 1866 he went to Pittsburg and became a clerk in a grocery store. In March, 1868, he embarked in merchandising at Evans City, in partnership with his father, the firm name being George Ifft. The firm was composed of his father, himself, and his brothers, William, Nicholas and Lewis. In 1872 William retired from the firm, Nicholas in 1888, and Lewis in November, 1890, but William afterwards repurchased a quarter interest, which was recently purchased by the subject of this sketch, who is now the sole owner of the business. This is the oldest mercantile establishment in Evans City, anti carries on an extensive trade. In 1872 he married Agnes A., daughter or John Lyon, of Penn township, and sister of ex-mayor Robert W. Lyon, of Pittsburg. They are the parents of four children, as follows: Carrie Leona; Charles W. Mary Josephine, and Frances B. Mr. Ifft and family are connected with the United Presbyterian church of Evans City, in which organization he holds the office of trustee. In politics, he is a Democrat, has served in the borough council, has been a member of the school board for several years, and has been president of the board for one term. History of Butler County, Pennsylvania , (R.C. Brown & Co. Publishers, 1895) Vol II, Chapter LXXIII: Biographical Sketches, Page 1103-1104.

JACOB IFFT post-office Balm, was born August 8, 1838, in Beaver County, Penn. He was educated in that county, and was brought up at farm labor. He married Miss Mary Shalt, daughter of Michael Shalt, by whom he has had four children: Anna (deceased), Charles, Albert, and John. He came to Mercer County in 1869, and settled on his present farm, where he has been very successful. His wife is a member of the Lutheran Church, while he is a member of the United Presbyterian Church. He is one of the enterprising citizens of the county, and is taking a deep interest in the education of his children. History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania , (Chicago, Ill., 1888), Page 959.

JOHN N. IFFT son of George and Sophia (Reeb) Ifft, was born on July 28, 1853, in Jackson township, Butler county, and received a good public school education. Upon the death of his father he purchased the home-stead, and is operating a stock farm of 125 acres. He is engaged in the breeding of French Norman, English Shire and Cleveland Bay coach horses. Among his horses are the following registered stock: Barton Boy, Number 6,080, sired by Charleston, dam Brown Bonny, imported by Bell Brothers, of Wooster, Ohio; Reigning Monarch, Number 6,285, bred by John Robinson, of England, sired by Lincoln, Number 1,851, grandsire Bold Lincoln, Number 281, dam Rival, Number 2,885, imported by Bell Brothers; French Norman stallion, Hercula, Number 4,820, bred by J. B. Kale, of Normandy, France, sired by Brenus, Number 1,958, dam Ulina, Number 2,768, imported by Isaac Dreifoos, of Pittsburg ; also Noble Prince, Number 924, bred by William Rook, of Rooksborough, Kirby Moorside, Yorkshire, England, imported by the Cleveland Bay. Horse Company, of Paw Paw, Michigan, foaled in 1890, sired by Prince George, Number 285, dam Rose, Number 250. He is also engaged in the breeding of high grade cattle, and devotes much time to the growth and development of the stock interests in Pennsylvania. Mr. Ifft was married August 24, 1882 to Mary L., daughter of George Datt, of Richland township, Allegheny county. Three children are the fruits of this union, as, follows : Maggie, Mabel, and Omer. In politics, Mr. Ifft is a Democrat, and in religious faith, he is connected with the Lutheran church. History of Butler County, Pennsylvania , (R.C. Brown & Co. Publishers, 1895) Vol II, Chapter LXXIII: Biographical Sketches, Page 1104.