Percival Coover Kauffman
Percival Coover Kauffman was the son of Levi and Ann Elizabeth Coover Kauffman, born August 13, 1857 in Mechanicsburg, PA. He was the oldest of three children. His brother, Walter Lee Kauffman was born in 1860. His sister Edith Belle Kauffman was born in 1863.
They lived in Mechanicsburg, PA on 70 West Main Street. They were right next door to the Coover parents of Ann Elizabeth, on the left side at 74 West Main Street. There was a door between the two homes.
Ann Elizabeth’s father was John Coover, a prominent member of the community who owned substantial land around the town. Coover had five daughters. Ann was in the middle. Levi owned a drug store and hardware store and later started a local bank. His father, Andrew Kauffman also lived in town, having grown up as a Mennonite on a farm outside of Lancaster.
Ann Elizabeth Coover Kauffman Levi Kauffman
Percy was educated at Lauderbach Academy in Philadelphia and Cumberland Valley Institute in Mechanicsburg. He graduated from University of Pennsylvania, School of Law in 1879 with a L.L.B. He read law with Hon. Wayne McVeagh and George Tucker, Bispham, a leader of the Philadelphia Bar. In his early 20’s, Percy suffers an illness which caused him to return to Mechanicsburg and recover. He subsequently goes to Hazelton where he practiced law in Hazelton, PA from 1879 to 1885 and was local counsel of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company and a number of large coal companies. His father died of Typhoid Fever in 1882.
Katharine Barton was born on February 12, 1865 in Hazelton, PA, daughter of John Albert Barton and Elsie Tubbs. Her mother dies some four years after she is born. John marries again, this time to Alice Tubbs a distant cousin. Katharine has siblings from both mother’s, including younger sisters, Mable and Ruth Barton.
During the years that he works in Hazelton, Percy meets Katharine Barton.
In 1885, Percy and his cousin, Ralph Kauffman decide to go west. Ralph is the same age as Percy, a cousin. His father is a brother of Levi, grew up in Mechanicsburg, sharing the same grandfather, Andrew Isaac Kauffman who also lives in Mechanicsburg. Ralph’s father died in 1862 of a disease he contracted during his service in the Civil War. He has been working in the banking industry in Mechanicsburg. They decide to use their collective experience to enter the banking business in the Northwest. In 1886, Percy organizes a bank in Vancouver.
In 1887, Percy decides to return to Hazelton to marry Katharine and bring her west.
They settle in Vancouver, WA where Percy continues working in the banking industry with his cousin.
Their first son, Percival Barton Kauffman was born on May 23, 1891 in Vancouver.
Percy is offered a job in Tacoma with the Fidelity Bank. They move to Tacoma in 1891. They bought a home at 402 North I Street.
Their second son, Walter Lee Kauffman 2nd was born on June 21, 1895.
For the next 15 years, Percy is very busy in the banking industry.
His accomplishments included:
- Vice President of The Fidelity Trust Company
- Secretary of the Board of Commissioners for Washington at the World’s Fair at Chicago 1893
- An organizer and longtime Secretary of the Washington Bankers Association 1889-1910
- Treasurer of Home Building and Loan Association
- Member of Advisory Board of the Public Securities Company of Chicago
- A member of the Executive Committee of and ultimately Treasurer of the American Banker’s Association, and active in the Trust Company Section and the Standing Law Committee
- Member of The Committee of Fifteen that drafted the charter for the City of Tacoma
In 1910, Percy settles his debt with his mother.
The boys grow up. P Barton Kauffman graduates from Prep School at Lauderbach Academy in Philadelphia. He then attends University of Pennsylvania where he gains a degree in Finance in 1910. He returns to Tacoma. Walter attends DeKoven Hall, a military school in Lakewood and then finishes high school at Tacoma. He begins college in 1913 at the University of Washington in Mechanical Engineering.
Percy retires from banking in June of 1913 because of his health. Percy dies of Angina Pectoris on April 8, 1914 at age 56.
Percival Barton Kauffman is buried in Mechanicsburg at the Chestnut Hill Cemetery.
Walter struggles in college. Bart enters the finance industry in Tacoma. World War I begins. Walter enlists in the Army. Bart is commissioned in the Quartermaster Corp and is stationed in Minneapolis. Walter eventually gains a commission in the Coast Artillery. Katharine moves to Minneapolis to live with Bart. Walter is sent to France and sees some limited action.
When the war is over, Walter Lee Kauffman 2nd moves to Youngstown, where his uncle, Walter Lee Kauffman and his sister, Edith Belle Kauffman have lived. Walter moved to Middletown PA in 1881 and then to Youngstown in 1886 while working for Youngstown Sheet and Tube. Walter and Edith Belle are joined by their mother, Ann Elizabeth Kauffman whose husband Levi had died a few years previous. Walter Lee Kauffman 2nd’s brother, Bart and his mother, Kate soon join him.
Walter, Bart and Kate live in Youngstown where Walter has created several inventions for the clothes washing and drying industry. He is offered a job in Erie. They relocate there. Kate dies in 1938. She is buried with her husband.