Pifer, Henry W.

Henry W. Pifer, one of the well-known members of the Butler bar, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born in McCalmont Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, June 10, 1886, the son of William Thomas and Mary A. (Weber) Pifer.

William Thomas Pifer was born in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. He received a good common school education and began life working in a sawmill. When he was twenty-one years of age he was a raft pilot on the Clarion and Allegheny Rivers. He was later engaged in farming and lumber business, manufacturing lumber and shingles. For many years he was a veterinarian. He is now living retired on a farm in Jefferson County. His wife, Mary A. (Weber) Pifer, was born in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. They were the parents of nine children, as follows : Anna, a nurse, resides in Butler; Catherine, a missionary worker, has served in Japan for over twenty years ; Amos, Butler, is foreman of the Standard Steel Car department ; Otto, an agriculturist, resides in Jefferson County; Amy, married H. 0. Carson, resides in Butler, where he is with the Builders Supply Company. He was city engineer of Butler for twelve years. Mrs. Carson was a nurse before her marriage; Vina, resides at home with her parents ; Henry W., the subject of this sketch ; Norman, an agriculturist and coal operator, resides in Jefferson County; and Frank A., an agriculturist, lives in Butler.

William Thomas Pifer was the son of George and Anna Pifer. George Pifer was a carpenter by occupation and served as justice of the peace in Jefferson County for many years. His father, John Pifer, came from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, to Jefferson County. He was born on the Atlantic Ocean when his parents were coming to this country from Germany. He fought in the War of 1812. His father emigrated to the United States from Germany in about 1770 and fought in the Revolutionary War.

Henry W. Pifer attended the public school in Jefferson County, Clarion and Indiana State Normal School, and was graduated from Franklin and Marshall Academy in the class of 1907. He then took the course in Franklin and Marshall College, and was graduated in the class of 1911 with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. He also studied for the profession of the law in Dickinson Law School. Mr. Pifer, after his studies, taught school. He was keen for athletics,

and was coach of the football team at Conway Hall for two years. At Franklin and Marshall College he played tackle and center on the football team. Corning to Butler, he studied law in the office of Levi Wise, and was admitted to the bar in 1917. He has since practiced his profession at Butler, under his own name, with offices in the Butler County National Bank Building.

During the World War Mr. Pifer enlisted in the U. S. Army Ordnance Department, March 26, 1918, and was sent to Columbus Barracks. He was transferred to State College, Pennsylvania, then to Camp Hancock, Georgia, and later to the Officers' Training Camp at Camp Gordon, Georgia. He was discharged November 28, 1918. Mr. Pifer was active in "four-minute" speaking in the various war bond drives.

In religion Mr. Pifer is a member of the Reformed Church, and in politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of American Legion Post No. 117, Lieut. Frederick a Blankenship ; Butler County Bar Association; Butler Lodge No. 772, F. and A. M. ; Butler Chapter No. 273, R. A. M. His fraternal association is with the Phi Kappa Sigma, of which he is past president. He is also a member of Isaac Walton League of America, and of the Central Board of Officials of Football for the State of Pennsylvania.

History of Butler County, Pa, 1927