Person:Dora Sheeder (1)

Sid’s wife, Dora Sheeder lineage first appeared in the USA in the year of 1793, November 26 when Henry Sheeder with his wife and six children arrived in Philadelphia PA from Germany. Henry was born October 23, 1745 and married August 16, 1774 to Dorothea Helfenstine who was born May 24, 1741. Their children were Caroline, Frederick, Catherine, Henry, Phillip and Louisa. He died December 2, 1807 and his wife Dorothea dies August 17, 1823. Frederick, born February 20, 1777, in Nassau, Saarbrucken, Germany, was almost 17 when they landed in America. In March 1798 he married Anna Halderman born November 6, 1778, daughter of Nicholas Halderman. Their children were Frederick, oldest son; Mary, oldest daughter who married Joshua Yeager January 18, 1831; Samuel, Phillip, Caroline, Catharine, married to Elhanan John; Sarah married William Culley; Joseph, born May 11, 1820; Benjamin and Henry, second oldest. Frederick Sr. served in the war of 1812 and was encamped at Marcus Hook. He returned home on furlough and remained. His son, Frederick Jr., 15, took his place and carried a musket. Frederick Sr. for several years was a tailor in Philadelphia. He personally knew President Washington. March 4, 1860, Frederick and Anna celebrated the 63d anniversary of their marriage. Present were ten children, 47 grand and 37 great grandchildren. Late in life they settled on a farm in Chester Co. PA and were engaged in agricultural pursuits the rest of their days. He built two dozen buildings on his and other farms. Some of which were still standing and in excellent condition in 1969, when four daughters of Joseph and Lulu Sheeder, Mary Taylor, Bertha Richey, Neva Messinger and Lois Kopaska visited the area. There is a large two and a half story rock house with the date it was built carved in the stone of the second story. It was started in 1831 and finished in 1833. There is two other houses that they lived in on the farm before they built the above house. All are made of some kind of rock. The original large barn and a building with stained glass and arched windows which might have been their church still stand in good condition. They saw the remains of the old paper mill and a rock floor, all that remains of the blacksmith shop. Also what was left of the tunnel that ran from the creek, under the house, and onto the paper mill. At the entrance to the farm is a large plaque with the words, “Sheeder Mill Farm” on it. All of the Sheeder farm except 23 acres was bought by a lawyer, Carolus A. Wade in 1944 when it was sold by the state. They also bought some of the original furniture, which included a settee. They left the back in the original material and reupholstered the seat as near like the original material as possible. It looked like new. There is a fireplace in every room of the big house, still in use. One large fireplace has a big hook to hang the iron kettle on and doors to close when not in use. The floors still have the wide boards. The last of the Sheeders to live in the house was Anna Sheeder, a maiden lady, daughter of Fred Sheeder. At her death, they knew of no relatives so the state took the place in charge. The visitors also saw what was once “Sheeder Town”. Just a few of the old buildings left with some newer houses added. It was about two or three miles from the farm. There is also a covered bridge over French Creek in East Vincent Township, named Sheeder (Hall) Bridge, 116 foot span, built by R. Russell and Jacob Fox in 1850 for $1,564. Named for Henry Sheeder who came from Germany and established a forge on the bank of the creek to make steel. Paper and sawmills operated under the same name also. Frederick Sr. died September 18, 1865 and his wife, Anna, July 29, 1860. He was still writing a fine hand in his last days without the aid of eye glasses. Frederick Jr. was born March 22, 1799 in Lebanon, Daupin County, PA. He was educated in the Chester Co. schools, married Elizabeth Shuler, born March 2, 1797, daughter of William and Sarah Shuler. Their children were, Sarah Anna, born February 16, 1822, who died October 25, 1823, and William, born September 12, 1825. Elizabeth died April 14, 1830, and Frederick died December 30, 1834. William, then about nine years old was raised by his grandparents, Frederick Sr. and Anna. He attended the district school until he was 13. He then went to work as a teamster. At 16 he began work at the blacksmith trade, entering upon his apprenticeship March 31, 1842 under Jesse Orr. He remained with this man for four years, working 3 1/2 years for his board and clothing and the last six months receiving wages. He then opened his own shop which he ran for a year and then purchased a small farm in Chester County and lived there eight years. Mach 23, 1848, he married Mary Keeley, born August 28, 1830, the daughter of Henry and Mary Miller Keeley natives of Chester County. Rev. J. B. Knipe officiated. Mary’s brothers and sisters were Elizabeth, John, Samuel, Henry, George, Robert, Lewis and Hannah. The father died in PA and the mother came west to Iroquois Co, IL, where she died at the age of 80. April 17, 1855, William and Mary Sheeder and their four children, Silas, John, Eli and James left for what was then known as the “wild west.” They rode the Penn. Central Railroad to Rock Island, IL and then went by steam boat to Muscatine. Mr. Sheeder left the family there and went on by ox team to Guthrie Co. He arrived the first of May at what is now Seeley Township. Not finding as much wood and water as he desired, he located in what is now Baker Township on Section Five, taking first the east half of this section. In the spring of 1856, he took 40 acres more on section 8. At the time of his death January 19, 1900, he owned 4,572 acres of land, 2201 acres in Baker, 1240 in Seeley, 850 in Bear Grove, 281 in Union Township. He followed general farming and livestock raising, taking great pride in raising high grade cattle, horses, and hogs. The family arrived June 17, 1855, and they lived in a tent three months, sleeping on the ground. Mr. Sheeder then built a log cabin, 12 x 16 feet, with clapboard roof. Later he made an addition to the cabin of equal size, this part being covered with lap shingles of his own manufacture. Here six more children were born. They were, George, who was the first white child in Guthrie County; Anna, Domicilla, Willis, Joseph and Wilmer. In 1869 William built a three story brick house with two large rooms and a fireplace in the basement serving as kitchen and dining rooms, three rooms on the ground floor, four rooms on the second floor and two rooms in the attic. The complete cost of the house was about $3,000. The brick was hauled by ox team and wagon from Iowa City, the lumber from Sioux City. At times Mr. Sheeder would be gone a month or more at a time to haul home these materials. His success, he believed, was due to his never paying much interest and keeping out of debt. He was assessor of Bear Grove Township and later a trustee of Baker Township. His boys all worked for their room and board until they were 21; then they were paid $100 a year, plus room and board. Mary Keeley Sheeder died October 5, 1897, William Sheeder died January 19, 1900. They both lived to see all their children married and settled on nearby farms, in prospering and respected circumstances. They are buried in Union Cemetery. Silas Sheeder, eldest son of William and Mary was born February 13, 1855, Silas with his parents and three brothers came to IA, arriving here May 1, 1855, and located on a farm in Baker Township. Silas weighed only 1 1/2 pounds at birth and grew up to be the largest of all the boys. A tea cup would fit over his head. On March 21, 1889, Silas was married to Louisa Herron, born December 5, 1865, daughter of Hiram and Melissa Armstrong Herron of Noble County, OH. They located on a farm in Bear Grove Township where he built a fine home on his 860 acre farm along with other farm buildings and remained here the rest of their days. He raised cattle, hogs and horses, taking great pride in all. They attended the Methodist Episcopal Church and his political allegiance was given to the Democratic party. Silas was a factor in the county’s developments and upheld any progressive public movement. They had five children, Harry, Dora, Norah, Maud and Ellis. Silas died October 27, 1925 and Louisa died in 1943. Harry married Ethel Dunfee, daughter of Marion Dunfee. They lived on a farm near the parental Silas Sheeder farm. They had two boys, Carroll Boyd and Roger Clair. Harry died at the age of 34 in 1923. Dora married Sidney Wolf, May 4, 1910. Sid was born in Astoria IL, the son of Ed and Florence Murphy Wolf. They spent their life together on a farm in Baker Township. To them were born seven children. Norah was born in 1895 and died in 1900. Maud married Floyd Shroyer March 14, 1926. He was the son of King and Maggie Long Shroyer. They lived on a farm in Bear Grove Township. They had two children, Evelyn and Boyd. The last child was Ellis and he born January 27, 1901 and died in 1962. He did not marry and lived at home with his parents as long as they lived. {Excerpts from the Sheeder Lineage in Guthrie County, An Illustrious Past, A Great Future.}