Samuel B. Lauffer

  General Notes:

Samuel was postmaster at Greensburg for many years. According to Gen. Richard Drumm, he opened a book store in Greensburg but sold that business and embarked in the same business in Pittsburgh. Samuel entered the army on 14 Aug 1863 and was assistant quartermaster of volunteers. He held the rank of captain. He served through 30 Apr 1866 and again from 18 Jan 1867 through 1 Jan 1871. Although the Lauffer History says he died in 1890, the Tribute-Herald records an 1876 death.
Some history is documented on Captain Lauffer's service life: In the book, Centennial Campaign: The Sioux War of 1876 by John Stephens Gray, there is mention about Samuel B. Lauffer; In the book, The Fighting Seventy by Barry Cornish Johnson 1971 Samuel B. Lauffer is mentioned on page 92; In the book, Custer, Reno, Merrill and the Lauffer Case: Some warfare in the Fighting Seventh by Barry Cornish Johnson; In stories of Buffalo Bill Cody, The Man Behind the Legend, the mule story mentions Samuel B. Lauffer. Merrill (mentioned above) had been Judge Advocate in the Court Martial of Samuel B. Lauffer of Quartermaster Dept. Lauffer was Quartermaster at Fort Wallace when Buffalo Bill came there and ceased trouble. In Custer's Shadow, Major Marcus Reno controversial case concerned Captain Samuel B. Lauffer's conduct at Fort Windgate, New Mexico Territory in July 1869 while Lauffer was assistant quartermaster. All were concerned of false affidavit concerning the loss of an Army mule. Captain Lauffer arrested on charges he was judged not guilty. Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, 1/1/1870 - 5-31-1871 tell of Captain Lauffer facing retirement on grounds of unfitness for duty. Lauffer had been granted an honorable discharge. Lauffer resigned 11/1/1871 and was destined to die 6-15-1876.

Samuel Lauffer, son of Henry Jr., son of Henry Sr.,
son of Christian, the Pioneer, was born Sept. 28, 1826, died
in 1890. "At Cumberland, Md., in her early home, among her
dearest friends, Mrs. Eliza Ellen, wife of Samuel B. Lauffer,
of Pittsburg, Pa., and eldest daughter of Hon. L. N. Buchan-
an, of Allegheny Co., Md., aged twenty-seven years, eight
months, twenty-two days." He was for many years postmaster
at Greensburg, Pa. He later conducted a book store on Wood
street, Pittsburg, and at the beginning of the Civil war, entered
the service. He was in the Federal service the rest of his life.
He left one son, John Lauffer, of Washington, D. C, lately de-
ceased. Source: http://www.archive.org/stream/laufferhistoryge00gree/laufferhistoryge00gree_djvu.txt

Samuel married Elizabeth (Eliza) Ellen Buchanan, daughter of John M. Buchanan and Mary S. Grieves, on 8 Mar 1851 in Alleghany County, Maryland. (Elizabeth (Eliza) Ellen Buchanan was born in 1830 in Alleghany County, Maryland and died on 31 Oct 1857 in Cumberland, VA..)