John Frederick Zeifang

b. 13 May 1881, d. 14 July 1967
  • John Frederick Zeifang was born on 13 May 1881 in New York.
  • He was baptized/christened on 31 July 1881 at Zion Lutheran Church in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, sponsored by Julianna Seitz and Melchior Kilberer.
  • Marcus Zeifang and Ursula Stähle appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at 737 Pierce Avenue. Other members of the household included John Frederick Zeifang, Melchior Zeifang.
  • He was a laborer, according to the 1900 census.
  • He married Ida Steve on 20 June 1906 in Niagara Falls, New York, at Zion Lutheran Church. Witnesses were Henry steve and Florence Evans.
  • The following appeared on 17 March 1913 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: After an illness of several months, Marcus Zeifang, one of the city's oldest and most respected German residents, passed away at his home, No. 737 Pierce avenue, at 10 o'clock this morning, at the advanced age of 79 years. Death was due to pneumonia and a complication of diseases from which he had been a long and patient sufferer.
         Born in Wurtemburg, Germany, August 27, 1833, Mr. Zeifang came to this country with his wife, June 12, 1860, and settled in the then village of Suspension Bridge. For more than 30 years he was a flagman at the Cleveland avenue crossing of the Erie, being retired about two years ago.
         In 1864, he became an Odd Fellow, affiliating with Niagra Falls Lodge No. 81, I. O. O. F., and was next to the oldest member of the order, in Niagara Falls, the oldest being Matthew Fink. He was also a devout member of the Zion Lutheran church.
         Mr. and Mrs. Zeifang had been married about a year when they arrived in this country, and throughout the fifty-four years of their wedded life, had never been separated longer than twenty-four house. Mrs. Zeifang has been ill for the past several weeks, and her death is now almost momentarily expected.
         Seven children, three sons and four daughters survive, besides the widow. They are Bernard, Fred and Patrolman Melchior Zeifang, Mrts. John Mumford and Mrs. Rose Seitz, of this city, and Mrs. Julia Stevens, wife of the aviator, now in Porto Rico, and Mrs. Charles J. Evans, of Buffalo. A brother, Bernard Zeifang, an attache of the German government, also survives. Arrangements for the funeral have not been completed.
  • The following appeared on 2 November 1920 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: Mrs. Leo Stevens of Omaha, Neb., and Mrs. Rose Seitz of the Park House, First street, have gone to Toledo, O., where they will visit their brother for two weeks.
  • The following appeared on 29 June 1931 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: Mr. and Mrs. Ben Zeifang, Mrs. Rose Franklin and Miss Julia Stevens, of this city, have returned from Fremont, Ohio, where on Sunday, June 2, they attended the silver wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. J. Fred Zeifang, formerly of this city.
         Dinner was served at the Old Elm tea room, which was attractively decorated with flowers and candles of the pink and white combination. Covers were laid for twenty-five.
         Mr. and Mrs. Zeifang were married at Niagara Falls twenty-five years ago. The bride before her marriage was Miss Ida Steve.
         Mr. Zeifang owns and conducts the Zeifang machine shop on Napoleon street, Fremont, Ohio.
         Mr. and Mrs. Zeifang were the recipients of many beautiful pieces of silver.
  • The following appeared on 15 March 1950 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: [Died] Suddenly, in St. Mary's hospital, March 13, 1950, Ben Zeifang, husband of Catherine; father of Mrs. Ursula Ruhlman and Bernard J. Zeifang; brother of Melchior Zeifang, Mrs. Rose Franklin, Mrs. Julia Stevens, all of this city, and Fred J. Zeifang, Freemont, Ohio. Also survived by four grandchildren. Funeral from his late residence, 1109 South avenue, Friday at 2:30 p.m.
  • The following appeared on 7 May 1964 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: Melchior (Mike) Zeifang, 91, member of a pioneer family in Niagara Falls, died Wednesday (May 6, 1964) in Thomasville, Ga.
         Mr. Zeifang, a native of Niagara Falls, lived in this city all his life before moving to Georgia four years ago.
         He served as a patrolman in the Niagara Falls Police Department for 17 years and had operated the Zeifang Machine Shop in this city for 30 years.
         He was one of the city's last Spanish American War veterans and one of the few surviving members of the Exempt Firemen. From 1928 to 1932 he was a member of the Niagara County Board of Supervisors. He also was a member of the I.O.O.F. for more than 50 years.
         Surviving are his wife, Emma V. Zeifang, Thomasville; a son, Melville Zeifang, and a sister, Mrs. Julia Stevens, both of this city; a brother, Frederick Zeifang, Fremont, Ohio, and four grandchildren.
         Funeral services and burial were held today in Thomasville.
  • The following appeared on 23 June 1964 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: (Card of Thanks) The family of the late Julia Zeifang Stevens wish to express their sincere thanks and appreciation to their many friends and relatives, sisters, doctors, nurses and aides of Mt. St. Mary's Hospital, employees of the City Hall, souvenir store friends, for all their kindness and sympathy shown, beautiful floral arrangements, spiritual bouquets and sympathy cards. The loss of a dear sister and aunt. Signed: J. Fred Zeifang, Nephews and Nieces.
  • John Frederick Zeifang died on 14 July 1967 at age 86 in Green Springs, Sandusky County, Ohio.
  • Last Edited: 30 Nov 2014

Family: Ida Steve b. 4 December 1885, d. 27 January 1988