ANDREW F. KAUFMAN. A man who has been connected with many phases of the life of Madison County during a period extending over sixty years and who has always played his part well, is A. F. Kaufman, now in the insurance business at Summitville, and also serving in the office of justice of the peace. For years he has been connected with business and farming interests in this vicinity, and although of late years he has lived in town he is still near enough to his farm to keep an eye on its management.
A. F. Kaufman was born in Western Virginia, as it was known then, but now Mason County, West Virginia, on March 1, 1844. His parents were John and Martha (Hughes) Kaufman, and John Kaufman was originally from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, his family having been planters in the early part of the previous century, Leaving the Shenandoah Valley John Kaufman moved to Mason County, and in 1853, came on west and found a borne in Boone Township of Madison County. Much land in this County was still opened to settlement, and he entered one hundred and sixty acres and proceeded to develop it and increase his enterprise, until he was one of the most substantial farmers in the County. Eventually he became the owner of more than five hundred acres of the fine land in Boone Township, There were nine children in the family, two of whom are now living, Judson and A. F.
A. F. Kaufman when a small boy was a pupil in the schools of Mason County, West Virginia, and was about ten years old when the family came west and located in Madison County, He continued his education in the local schools of this County, and while growing up worked on the home farm, By the time be was sixteen years old he had qualified himself for work as teacher, and for several terms he followed that occupation, After that he lived on the old homestead until 1892, and was well known as a substantial farmer of the County, In 1892 he moved into Summitville, which town has since been his home and the center of his business affairs. For one year he was owner and conducted a sawmill in the town, After that be took up gas fitting and machine work, In 1896 Sir, Kaufman was elected justice of the peace and has been retained in that office ever since, He has the judicial temperament and for a time his election to the office has been a matter of course, having n0 opposition, since his services were deemed so satisfactory that he had the undivided support of the entire community, Along with the work of his justice office he engages in insurance and represents several of the best fire and life companies.
In 1864, on April 5, Mr. Kaufman married Mary E. Siler, They have been the parents of six children: Alva, married Miss Josephine Runyan, and their four children are Bessie, Gladys, Frank and Mary C. Lillie M., now deceased was the wife of Thomas E. Cartwright, a prominent resident of Madison County. John M., city clerk and connected with the bank of Summitville, married Bertha Thomas, and their children are Russell, Harry, Arthur and Iris, Charles A., who is with the glass factory at Dunkirk, Indiana, married Stella Ernest, and they have three children Ernest, Ruth and Clare, Harry C. married Mildred Harlan, William E. is deceased, Mr. Kaufman is affiliated with the Summitville Lodge No. 475, I. 0, 0, F., and with the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, Summitville Council No. 23. His church is the First Baptist of Summitville, He has always been a Democrat, and previous to his election as justice of the peace served as trustee of Boone Township for one term, was also assessor for that Township in 1888 and was a justice of the peace in Boone Township for four years.