John Arthur Chalfant, Sr. was the eldest child of 12 of Daniel Spring Chalfant and Sarah Hershey Fisher Chalfant. John met and married Louisa F. Trefzger Chalfant, daughter of Martin and Katharine Genter Trefzger of Wehr, Baden, Germany. Louisa was born in Pennsylvania. She and John Chalfant were married in 1883. Together they had 4 children: Bertram Arnold Chalfant, John Arthur Chalfant, Jr., Helen Chalfant (died in infancy), and Miriam Evelyn Chalfant Rainey.

Obituary
John Chalfant.
Columbia, Nov. 4 - John Chalfant died at four o'clock this morning at his residence on South Sixth street, near Locust, from the effects of a stroke with which he was visited on Sunday night at 10:30 o'clock. He had been in ill health for some time, but was able to be about on Sunday afternoon when he took a walk in the yard in the rear of his home. After being stricken he became unconscious and remained in that condition until death. The deceased was 56 years of age and a son of Mr. and Mrs. Sarah Chalfant and the late Daniel Chalfant. He is survived by his widow and these children: Bertram A., of Chicago; John and Miriam, at home. He is also survived by his mother who is eighty years of age, and the following brothers and sisters: Frank, Percy and Daniel; Minnie, wife of Frank Garner, and Mrs. Catharine Rettew, all of Columbia; Emma, wife of John Bahn, of York, and Mame, wife of Benjamon Trout, of Lancaster.
He was a member of Fraternity Conclave, No. 213, Improved Order of Heptasophs.
(Intelligencer Journal, Lancaster, Pa., Thu 04 Nov 1909, p. 2)

Death of John Chalfant, of Columbia.
John Chalfant, janitor of the High end Grammar Schools, of Columbia, died on Tuesday, after a prolonged illness, at his residence, in the school building. Mr. Chalfant was fifty-six years old, and is survived by his wife and the following children: Bertram A., of Chicago, Ill.; John and Miriam, at home. His mother and the following brothers and sisters also survive: Percy, Frank and Daniel Chalfant, of Columbia; Mrs. Benjamin Trout, of Lancaster; and Mrs. John Bahn, of York. Deceased was a member of Salome U. B. Church, and Fraternity Conclave, No. 213, Improved Order of Heptasophs. The funeral will be held on Monday, with interment in Mount Bethel Cemetery.
(The Semi-Weekly New Era, Lancaster, Pa., Sat 06 Nov 1909, p. 2)
Contributor: Donald E. Trout (47025045) • [email protected]

Although his grave stone and death certificate have a birthdate of 1853. John Arthur Chalfant, Sr was actually born in 1852--his sister Emma Dora Chalfant was born in May 1853.

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