Sheffer Family Reunion 1901 Newspaper Account
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Sheffer Family Reunion 1901 Newspaper Account
 pamrthompson
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Posted: 10 Nov 2007 6:16PM GMT |
Classification: Query
This is the text of 2 typewritten pages in my possession that were apparently transcribed from a published newspaper account:
ACCOUNT OF THE SHEFFER REUNION
As printed in the newspaper Advertiser of Blossburg [Tioga Co., PA] early in August of 1901.
Nearly a century ago John SHEFFER [born 1779] settled in Liberty, Tioga county, Pennsylvania. As early as 1816 a United States mail line or route was established between Painted Post, Steuben county, New York, and Williamsport, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and John SHEFFER Jr., [grand]father of Michael, George Washington and Alpheus SHEFFER, carried the mail between the above named points, on horse back. This route left Painted Post, N.Y., and followed up the Chemung, Canisteo and Tioga rivers to Erwin Centre and Lindley, in New York state, and crossing the Cowanesque at Lawrenceville on the State line, touched Willardsville, now Tioga, Lambs Creek, Mansfield, Canoe Camp, or Spencers, Covington to Blossburg; it then left the Tioga valley and continued southerly on the Williamson road to the Block House, or Liberty, thence across the Laurel Ridge Mountain to Trout Run, on the Lycoming Creek, thence to Williamsport, a distance of eighty-two miles from Painted Post. It was almost an unbroken wilderness with only a few settlers at the points above designated.
It was the descendants of this John SHEFFER, Jr., his sons and daughters, and their descendants, who met with only a few days notice on Wednesday afternoon July 31, 1901, in its first annual reunion at the old homestead of this John SHEFFER, Jr., the mail carrier of the years 1816 to 1826, now occupied by Jabez Hancher and Ada Hancher and their family upon SHEFFER Hill, Liberty, Pennsylvania. About one hundred of the relatives and invited friends were present. A table over one hundred feet long was set in the old orchard under the shade of the apple trees, at which the family and friends were seated at 12 o’clock, noon. Prayer was offered by Rev. D.E. McLain, of the Lutheran church of Liberty, and then the feast began in a right royal manner; and it was indeed a feast, one that the SHEFFER family know how to prepare.
Dinner being over, Rev. McLain was called upon and made a neat and appropriate address. The Martial band then gave some stirring music, which was followed by John L. Sexton in a short address, touching up on the early settlement of Liberty and pioneer life. At its conclusion Rev. McLain announced a family reunion business meeting and election. The results of the election were as follows: President, Amos Sheffer; Vice President, Alpheus Sheffer; Secretary, Mrs. Ida SHEFFER Mays; Treasurer, Mrs. Clara SHEFFER Werline; Historian, Isaac SHEFFER. The next annual reunion was appointed to be held on the 31st of July, 1902.
The remainder of the afternoon was spent in social conversation, relating incidents of bygones of their childhood days. Mrs. Susan SHEFFER Haugenbach [sic], of Topeka, Kansas and Mrs. Sarah E. Sheffer Artley, of Bradford, Pennsylvania were among those of the SHEFFER family from a distance present who were cordially received and greeted by childhood friends. It was indeed a happy and pleasant reunion, which will become more interesting as time advances.
The children surviving John SHEFFER are [original in paragraph form, but presented here by line for ease of reading, with my notes in brackets]:
Susan SHEFFER Miller, Liberty, Pa., aged 88, not present
[daughter of John (born 1779); wife of Daniel Miller]
Michael SHEFFER, aged 79, present
[son of John (born 1779)]
Julia SHEFFER, wife of Michael SHEFFER, aged 79, present
[Michael’s second wife, maiden name not known; first wife Mary E. Cox d. 1884]
Julia SHEFFER Elder, Garden Grove, Iowa, aged 77, not present
[daughter of John (born 1779) and wife of Nicholas Elter, sometimes spelled Elder]
George SHEFFER, Libety, aged 75, present
[son of John]
Dorlista Kinsman SHEFFER, wife of George SHEFFER, aged 67, present
Mrs. Margaret Beck SHEFFER, widow of Martin SHEFFER, Liberty, aged 63, present
[Martin was son of John (born 1803) and grandson of John (born 1779)]
Mrs. Asenath Kehler SHEFFER, Williamsport, Pa., aged 65, present
[wife of Henry H. Sheffer, son of John (born 1803) and grandson of John (born 1779]
Mrs. Susan SHEFFER Hagenbach, Topeka, Kansas, aged 66, present
[daughter of John (born 1803) and grandson of John (born 1779); wife of Charles Hagenbach]
Mrs. Sarah E. Sheffer Artley, Bradford, aged 64, present
[daughter of John (born 1803) and grandson of John (born 1779); wife of Jonas Artley]
Washington SHEFFER, Blossburg, aged 62, not present
[George Washington SHEFFER, son of John (born 1803) and grandson of John (born 1779)]
Alpheus SHEFFER, Liberty, aged 59, present
[son of John (born 1803) and grandson of John (born 1779)]
Elvina SHEFFER, Liberty, aged 57, present
[daughter of John (born 1803) and grandson of John (born 1779); unmarried]
Ada SHEFFER Hancher, Liberty, aged 54, present
[daughter of John (born 1803) and grandson of John (born 1779); wife of Jabez Hancher]
Mrs. Clara Belle SHEFFER Miller, Garden Grove, Iowa
Mrs. Belle SHEFFER Field
Mrs. Eliza SHEFFER Wheeland
Mrs. Nellie SHEFFER Semsey, ?rs.
Cora SHEFFER Saxton, Liberty
Mrs. Ida SHEFFER Mays
Frank SHEFFER
[probably son of Samuel SHEFFER and grandson of John SHEFFER (born 1779)]
Mrs. Artley Ellsworth, Bradford
Charles Hancher, Liberty [son of Jabez and Ada]
William Hancher [son of Jabez and Ada]
Harry Hancher [son of Jabez and Ada]
Jabez Hancher [husband of Ada SHEFFER above]
James SHEFFER
[son of Samuel SHEFFER and grandson of John SHEFFER (born 1779)]
Mrs. Elizabeth SHEFFER
[Elizabeth Kehler, wife of James above]
Isaac SHEFFER
[son of James and Elizabeth Kehler SHEFFER)]
Mrs. Lenora SHEFFER
[wife of Isaac SHEFFER]
Miss Vera Belle SHEFFER, Liberty
[daughter of Isaac and Lenora SHEFFER]
D. Irwin, Ogdensburg [PA]
Mrs. Margaret SHEFFER, wife of David Irwin
Miss Hattie Woodruff
[daughter of Sarah Woodruff below]
Mrs. Sarah J. Sheffer Woodruff
[daughter of Michael SHEFFER, son of John (born 1779); wife of William Woodruff]
David R. Werline
[husband of Clara below]
Mrs. Clara SHEFFER Werline, wife of David Werline
[daughter of Joseph SHEFFER, son of John SHEFFER b. 1779]
Rev. D.E. McLain
Capt. J.F. Ault
Mrs. J.F. Ault
Miss Beatrice SHEFFER, Elmira N.Y.
W.H. Merithew and wife
David Schartle
Mrs. Dorlista SHEFFER Schartle
Mahlon Ray Saxton
Miss Nellie Saxton, Liberty
Amos Rebekah and John SHEFFER, Williamsport
George Artley [husband of Amanda below]
Mrs. A. Sheffer Artley, Jackson township, Lycoming county
[Amanda SHEFFER, daughter of Samuel SHEFFER and granddaughter of John SHEFFER (born 1779); wife of George Artley]
Lillie SHEFFER
Floyd Simpson
Mrs. M.F. Wheeland
Miss Louisa Wheeland, Williamsport
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Krise
Katie Krise, Liberty
Mrs. B.F. Bastian
[Elnora/Ella SHEFFER, daughter of James SHEFFER, granddaughter of Samuel SHEFFER, and great-granddaughter of John SHEFFER (born 1779); wife of Benjamin Franklin Bastian]
Byron Bastian, Liberty
[son of Elnora SHEFFER Bastian]
Mrs. Harrison Ridge
[Sheffer in-laws: Frances Ridge, second wife of Ridge, husband of Emma SHEFFER, the sister of Elnora SHEFFER Bastian above]
L.H. Ferguson
Mrs. L.H. Ferguson
Mrs. Albert Roupp
Miss Ada Ridge, Liberty [daughter of Harrison Ridge]
Miss Alice Keagle, Arnot
ACCOUNT OF THE SHEFFER REUNION
As printed in the newspaper Advertiser of Blossburg [Tioga Co., PA] early in August of 1901.
Nearly a century ago John SHEFFER [born 1779] settled in Liberty, Tioga county, Pennsylvania. As early as 1816 a United States mail line or route was established between Painted Post, Steuben county, New York, and Williamsport, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and John SHEFFER Jr., [grand]father of Michael, George Washington and Alpheus SHEFFER, carried the mail between the above named points, on horse back. This route left Painted Post, N.Y., and followed up the Chemung, Canisteo and Tioga rivers to Erwin Centre and Lindley, in New York state, and crossing the Cowanesque at Lawrenceville on the State line, touched Willardsville, now Tioga, Lambs Creek, Mansfield, Canoe Camp, or Spencers, Covington to Blossburg; it then left the Tioga valley and continued southerly on the Williamson road to the Block House, or Liberty, thence across the Laurel Ridge Mountain to Trout Run, on the Lycoming Creek, thence to Williamsport, a distance of eighty-two miles from Painted Post. It was almost an unbroken wilderness with only a few settlers at the points above designated.
It was the descendants of this John SHEFFER, Jr., his sons and daughters, and their descendants, who met with only a few days notice on Wednesday afternoon July 31, 1901, in its first annual reunion at the old homestead of this John SHEFFER, Jr., the mail carrier of the years 1816 to 1826, now occupied by Jabez Hancher and Ada Hancher and their family upon SHEFFER Hill, Liberty, Pennsylvania. About one hundred of the relatives and invited friends were present. A table over one hundred feet long was set in the old orchard under the shade of the apple trees, at which the family and friends were seated at 12 o’clock, noon. Prayer was offered by Rev. D.E. McLain, of the Lutheran church of Liberty, and then the feast began in a right royal manner; and it was indeed a feast, one that the SHEFFER family know how to prepare.
Dinner being over, Rev. McLain was called upon and made a neat and appropriate address. The Martial band then gave some stirring music, which was followed by John L. Sexton in a short address, touching up on the early settlement of Liberty and pioneer life. At its conclusion Rev. McLain announced a family reunion business meeting and election. The results of the election were as follows: President, Amos Sheffer; Vice President, Alpheus Sheffer; Secretary, Mrs. Ida SHEFFER Mays; Treasurer, Mrs. Clara SHEFFER Werline; Historian, Isaac SHEFFER. The next annual reunion was appointed to be held on the 31st of July, 1902.
The remainder of the afternoon was spent in social conversation, relating incidents of bygones of their childhood days. Mrs. Susan SHEFFER Haugenbach [sic], of Topeka, Kansas and Mrs. Sarah E. Sheffer Artley, of Bradford, Pennsylvania were among those of the SHEFFER family from a distance present who were cordially received and greeted by childhood friends. It was indeed a happy and pleasant reunion, which will become more interesting as time advances.
The children surviving John SHEFFER are [original in paragraph form, but presented here by line for ease of reading, with my notes in brackets]:
Susan SHEFFER Miller, Liberty, Pa., aged 88, not present
[daughter of John (born 1779); wife of Daniel Miller]
Michael SHEFFER, aged 79, present
[son of John (born 1779)]
Julia SHEFFER, wife of Michael SHEFFER, aged 79, present
[Michael’s second wife, maiden name not known; first wife Mary E. Cox d. 1884]
Julia SHEFFER Elder, Garden Grove, Iowa, aged 77, not present
[daughter of John (born 1779) and wife of Nicholas Elter, sometimes spelled Elder]
George SHEFFER, Libety, aged 75, present
[son of John]
Dorlista Kinsman SHEFFER, wife of George SHEFFER, aged 67, present
Mrs. Margaret Beck SHEFFER, widow of Martin SHEFFER, Liberty, aged 63, present
[Martin was son of John (born 1803) and grandson of John (born 1779)]
Mrs. Asenath Kehler SHEFFER, Williamsport, Pa., aged 65, present
[wife of Henry H. Sheffer, son of John (born 1803) and grandson of John (born 1779]
Mrs. Susan SHEFFER Hagenbach, Topeka, Kansas, aged 66, present
[daughter of John (born 1803) and grandson of John (born 1779); wife of Charles Hagenbach]
Mrs. Sarah E. Sheffer Artley, Bradford, aged 64, present
[daughter of John (born 1803) and grandson of John (born 1779); wife of Jonas Artley]
Washington SHEFFER, Blossburg, aged 62, not present
[George Washington SHEFFER, son of John (born 1803) and grandson of John (born 1779)]
Alpheus SHEFFER, Liberty, aged 59, present
[son of John (born 1803) and grandson of John (born 1779)]
Elvina SHEFFER, Liberty, aged 57, present
[daughter of John (born 1803) and grandson of John (born 1779); unmarried]
Ada SHEFFER Hancher, Liberty, aged 54, present
[daughter of John (born 1803) and grandson of John (born 1779); wife of Jabez Hancher]
Mrs. Clara Belle SHEFFER Miller, Garden Grove, Iowa
Mrs. Belle SHEFFER Field
Mrs. Eliza SHEFFER Wheeland
Mrs. Nellie SHEFFER Semsey, ?rs.
Cora SHEFFER Saxton, Liberty
Mrs. Ida SHEFFER Mays
Frank SHEFFER
[probably son of Samuel SHEFFER and grandson of John SHEFFER (born 1779)]
Mrs. Artley Ellsworth, Bradford
Charles Hancher, Liberty [son of Jabez and Ada]
William Hancher [son of Jabez and Ada]
Harry Hancher [son of Jabez and Ada]
Jabez Hancher [husband of Ada SHEFFER above]
James SHEFFER
[son of Samuel SHEFFER and grandson of John SHEFFER (born 1779)]
Mrs. Elizabeth SHEFFER
[Elizabeth Kehler, wife of James above]
Isaac SHEFFER
[son of James and Elizabeth Kehler SHEFFER)]
Mrs. Lenora SHEFFER
[wife of Isaac SHEFFER]
Miss Vera Belle SHEFFER, Liberty
[daughter of Isaac and Lenora SHEFFER]
D. Irwin, Ogdensburg [PA]
Mrs. Margaret SHEFFER, wife of David Irwin
Miss Hattie Woodruff
[daughter of Sarah Woodruff below]
Mrs. Sarah J. Sheffer Woodruff
[daughter of Michael SHEFFER, son of John (born 1779); wife of William Woodruff]
David R. Werline
[husband of Clara below]
Mrs. Clara SHEFFER Werline, wife of David Werline
[daughter of Joseph SHEFFER, son of John SHEFFER b. 1779]
Rev. D.E. McLain
Capt. J.F. Ault
Mrs. J.F. Ault
Miss Beatrice SHEFFER, Elmira N.Y.
W.H. Merithew and wife
David Schartle
Mrs. Dorlista SHEFFER Schartle
Mahlon Ray Saxton
Miss Nellie Saxton, Liberty
Amos Rebekah and John SHEFFER, Williamsport
George Artley [husband of Amanda below]
Mrs. A. Sheffer Artley, Jackson township, Lycoming county
[Amanda SHEFFER, daughter of Samuel SHEFFER and granddaughter of John SHEFFER (born 1779); wife of George Artley]
Lillie SHEFFER
Floyd Simpson
Mrs. M.F. Wheeland
Miss Louisa Wheeland, Williamsport
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Krise
Katie Krise, Liberty
Mrs. B.F. Bastian
[Elnora/Ella SHEFFER, daughter of James SHEFFER, granddaughter of Samuel SHEFFER, and great-granddaughter of John SHEFFER (born 1779); wife of Benjamin Franklin Bastian]
Byron Bastian, Liberty
[son of Elnora SHEFFER Bastian]
Mrs. Harrison Ridge
[Sheffer in-laws: Frances Ridge, second wife of Ridge, husband of Emma SHEFFER, the sister of Elnora SHEFFER Bastian above]
L.H. Ferguson
Mrs. L.H. Ferguson
Mrs. Albert Roupp
Miss Ada Ridge, Liberty [daughter of Harrison Ridge]
Miss Alice Keagle, Arnot