Percival Coover Kauffman was born in Mechanicsburg, the son of Levi Kauffman and Elizabeth Coover Kauffman. Percy had been raised in Mechanicsburg and had two siblings, Walter Lee Kauffman and Edith Belle Kauffman. He had graduated from University of Pennsylvania, School of Law. After working some years in law, he had migrated to Washington State in the late 1870s along with his cousin, Ralph Kauffman.
When Bart was 3, the Kauffman’s moved to Tacoma and bought the Tower House on I Street.
Bart’s younger brother was born on June 21, 1895 when Bart was 4 years old.
On the 4th of July, 1896, the Kauffman’s celebrated the holiday at the Tower House. In the picture are Bart and his baby brother Walter along with their parents, Percy and Kate and their cousin, Ralph and Sybil and their daughter, Charlotte.
Bart was quite the student. He went to Lauderback Academy.
Bart would have graduated from High School around 1907 or so. I found a notebook that has his name at Whitworth College, a local Tacoma college and a date around 1906. They confirm that he was a student there for a year or so. The notation on Bart was from 1909. It implies that he may have been there in 1907.
He enrolls at University of Pennsylvania in 1908 and graduates with a BS in Economics in 1911. He is a member of Theta Delta Chi fraternity.
Like his younger brother, Bart is an avid tennis player, competing in high school, college and thereafter.
He returns to Tacoma and goes to work in 1912 for the Henry Pratt Company in the securities and bonds business. He is referenced in a letter from PCK to WLK in the fall of 1913 so he is clearly still in Tacoma. PCK, his father, dies in 1913. Other records show him living in Tacoma up until the beginning of WW1.
When the war broke out, Bart quickly joined and was commissioned as a Captain. In 1917 thru 1919, Bart served as a Quartermaster at Ft Snelling. He organized The Air Service Mechanics’ School, St Paul Minnesota capable of handling five thousand students over a three month period in fifteen different mechanics courses. Just before the signing of the Armistice, he directed the expansion of the facility to ten thousand students. He never saw action.
His widowed mother, Clara Barton, closed the house in Tacoma and joined him in Minneapolis.
He continued to serve as a reserve officer following the war and retired as a Lt Colonel in 1958.
His uncle, Walter Lee Kauffman, has resided in Youngstown since 1891, along with his sister Edith Belle and their mother, Ann Elizabeth Kauffman.
In 1920, Bart, his brother Walter and their widowed mother, Kate move to Youngstown. They live there for 10 years. Walter hopes to enlist Bart in some business opportunities but Bart returns to his field of banking.
The 1930 Census shows him as a salesman for Stocks and Bonds and living at 733 Byson Street, down the street from their uncle. He was then associated with the National City Bank.
Walter tries a number of jobs, first at Youngstown Sheet and Tube where their uncle works, then consulting, radio announcing and more. He starts a business building cast iron sinks which leads to an invention, the Instinctive Wringer. (See WLK Patents) This leads to an opportunity in Erie PA. In 1931, Walter, Bart and Kate move to Erie and set up house at 236 W 7th St. WLK works as a research engineer at Lovell.
In 1932, Bart works as a bookkeeper at the Erie Stove and Mfg Company. The great depression starts to spread around the country. Seeing the need, Bart joins Erie County as Welfare Director for the Erie County Institute. In 1935, he headed the Erie County Poor Board. In 1937, Walter marries Elizabeth Wright Somers. Kate passes away shortly thereafter. Walter and Betty move to 3845 State Street along with Bart.
In 1937, finds Bart headed the Erie County Institution District, and supervising the Erie County Infirmary and child welfare agencies. In 1945, he was shown as the Dir of Welfare and continued to live with his brother’s family at 431 Hilltop Road. Walter was now chief engineer at Lovell Mfg. Some time in the early 1950s, Bart moves down to the Erie Club. He continues to enjoy Sunday lunch at the Kauffman’s home and help guide the upbringing of their family.
In 1957, he became Secretary Erie County Institution. For 22 years he guided the welfare division through a $3M expansion plan. He also was an original member of the local Draft Board. He was also a member of the Masonic Club.
Bart turns 65 in 1955 but chooses not to retire because he remains committed to the many activities associated with the County Institution. On their way to church in the evening, Bart complains of shortness of breath and collapses. He is rushed to the hospital but nothing can be done. Bart dies in 1959 of a massive heart attack, He had confided in friends that he would retire once he had completed a $3M expansion at the infirmary. “Bart Kauffman was one of the fine servants of Erie County. He will be sorely missed” said Commissioner Fred Lamberton, one of many to praise Bart. Bart was active in Masonic organizations. He served as registrar for the Erie Conservatory. and was still active on the Draft Board.
Bart was a special person, dedicated to the needy, and to his family. He never married but often escorted Bea Davis, a life lone friend, to activities.
He died on October 12, 1959 in Erie, PA. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
