Re: Kinzel/Shaffer Zanesville Ohio 1830-50
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In reply to:
Kinzel/Shaffer Zanesville Ohio 1830-50
11/02/98
I am not surethat this will be of assistance in your search since my shaffer roots are near Bedford Pa, about 200 miles due east of Zanesville.What struck me, however,is the rather unusual series of names and a fairly similar time frame. The names George, John and Boyd are familar names in my family as well. I have an uncle Boyd Shaffer and had an uncle John Shaffer as well. My father's name was George. His Grandfather was also a George, George W. and while I am not at home with my very meager family history notes, I am pretty sure my father's great grandfather was a John Shaffer.Sketchy family history places John's time of life in the 1830-50 time period--I believe he was a wheelright.His son George W. fought in the Civil War from Bedford Co joining at age 15 or 16 which would have placed his birth in the late 1840's as I believe he entered rather late in the war.He survived the war--I have a summary of his war record--in a certificate issued aroound 1902--and went on to become a carpenter building many barns and houses (never for himself) in the Pavia area. I believe he was in his 70's when he died. His own children were born and raised in a log house in which my own father was also born. The log house is still standing and still in my possession, but it's been unoccupied for many years. The house also dates back to the 1830-1940 era.Many were bult by the German who migrated into and through the area into Ohio via the Lincoln Highway (Connestoga Trail)starting I guess in the 1820's.
There is no family or village history that indicates where John came from, but history does place him in what is now Pavia (Pavia Township, Bedford County; Pavia was also called Marrietta and located in Union Township in those early days)Pennsylvania around 1840 or so.
If you think there are enough similarities and you are interested, I have copies of some pages from an early Bedford County history that provides a brief reference to John that I would be glad to send to you.