The purpose of this page is to give credit to all those who contributed to our family genealogy. This web site and particularly the genealogy is the result of the efforts of many people.
I would like to personally thank each of you and to encourage you to redouble your efforts to ensure that each of your ancestors are listed. I hope you think of them as I do. Each of them are so much more than just a name with a birth date and a death date. Each one was once a vibrant, living person. They deserve our remembrance, and our commitment to look after their final resting place.
Thank you so much for your contribution. Please continue the good work. If I missed anyone's name, please let me know, and I will gladly update the record.
A record of those who contributed to our family history.
We give credit to the two books that provided us with a historical sketch of the early days and the early genealogy of our family. Many of the dates and places required for accurate genealogical information are missing. The refinement and development of these records continues to be a "Work in Progress. " We regret any mistakes in the genealogy. Please inform us of any errors you find so they may be corrected.
The two references books are:
Snell, James P. and Prof. W. W. Clayton, eds. History of Sussex and Warren Counties, New Jersey.1881. Washington, NJ: Genealogical Researchers, 1981.
and
Schaeffer, Rev. Casper, M.D.Memoirs and Reminiscences, together with Sketches of the Early History of Sussex County, New Jersey 1907. Harmony Press; Harmony, NJ.
It should be noted and understood that the main body of the Memoirs and Reminiscences was finished by Doctor Schaeffer fifty years before his hand written memoirs were published. His notes were finished some thirty years before Snell's work. It is obvious then that any duplication in these documents was originally in Doctor Schaeffer's memoirs.
The two men to be credited for the Memoirs and Reminiscences are Rev. Casper Schaeffer M.D. and Senator William M. Johnson. To realize their importance to us you only have to consider what we would have known of the early family without this book.
Rev. Casper Schaeffer, M.D., Abraham's son, our immigrant's grandson was this family' first historian. Born: 10 June 1784 - Died 3 August 1857. He wrote Memoirs & Reminiscences. He was an ordained minister and a doctor. He strongly advocated that the entire family should return to the original German spelling of the family name as he had done. However, this did not happen, as most of the descendants today spell the name Shafer or Shaffer.
Rev. Casper Schaeffer, M.D. is buried at the Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA. Section 5, Lot 60.
Senator Johnson
This picture was taken in the Johnson public library in Hackensack, NJ by Judy Massardo. Thanks Judy.
William Mindred Johnson was born at Newton, NJ, Dec. 2, 1847. He died Sept. 10, 1928 He was the grandson of Abraham's daughter, Mary Catharine Schaeffer. He graduated from Princeton 1867, and was admitted to the bar in 1870. He practiced law at Trenton for years. Moved to Hackensack, NJ. in 1875, where he continued to practice law. Was elected Senator from Bergan County to New Jersey Senate in 1895, was re-elected in 1898.
He was president of the Senate 1900 and acting governor during absence of Governor Voorhees in Europe in May and June.
He was appointed First Assistant Postmaster General by President McKinley in August 1900, and held that office until April, 1902, when he resigned.
He was a delegate to Republican National Convention, 1888 and 1904, and chairman of Republican State Convention in 1900, and in 1904.
With all of his many accomplishments, the most important to me, and certainly the most lasting for this family, is the role he played in preserving the work of Rev . Casper Schaeffer M.D. The senator took Rev. Schaeffer' faded, hand written, manuscript, compiled it, added an Introduction, a section on our immigrant, Casper Schaeffer and his will. He added a biographical sketch of Rev. Casper Schaeffer M.D., and then printed the book in 1907. Senator Johnson completed his work 50 years after the death of Rev. Casper Schaeffer. I fear that had it not been for Senator Johnson, all of the work done by the good doctor might have been in vane. as it surely would have been lost.
Visit the Johnson Public Library. It was opened on October 5, 1901. The library was a gift from state Senator William M. Johnson, who donated the land and funded the construction of the library. The library' centennial year was celebrated beginning October 5, 2001
I would like to give credit to all those family members who have so graciously shared their genealogy so that it could be included. I truly appreciate it and am always looking for more. The contributors to date are as follows:
Generally speaking, all of the early (18th and 19th Century) genealogy was copied from the book "Memoirs and Reminiscences" written by Rev. Casper Schaeffer M.D. by my son Gregory and me.
Many of the descendants of Dr. Samuel Kennedy and Anna Shaver (Casper's granddaughter, by his son Peter B. Shaver) was provided by Kate Young
Many of the descendants of Nathan Hazen Shafer was provided by Jamie Shafer.
Many of the descendants of Margaret Linen Shafer was provided by her son and his wife, William (Bill) and Bert Leighton
Many of the descendants of Jehiel Talmage Shafer' son George Comes Shafer was provided by Vanessa Shafer Ross
Many of the descendants of Robert Turner Shafer's son William Bell Shafer was provided by Arline Shafer and Bruce R. Shafer. I would also like to thank Bruce for his help with the header on the "new" Shafer web site.
Many of the descendants of Alexander Castner Schaeffer was provided by Edward T. H. Shaffer II and his four daughters, Sally, Mary, Claritas, and Jain.
Many of the descendants of Nathan Armstrong Shafer and Sarah Linn was provided by Barb Frost.
William (Bill) Bayley, has provided his direct line from Margaretta Shaver. Primarily made up of Morris and Bayley lines. Bill is our first contact with anyone from Casper' daughter!
I am happy to share the credit for the later descendants of Casper' son Isaac Shaver. I recently found a 3rd cousin (Carol Livingstone) . We share a common ancestor, Archibald Stinson Shafer,is our 2nd GGfather. She is from his oldest son Casper Bernhardt Shafer, and I am from his youngest son Archibald Sayre Shafer. Since finding each other we have been exchanging information and pictures. The information comes from personal knowledge, data found in Archibald Stinson Shafer's family bible, wills, personal observation etc.
Finally, I would like to thank Tina Keppler. She is my direct link to the events in progress at Stillwater. She is the past President of the Stillwater Historical Society. She is a history buff who enjoys genealogy and the study of the old families of Sussex county. She has graciously provided me a bed and meals during my visits to Stillwater. She gave me a "first class" tour of the area which I enjoyed so much. While her three boys keep her very busy, she seems to always be able to take on one more project! Tina has given me a 1907 copy of the "M & R" book which was signed by Senator William M. Johnson! It will be available at the reunion for all to see.