BIO: Thomas GAFFEY, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, page 502.
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  THOMAS GAFFEY, who, as the genial host of the Alpine House, situated on N. 
Brady Street, DuBois, Pa., enjoys a large volume of patronage from the traveling 
public, has been a resident of this thriving borough since 1883.  He was born 
January 23, 1857, in Staffordshire, England, and is a son of Thomas and Bridget 
(Meakin) Gaffey.
  The parents of Mr. Gaffey were born in Ireland, where they were reared and 
married, shortly afterward moving to England.  In 1867 they came to America and 
settled in Bradford county, Pa., where Thomas Gaffey died at the age of forty-
seven years.  They became the parents of nine children, namely:  Michael, 
Thomas, Patrick, James, John, Luke, Mary, William, and Catherine.  The last 
named is the wife of John Norton, and Mary is the wife of Peter Donahue.  
Michael and Patrick are deceased.  For a number of years, Patrick, John, James, 
Luke, William, Mary and Catherine, were residents of Osceola Mills, Clearfield 
county.  The mother of the above-mentioned family is still living and is in the 
enjoyment of excellent health.  She is a devoted member of the Catholic church.
  Thomas Gaffey may be called a self-made man, for he has worked hard from 
boyhood and has earned all that he now owns.  As soon as he had reached a 
sufficient age, he went to work in an English pottery, where, for a time he had 
employment every half day, attending school during the other half.  He thus laid 
a foundation for an education and after he came to America he was ambitious 
enough to attend night school after working hard all the day.  He grew to 
manhood in Bradford county, and there became a mine boy, working as a trapper in 
the Barkley coal mines.  From there, in 1879, he went to the mining sections of 
Iowa but remained only a short time, after which he secured a position at 
Steubenville, O., as a coal weigher.  From there he went to Reynoldsville, Pa., 
still being in the coal business, and in 1883 came to DuBois, where he labored 
for a time in the mines.  Later he was employed in a hotel here by James H. 
Hine, with whom he was in partnership for one year.  In 1889 he rented the 
Alpine House from his father-in-law, William Melvin, and has conducted his 
business ever since under his own name.  Mr. Gaffey has a centrally located, 
commodious and well kept house.  He has twenty-two bedrooms and all the other 
rooms also well fitted to make his guests comfortable.  His rates are very 
reasonable, his charge being but $1.25 per day.
  In February, 1880, Mr. Gaffey was married to Miss Catherine Melvin, a daughter 
of William and Catherine Melvin.  They are members of St. Catherine's Catholic 
church.  In politics he is a Democrat.  He belongs to the Ancient Order of 
Hibernians and to the Elks; also is a member of the Hotel Men's Mutual Benefit 
Association; also chairman of executive committee, Clearfield County Liquor 
Dealers' Association.