Mallzena
(Younkin) Shaffer
(1884-1961)
Mallzena
(Younkin) Shaffer was born on Oct. 1, 1884 in Rockwood, Somerset County, PA,
the daughter of Daniel M. and Elmira (Zimmerman)
Younkin.
On June 22, 1902, Mallzena married Harry H. Shaffer (1881-1947), a resident of Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County, PA, and the son of David and Annie Shaffer. Mallzena was only 17 years old at the time of marriage, but both her parents signed their consent. The ceremony was performed by Rev. J.T. Balliet at Rockwood.
The Shaffers had at least four known children. Tragically, three of them died young, within a span of five years, from 1907 to 1912 – David H. (1907, age three months), Clarence (1910, age five months) and Mary (1912, age one day). All three of the Shaffer infants are buried together at the Rockwood IOOF Cemetery.
Graves of the Shaffer infants, l-r: David, Clarence, Mary
The only known child to survive into adulthood was Daniel C. Shaffer.
Little is known of the Shaffers' lives. Harry was a railroad employee. He worked as a conductor on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and he retired from the company after many years of service. He also was a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Conductors, an early union organization.
In 1906,
the Shaffers are known to have resided in
nearby Connellsville, Fayette County, where Harry may have been stationed on the
B&O. That year, the City of Connellsville celebrated its centennial
anniversary. To enjoy the festivities, Mallzena's cousin, Missouri
(Younkin) Wingerd, came from Rockwood for a visit, as reported by the Connellsville
Daily Courier. Mallzena and Missouri no doubt would have gone to see the
Centennial Arch, seen at right, located at the corner
of Crawford Avenue and Pittsburgh Street. The famed arch was constructed
completely of coal and coke, and was donated by industrial magnate Henry Clay
Frick. Frick was the
owner of the H.C. Frick Coke Co., which at that time had been merged into United
States Steel. The initials of Frick's company -- "H.C.F.C.Co." --
were lighted at the very top, and outlined in red.
In 1921, the Shaffers moved to the town of Somerset, Somerset County, where they lived the rest of their lives. Mallzena was "a charter member of the Christian and Missionary Alliance church of Somerset," said the Somerset Daily American. They lived on West Church Street.
Harry
suffered “for some time” from heart disease, and died of a sudden heart
attack at age 66 on Sept. 24, 1947.
Mallzena outlived Harry by 14 years.
She passed away in Somerset Community Hospital on June 30, 1961 and was buried beside her husband in Rockwood IOOF Cemetery, near her infant children.
Son Daniel (1904-1973) married Florentine C. (1905-1985). They are believed to have had a daughter, Evelyn R. Shaffer (1924-1984). They are buried together at the Rockwood IOOF Cemetery.
Copyright © 2002-2006 Mark A. Miner