Van L. Speers; 75; member of the
second generation of the widely
known family from which the borough
of Speers takes its name; died
Tuesday night;September 20;1938; at 7:50 o’clock after an
illness of six weeks. Unable to take
adequate nourishment for five weeks and suffering from complications his
death was not entirely unexpected.
Several years ago he underwent an
operation for amputation of a foot
and has been declining since that
time. In the multiple of burdens
which fell upon him; he suffered the
loss of his wife who died on May 11. They would have celebraed their fiftieth wedding anniversary next December. A dual cast of tragedy interposed too;for Mr.Speers was preceded in death by his brother-in-law;Robert E.McClain;63;of Belle Vernon;early Tuesday;September 20;1938. Born September 27;1863;Van Speers lived in the community which bore his name all of his life. His father was Noah Speers who founded the Speers community and today the progeny is in its fifth generation. Surviving are five sons and two daughters;Mrs.Roy (Sarah) Lorimer of Painesville;Ohio;Dr.Stephen Speers of Belle Vernon;Roy of Sandusky;John L.of Cleveland;Alden and S.Ward Speers of Speers and Mrs.Douglas A.(Rebecca) Schoerke of Petrolia. Two children are dead. A brother Fred Speers of Belle Vernon;18 grandchildren and one great-grandchild also survive. Mr.Speers was a member of Washngton Avenue Presbyterian Church in Charleroi and served for a while on Speers council. Funeral services will be held at the home of a son;Ward Speers;in Speers borough;at 2:30 o’clock;Friday afternoon;September 23;1938. Rev. Frank Montgomery;pastor of the Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church and Rev.John R.Bursol;a fromer pastor of the church will be in charge. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Clyde Lee Shephard;three year old son of Mr.and Mrs.Ross Shephard of 513 Speers Street;North Belle Vernon;died Friday morning;Sept.2;1938;at 7:30 o’clock in the Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. Surviving in addition to his parents is one brother. Funeral services will be held at the Melenuzer Funeral Home in Belle Vernon;Monday;Sept.5;at 2 p.m. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Name: George Shouffler
[George Shoaffler]
Home in 1900: Washington; Fayette; Pennsylvania

Birth Date: Feb 1885
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relationship to Head of House: Son
Father’s name: Jacob Shouffler
Father’s Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Mother’s name: Rebecca Shouffler
Mother’s Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Marital Status: Single

Household Members: Name Age
Jacob Shouffler 43
Rebecca Shouffler 45
Harvey Shouffler 18
David Shouffler 17
George Shouffler 15
Mary B Shouffler 13
Abram Shouffler 12
Grover Shouffler 7
Edna Shouffler 3

Death claimed Mrs. Margaret T.
Speers; wife of Van L. Speers; of
Speers Borough;Wednesday night. May 11;1938;
at 6 o’clock; after an illness of
three days. Death was attributed to
a heart ailment.
Prominent not only in Speers; but
in other valley communities as well;
her death came as a shock to many
friends. She was a member of the
Washington Avenue Presbyterian
Church; Charleroi; Belle Vernon
Chapter 190;O.E S. and White
Shrine of Monongahela. Mrs. Speers was born in Washington Township;Fayette County;August 30;1869;a daughter of the late John McClain and Sarah Patton McClain. Her parents were pioneer settlers of this district as were the parents and ancestors of her husbnad;whose name the borugh of Speers carries. Surviving are her husband;Van L.Speers;two daughters;Mrs.Sarah Lorimer of Perry;Ohio;and Mrs.Rebecca Schoerke of Petrolia;Pa.;five sons;Dr.Stephen M. of Belle Vernon;Ray F.of Sandusky;Ohio;John L.of Cleveland;Ohio and Alden and Solomon W.of Speers and seventeen grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon;May 14;1938;at 2 o’clock;in charge of the Rev.Frank S.Montgomery;pastor of the Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

William Rupert Saunders;49;former glass worker;died Friday April 8;1938;at his home in Belle Vernon. His wife;a son;his mother and a sister survive. The funeral service will be held Sunday afternoon;April 10;1938 in Belle Vernon Cemetery.