OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

379

John J. Shaffer, April 28, 1881, married Maggie Ragen, a daughter of Jackson Ragen. The father of Mrs. Shaffer was born and has always lived in Jackson township, Cambria county, where he follows the occupation of a farmer. He is a loyal democrat and a leading member of the United Evangelical church.     He was married to Nancy Miller, who is yet living, and has had nine children: Michael D., a farmer residing in Cambria county; Sarah J., who died at the age of twenty-six years; Maria, wife of George Empfield, who resides at Belsom, Cambria county; Agnes, married first to Philip Ruffner, and the second time to John Makin, who now resides in Cambria county, near the Indiana county line; Samuel, a farmer of Jackson township; Ella, wife of G. W. Dishing, of Jackson township; Adaline, married to David Slevens, a farmer of Jackson township; Herman, who is unmarried and lives on the old homestead, and the wife of Mr. Shaffer.     The family of our subject consists of three daughters: Elsie B., Eva May and Fannie Estella.     He was educated, to a limited extent, in the common schools of Bedford county, receiving, however, most of his education through selfdirected efforts and diligent study. At eighteen he learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed for two years, and then he worked at the shuck-making business for a time. In 1872 he took a position as clerk in Conemaugh for two years, when he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad for eighteen months. In discharging the duties of a brakeman on this road he met with an accident which decided him to relinquish the business, although solicited by the company to remain with them. For one year there-

after he clerked. Then eight months were spent in the Butler county oil-fields running an engine. He returned after this to east Conemaugh borough, and was engaged, until two years after the flood, in the contracting and lumber business combined. He then went into the mercantile business in Conemaugh, and since has been engaged in pursuit of the carpenter trade.     He is a staunch republican. For fifteen years he has been justice of the peace of his borough, and for four years burgess.     He has been secretary of the Conemaugh Building and Loan association for one and a half years, has been a member of the board of directors for five years, and is now treasurer of the Washington National Building and Loan association.     He is a member of the junior Order United American Mechanics, formerly belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the order of the Golden Eagle, and is an active and influential member of the United Brethren church. In all his life and work Mr. Shaffer has shown an interest in everything that pertains to the well-being of his fellow-man. ELMER C. BROWN, president of the, Delta Coal Mining company, vice-president of the Patton Clay Manufacturing company, and general superintendent of the Chest Creek Land and Improvement company, is a son of Hon. Samuel T. and Sarah J. (Leater) Brown, and was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, June 10, 1860. The Browns are of that wonderful Scotch-Irish race that has become an important and distinguished element of population in every land where it has settled to any extent. The Browns left their ancestral home in Scotland, and settled in Ireland. They came into possession of a

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