Mary Ellen (Kemp) Lauffer aka: Ella Marie or Ellie; was the 5th child born to Jeremiah (a shoe cobbler) and Susanna (Kuhns) Kemp.
She married Henry B. Lauffer Oct. 15, 1882 in Pleasant Unity, PA.
Mother of John McCreary, Anna May, Harvey Franklin, Alice Bethelda and William Fisher Lauffer.
While living in the lower house on Joe Steele's 2-house farm in Pleasant Unity, PA (about 17 years) Ella Marie and her children prepared and served (homemade breads, pies, jellies and/or chicken, beef and pork that was raised on the farm) breakfast, lunch and/or supper to travelers employed as carpenters, threshers, farmhands, railroaders, peddlers, etc. The old farmhouse had 2 kitchens and restaurants were not readily available out on the open countryside. Oftentimes, there were as many as 20 men seated in the 2 kitchens eating a 10 cent meal! And Ella Marie's children (my grandpa Will included) ate in the corner on a small table.
Unfortunately, "Ellie's Eatery" (as nicknamed by me, her Great Granddaughter - Shirley) also drew in the "railroad bums." Henry B. encouraged his wife and family to feed these "spongers" anyway, so their family might not suffer any loss or retaliation from the hands of these undesirables.
Family Members
Parents
Jeremiah Kemp
1815–1907
Susanna Kemp
1823–1871
Spouse
Henry B. Lauffer
1855–1932
Siblings
Amanda Sarah Kemp Albright
1854–1944
Benjamin Kemp
1855–1891
Harry E. Kemp
1857–1941
Albert F. Kemp
1858–1943
Children
John McCreary Lauffer
1883–1884
Anna May Lauffer Schmuck
1889–1981
Harvey Franklin Lauffer
1891–1989
Alice Bethelda Lauffer Kunkle
1897–1997
William Fisher Lauffer
1902–1982
