Solomon Cyphert was born in Berks Co.Pa.on Feb.12,1796,a son of Philip Seifert and Barbara Grett. His grandfather, Philip had immigrated to America from Germany in the year 1749 on the ship Speedwell, and settled in Northern Berks County, PA. With the migration westward from Westmoreland Co.,Pa. in the first quarter of the nineteeth century came the Seifert family now known as the Cyphert.This family was of German descent and closely allied with the Aaron and Crates families, adjoining whose tracts two of the sons Solomon and Henry purchased land, also of the Sloan Grant and thus forming a part of the St.Nicholas parish. At the time they came to what is now Clarion Co., Pa.they were young and unmarried. For a while they fought the battles of the young pioneer with the aid of their mother, but later took wives from the pioneer family of James Kerr. While improving their farms and establishing their homes, they reared families of which many descendants are to be found in St.Nicholas congregation and some still own and reside on the land on which their pioneer fathers felled the first tree. It was in the home of Solomon Cyphert that Rt. Rev.Francis P. Kenrick said mass and administered the sacrament of confirmation for the first time in St. Nicholas parish and gave the people permission to build their first church. When Solomon was three years old, in the year 1799, he traveled with his parents, brothers and sisters from Berks County to Unity Twp. Westmoreland County where they settled. The 1830 Census for Unity Township shows Solomon as head of household. Sometime between the years 1830 and 1833, Solomon, unmarried, and about 35 years of age, moved from Westmoreland County to Clarion County with his widowed mother, brothers and sisters. They settled at Redbank or Arondale which later became known as Crates. On June 5, 1834, the Rt. Rev.Francis Patrick Kenrick, Administrator and Bishop of Philadelphia, visited the little pioneer band of Catholics. At this time the Bishop gave the people permission to build their church. In the spring of 1835, the small congregation selected a site on the top of the hill where the cemetery is now located. Joseph Aaron deeded the land for that purpose. They erected a small log chapel thirty feet in length, which was dedicated to the service of God under the invocation of St.Nicholas of Tolentino by the Rt.Rev.Patrick Kenrick, Sept. 9, 1835. The index to the deeds at the Clarion County Court House shows that Solomon bought 50 acres of land in Limestone Township from Daniel Road and his wife, Oct.30, 1838. Solomon, later, built a log cabin on the Kingsville road.