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Transcription of a typewritten speech given to me by my husband's mother, a 6th-generation descendant of John Scheffer, b. 1779. The person who delivered the speech is not identified, but in a newspaper article about the reunion (which I will post later), it says, "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."
HISTORIC SKETCH OF THE SHEFFER FAMILY
As read at the family reunion held the summer of 1901 at the home of Jabez Hancher on Sheffer Hill, Liberty, Pennsylvania.
[Jabez Hancher was the husband of Adaline Sheffer, daughter of John Sheffer (born 1803) and granddaughter of John Sheffer (born 1779—“Uncle Johnnie” in this sketch).]
Mr. President, Dear Friends and Relatives.
No doubt you are all aware that at our last reunion one year ago, J.J. Sheffer was elected historian of this organization. I saw Mr. Sheffer a few days ago and he said it would be impossible for him to be here today. He requested me to act as historian in his place which I consented to do. It was also requested by him and others that the same history be read today that I read here two years ago. You will remember that in writing this history there were a few mistakes made which I failed to correct. So come before you today with the same history as I did at that time. In this I have endeavored to give you a little history from the landing of the Sheffer’s in America down to your Grandfathers. From here it was intended that the work be taken up and a history be written of all the heirs of Uncle John Sheffer, that first located here in Liberty, down to the present time.
This is a very historic family and by taking each one of them in turn by birth, a very interesting history can be written, which would be of interest to all of us. Nothing would suit me better than to look up and write this history, but as I am living considerable distance from here it is impossible for me to do so. This history should be gotten soon because there are only three of the old heirs living that can give us the ancient part of the history.
I would urge that some one take this matter up and write at least a part of it to be read at our next reunion.
Away back in the latter part of the seventeenth century [sic] there came to this country from Holland nine brothers by the name of Sheffer, whose names and dates of birth are as follows:
John Sheffer, born June 3, 1753
Michael Sheffer, born December 4, 1755
John Nicholas Sheffer, born February 10, 1758
Anthony Sheffer, born December 20, 1760
Peter Sheffer, born February 1, 1762
George Michael Sheffer, born March 5, 1763
Balzer Sheffer, born June 29, 1765
George Sheffer, born February 5, 1767
John Jacob Sheffer, born July 10, 1770
We do not know just when these brothers came to this country, but we know it was before the Revolutionary War, for when the war broke out some of these brothers entered into the conflict against Great Britain.
Balzer was captured by the British and held a prisoner. Being fed on bread mixed with lime he soon died from the effects.
After the close of the Revolutionary War the remaining brothers became separated and we know not where they went or what became of them, except John and Peter.
Peter went to Martinsburg, Virginia, where he lived and died.
John went to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where he served as a recruiuting officer. This John Sheffer was our Great, Great, Grandfather.
John Sheffer, our Great, Great, Grandfather was married in Lancaster county. To whom he was married and when we do not know. We know they had seven children, the names are as follows:
Mary Barbara
Catherine
John
Elizabeth
Julian
Susan
Michael
We know nothing of these children except John, who was our Great Grandfather.
John Sheffer, our Great Grandfather was married twice. We do not know who his first wife was, but two children were born to them but died very young. He was later married to Susannah Reynolds on June 8, 1802. He came from Lancaster county to the village of Williamsport, which then was only a small town. He lived there for several years and being a tailor by trade, went about from house to house making clothing.
They lived a very happy life, and to them were born seven children while they lived in Williamsport. The names of these children are as follows:
John, born January 24, 1803
William, born July 10, 1804
Samuel, born January 11, 1806
Elizabeth, born July 7, 1807
Catherine, born September 14, 1808
Jacob, born December 18, 1809
Susannah, born August 14, 1813
After being in Williamsport several years Great Grandfather John Sheffer was chosen Deputy Sheriff of Lycoming county. He being a very tender hearted man and having much pity for his fellow man neglected to do his duty as Deputy Sheriff where upon the county pounced upon him and sold him out of everything he had except their bed, his wife jumping upon the bed saying you can’t have this it belongs to me.
After having lost all his earthly possessions Great Grandfather John Sheffer started out to hunt a new home for his family. Coming up Lycoming Creek over the Williamson Road which was cut through this county in 1792 he settled in Liberty in February 1814 on 150 acres of Academy land, here and where we are gathered today.
At the time he came here there were only eight families in all this country and he early became a prominent and leading citizen of Liberty.
From then on, Great Grandfather John Sheffer was known as Uncle Johnnie Sheffer, which we will call him for short.
When Uncle Johnnie came here in 1814 this country was a dense forest infested with howling wolves and screaming panthers. The first thing necessary for him to do was to build a house for his family. So with axe in hand he went into the woods and cut down trees to build himself a home. After completing his log cabin he moved his family in, and once more was a happy man at home with his family.
Uncle Johnnie at once went to work to clear up his farm so he could support his family. The question arises how could they live in such a wilderness as this was. My dear friends they didn’t live they only stayed, their hardships many and great. Had it not been for the deer than abounded in this country they could not have lived. Many and many a day they lived on bran bread and jerked venison and many the day they had nothing but venison to eat. We are told that many the nights the children would cry themselves to sleep for want of bread. What could the thoughts of that mother been to hear her dear ones crying for bread and none for them.
In order to make it handy for Uncle Johnnie to kill deer, he made a deer lick close to his cabin. A large beech tree having fallen close to his cabin he bored the tree full of holes and filled them with salt. Having once found the tree the deer would gather there in large numbers to lick the salt. When Uncle Johnnie was out of meat he would open his door and pick out the nicest deer and shoot it down. The remaining deer would run away and after Uncle Johnnie had dragged his deer to the cabin they would come back like a drove of sheep.
Uncle Johnnie was a tailor by trade and when entirely out of provisions he would go down Lycoming Creek and make clothing and take wheat in exchange for his pay. In this way he would keep his family in bread part of the time. Uncle Johnnie was the first man in this area to own a horse. In 1816 he contracted with the government to carry the mail, which he carried for three years, on foot and on horseback, from Williamsport to Painted Post, New York. This was very trying work for Uncle Johnnie especially in the winter. He would start out on horseback with the mail and ride until he became too cold to ride further, then he would dismount and taking the horse by the tail he would jog along until he became warm again. In these days there were no bridges so he had to ford or swim all the streams on his route.
Uncle Johnnie was also a tanner as well as a tailor. In order to clothe his boys he would tan the deer hides and make buckskin clothing for them.
After settling in this country five more children were born to them. The names and births are as follows:
Joseph, born November 23, 1815
Michael, born November 17, 1821
Julian, born September 24, 1823
Sarah, born June 24, 1824
George R., born June 24, 1824
These last two being twins.
In all twelve children were born to them and all have departed from this life except Aunt Susan Miller, Aunt Julian Elter and Uncle Michael. [George was also still living and present at the reunion.] Time is telling on them for their steps are getting feeble and slow and the place that once knew this large family will soon know them no more.
Uncle Johnnie died August 5, 1841 and his wife died September 18, 1860.
Now my dear friends we have tried to give you a history of our family from the landing of our Forefathers on American soil down to our Great Grandfather John Sheffer. From here the work can be taken up at some future time and a very interesting history can be written down to the present.
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