Abraham Stouffer

Abraham Stouffer was born January 8, 1781, near Chambersburg, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to Abraham Stauffer (1747–1809) and Barbara Hershey (1750–1795). Abraham was a descendant of Christian Stauffer (1579–1671), a fugitive "obstinate" Anabaptist (Mennonite) preacher in Switzerland.Cf. I.D. Landis and Wilmer D. Swope, "[http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/S7278ME.html Stauffer Family (1959)]," Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online, accessed 10 June 2011. See also Stouffer & Lee, [http://eco.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.74566/9?r=0&s=1 The Genealogy and Historical Sketch of the Stouffer Family] (Toronto: Soole Print Co., 1918).

In October 1804, Abraham Stouffer emigrated to Upper Canada from Pennsylvania with his wife's family, the Reesors.{{cite book | title=Early life in Upper Canada | url=https://archive.org/details/earlylifeinupper0000guil | url-access=registration | first=Edwin Clarence | last=Guillet | publisher=University of Toronto Press | year=1963 | isbn=9780802012777 }} Their entourage of five Conestoga wagons reached Markham Township after a six-week journey. The information on Stouffer's Affirmation of Allegiance states: "farmer, hazel eyes, brown hair, six feet one inch high, born in Pennsylvania, 28 years old, a Menonist."[http://www.pada.ca/books/details/?id=2099 Reesor Mill House] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706205613/http://www.pada.ca/books/details/?id=2099 |date=2011-07-06 }}, Pickering Township Historical Society, 2005. Abraham and his wife Elizabeth initially settled north of Cedar Grove on the Little Rouge River, but soon acquired 400 acres of land on the Markham-Whitchurch Township Line. In 1805, Stouffer purchased Lots 1 and 2, Concession 9, on the Whitchurch side of the township line, and soon after he acquired lot 35 on the Markham side.[http://www.pada.ca/books/page/?pageid=16898 Tweedsmuir History - Altona Women's Institute] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928101332/http://www.pada.ca/books/page/?pageid=16898 |date=September 28, 2011 }}, Bk. 2, p. 24; Jean Barkey, [https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/CS.aspx?VP3=DamView&VBID=2R3BXZA66YCE6&SMLS=1&RW=1600&RH=757 Whitchurch Township] (Toronto: Stoddart, 1993), p. 95; also I. Champion, ed., [https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/CS.aspx?VP3=DamView&VBID=2R3BXZA62OX_K&PN=1&WS=SearchResults Markham 1793-1900] (Markham, ON: Markham Historical Society), p. 55. Stouffer, who had learned milling from his father, built a saw and a grist mills on Duffin's Creek (near what is today Mill and Main Streets), and a village soon developed around the mills. The settlement became known as "Stoufferville".

Abraham Stouffer was a leading figure in the larger community. In 1825, he became a director of the Farmers' Storehouse Company, an enterprise of millers formed to counter the power of the York merchants.{{cite book | title=Union is strength: W.L. Mackenzie, the Children of Peace and the emergence of joint stock democracy in Upper Canada | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ORPru8jGo6IC&pg=PA107 | first=Albert | last=Schrauwers | publisher=University of Toronto Press | year=2009 | isbn=978-0-8020-9927-3 | page=107 }} In 1832, when a post office was established, the name of the village was shortened from "Stoufferville" to Stouffville.J. Barkey, ed., [https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/CS.aspx?VP3=DamView&VBID=2R3BXZA66HTZ3&PN=1&WS=SearchResults Stouffville, 1877-1977], p. 6; also Champion, ed., [https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/CS.aspx?VP3=DamView&VBID=2R3BXZA62OX_K&PN=1&WS=SearchResults Markham, 1793-1900], pp. 289f.; also Ontario Historical Plaque, [http://www.ontarioplaques.com/Plaques_VWZ/Plaque_York25.html The Founding of Stouffville] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325212617/http://www.ontarioplaques.com/Plaques_VWZ/Plaque_York25.html |date=2012-03-25 }}. Stouffer was also one of the first trustees of the Altona Mennonite Meeting House.Register Office of the United Counties of York, Ontario, Peel, [http://www.pada.ca/books/page/?id=819&view=image&keywords=abraham+stouffer&page=7 Indenture of Bargain and Sale from Christian Stouffer to Trustees for Menonist Society] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928101655/http://www.pada.ca/books/page/?id=819&view=image&keywords=abraham+stouffer&page=7 |date=September 28, 2011 }}, April 20, 1852, p. 7; also Joseph Nighswander, "[http://www.pada.ca/books/page/?id=816&view=image&page=7 A Brief History of Altona] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928100652/http://www.pada.ca/books/page/?id=816&view=image&page=7 |date=September 28, 2011 }} Canadian-German Folklore: More Pioneer Hamlets of York, 9 (1985), 21-28; 23; also Lillian Gausline, [http://www.pada.ca/books/page/?pageid=3572&keywords=abraham+stouffer From Paths to Planes: A Story of the Claremont Area] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928101911/http://www.pada.ca/books/page/?pageid=3572&keywords=abraham+stouffer |date=September 28, 2011 }} (1974), 97.

Abraham Stouffer died October 27, 1851, and is buried at the Altona Mennonite Meeting House

Today, the coat of arms of the Town of Whitchurch–Stouffville includes a star and chalice which come from the Stouffer family (Swiss) coat of arms.Cf. Jean Barkey, et al., [https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/CS.aspx?VP3=DamView&VBID=2R3BXZA66YCE6&SMLS=1&RW=1600&RH=757&FR_=1&W=1600&H=700 Whitchurch Township], p. 99. See also: [http://ontarioplaques.com/Plaques_VWZ/Plaque_York25.html Ontario Plaques - Founding of Stouffville] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325212617/http://www.ontarioplaques.com/Plaques_VWZ/Plaque_York25.html |date=2012-03-25 }}.

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Category:1781 births

Category:1851 deaths

Category:American emigrants to pre-Confederation Ontario

Category:Whitchurch-Stouffville

Category:Canadian Mennonites

Category:Canadian farmers

Category:Canadian people of Swiss descent

Category:People from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Category:Immigrants to Upper Canada