Children
Fannie Kiefer
Charles Raymond Kiefer
2nd Dagmar Eugenie Fehr
Frances Helen Kiefer
Sibling(s):
Sarah
J. Kiefer
Susan Kiefer
John R. Kiefer
Emma Kiefer
Marietta Kiefer
J. Morris Kiefer
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Notes:
Easton Express, November 16, 1951, page 1
J. M. Kiefer, 90, Hardware Store Founder, Dies
Retired Merchant Was Active In community Affairs Many Years
J. Morris Kiefer, 90, founder of the J.M. Kiefer and Son hardware
and sporting goods firm in Easton, died this morning at 1:45
o'clock at Easton Hospital where he had been a patient since
Sunday. He had been ill only a short time.
Mr. Kiefer, a well-known merchant whose career in the business
world in Easton spanned a period of more than 70 years, established
his hardware store on April 1, 1906, at that time the store
was at 456 Northampton Street.
He and his son, C. Raymond Kiefer, a partner in the firm,
operated the store a that address until 1918 when they purchased
the property at 460 Northampton Street, the present site of
the business. The elder Mr. Kiefer retired in May, 1948.
An Easton resident nearly all his life, Mr. Kiefer made his
home for many years at 103 Burke street. For the last three
and a half years he ad resided at the West End nursing home,
Allentown.
Before launching on his career as a salesman and merchant,
he was active in civic affairs in this city, serving one term
on the old Common Council from April 1892 to April, 1895 as
a democratic Councilman from the Seventh ward. he also served
one term on the Easton Schoolboard from February, 1898 until
February, 1902.
Born Aug 24, 1861 in Lower Mt. Bethel Township, he was a on
of the late Charles and Rachel Roseberry Kiefer. After attending
the school on Three church Hill, near Martins Creek, he came
to Easton and took a job as a salesman for a shirt company.
He was 16 at the time. A short time later he went with the
Bush and Bull department store here, and later became a floor
walker and a departmental manager for the firm. he was employed
there for nearly 25 years when he left to establish his hardware
business.
Mr. Keifer was a member of Frist Pesbyterian church, and in
former years served as an elder of the church. He was a member
of Lehicton Lodge 244, I. O. O. F., Easton, and the Star Encampment
of the Odd Fellows. He formerly was a member of the Easton
Kiwanis club.
While serving on the Common Council, he played an important
role in the move to pave Washington street, and he also was
one of the active workers behind the campaign to raise funds
for the construction of the Easton Library building.
Twice married, Mr. Kiefer's first wife, the former Elizabeth
Kern died about 58 years ago. His second wife, Dagmar Fehr
Kiefer, died about 20 years ago. In addition to his son, Dr.
C. Raymond Kiefer, of Chattanooga, Tenn., and three great-grandchildren. |
