WILLIAM HAFFNER – OBITUARY in Florence Siefert Scrapbook

This post was contributed to the Crawford County Chapter of OGS by Kristina Stearley as part of the Florence Siefert Scrapbook in 2010.

The scrapbook is compiled from undated, unidentified newspaper clippings involving events in the lives of Crawford County citizens living in or having connections to New Washington, Tiro, Shelby, Sulphur Springs, Chatfield, Bucyrus, Ashland, Mansfield, and other areas. Only minimal spelling or punctuation corrections were made. Unreadable areas are shown by underlines, dots &/or question marks. This collection has been scanned, “optical character recognized” (OCR’d), proofed, then coded for HTML by volunteers of the Crawford County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. Since the copies are not of the best quality errors may have been made. Please contact us if you find corrections needing to be made or can verify any missing dates which could be added.

END OF EARTH

Comes suddenly to William Haffner Saturday Night.

The friends of William Haffner, anxiously awaiting word from Columbus, hoping against hope and fearing the worst, found their gloomy forebodings realized Sunday, when a message came announcing his death, which occurred at the Protestant hospital in Columbus Saturday night at ten o’clock. The remains were brought to Bucyrus Monday morning, and the funeral was held from his late residence on West Warren street Tuesday afternoon at two o’clock, Rev. J. H Culler conducting services. Interment in Oakwood cemetery.
Wm. Haffner was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, in July, 1845, being at the time of his death in his fifty-third year. He grew to manhood in his native place, and learned the paper hanging and harness making trade, the two going together in the old country. In 1866 he emigrated to America, settling in Bucyrus, and for four years was employed by J. G. Birk. When the old building which is now the Park House was remodeled as a hotel, Mr. Haffner and C. F. Birk did the entire work of hanging the paper. In 1870 Mr. Haffner removed to Sulphur Springs, where he remained until 1889. In that year he returned to Bucyrus, and has since been engaged in the harness and saddlery business in this city, his energy, business ability and economy enabling him to acquire a competence.
He was married to Miss Rosa Shafer, of Chatfield township, and nine children, six sons and three daughters, were born to them. The widow and all the children are still living, Mr. Haffner’s death making the first break in the family circle.
For the past year Mr. Haffner has been in failing health, and for six months his condition has caused great anxiety, though he managed most of the time to keep about. His disease was diagnosed as cancer of the stomach, and be finally became convinced that his only hope of recovery lay in an operation. He accordingly went to the Protestant hospital at Columbus, where the operation known as laparotomy was performed on Thursday. The diagnosis was fully confirmed. A portion of the cancerous growth was removed, the wound cleansed and closed, and the patient at first rallied nicely. When the reaction set in he sank rapidly and soon responded to the call from mortal life.
He was a Lutheran in his religious views, and was also a prominent member of LaSalle lodge, I.O.O.F., and at the time of his death held the position of district deputy, though he had tendered his resignation on account of ill health.
William Haffner was one of nature’s gentlemen. He was thoroughly upright and honest, kindhearted, fair and just in his dealings, affectionate and indulgent in his home relations, and a public spirited citizen. As a business man and neighbor he commanded confidence, and he will be sorely missed by family, relatives and friends, while his memory will be fondly cherished by those who knew and loved him.