Alfred F. Puffer (1840 – July 1, 1875) was Deputy Collector of Customs at theUnited States Customs House inNew York City. He was appointed to this office byChester A. Arthur on October 1, 1873,[1] being promoted from Entry Clerk.[2] During theAmerican Civil War, Puffer "had been a correspondent at New Orleans for the New YorkHerald and was the anonymous author of the [Benjamin F.]Butler-praising article 'Our General,'[3] which had appeared in the July 1863 issue of theAtlantic".[4] Subsequently, he served on Butler's staff in Virginia.[5] He was a native ofMassachusetts.
Puffer died suddenly ofapoplexy at his 24th Street,Manhattan, New York residence, in 1875. He left his office at the Customs House on the afternoon of June 30 and returned to his home. He felt a warm sensation and resolved to take a bath. His wife summoned friends for assistance when he failed to respond to a knock on the bathroom door. They found him unconscious on the floor and a physician was quickly summoned. Puffer died the following morning at 9 a.m. He was survived by his wife and two children.[1] His sonFred Puffer became a championhurdler in the 1890s.[6]