BackGround: Palmyra Temple, Palmyra, New York.
First Generation
Up Dated 6 February 2008
Pictures of the Clark M. SHEFFER Family
Clark M. was born 9 August 1828 in Vernon, Oneida, New York. He married 18 November 1857, in South Haven, Van Buren, Michigan, Roxina Abigail KNAPP, the daughter of Chauncey KNAPP and Rosetta HALE. Roxina A. was born 10 Oct 1838, in Schroeppel, Oswego, New York, and died 20 January 1914 in Casco Twp. Allegan, Michigan. Clark died 20 May 1906 in Casco Twp, Allegan, Michigan.
Clark M SHEFFER, who for many years was a representative of agricultural interestw in Allegan Co., owning and conducting the Octagon Fruit Farm departed this live 20 May 1906, when he had reached the age of seventy-seven years. He was born in Oneida County, New York on 3 August 1829, a son of George and Polly (CHAMBERLIN) SHEFFER natives of Pensylvania (actually New York). The father followed the trade of Shoe Making in early life. He was a transmedium and was one of the first lecturers on Spiritualism in the state of Michigan. His death occured in Lenawee County, this state, while his wife passed away in Allegan County.
Clark M. SHEFFER was one of nine (Ten)children and was reared in New York to the age of sixteen years, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Lenawee County, this state. He then learned the currier's trade, and when a young man of 20 years returned to the Empire State, following his trade there and in the New England States for several years, after which he came to southwestern Michigan, where he continued in the same pursuit until his health became impaired and he was forced to abandon his trade, and he then decided to locate on a farm hoping that the outdoor living would bendfit his health. In 1850, during the time of his residence in the east, he had made a trip to Michigan and purchased one hundred and sixty acres ofland, for which he paid $1.25 an acre, situated on section 36, Casco Twp., Allegan County. This tract was covered with timber.He returned to New York and worked at his trade as a tanner of leather to get money to clear his land, and in 1852 Mr. SHEFFER took his abode thereon, although he disposed of eighty acres to his brother(S. G. SHEFFER -- see above -- ) retaining possession of eighty acres, to which in 1854, he added a tract of 50 acressituated in section 35 bordering the shores of Lake Michigan. There were three quarters of a mile of beach on his property. When Mr. SHEFFER located his first purchase of land he made the trip from Breedsville, Van Buren, Michigan in the company with two companions, the journey being made on horseback. They forded the Black River at South Haven, (known as "The Mouth" at that time) and at night took refuge in an old house on the opposite side of the river from where he purchased his farm. This was during the pioneering epoch in the history of the state, when Indians were more numerous than white settlers, and wolves and other wild animals were still roaming through the forests. Mr SHEFFER erected a small shanty on his place, in which he took up his abode, and began clearing his land of the trees and brush and disposing of his bark, which was shipped on the river to the city market.
As fast as he cleared his land he would place it under ultivation, and he likewise set out a large apple orchard, this being one of the first orchards in this part of the state. He later set out peaches and other fruits, having altogether forty acres devoted to horticultural pursuits, and this branch of his business proved a profitable source of income to him. He later disposed of portions of his farm at various times, the land being used as summer resorts, and the famous resort known as Sleepy Hollow is located on this farm, so that the tract now comprises seventy-five acres, which includes a fine grove covering four acres and boarders Lake Michigan. He had at first a hut and later built a small house. When Clark SHEFFER married Roxina KNAPP he took her on horseback to their home in the woods on the edge of Casco Twp., Allegan County which was their life time home. In 1872 he erected an elegant 19 room residence, which was built in an octagon shape, which cost $2,000.00. The lumber was sawed from virgin timber on his land. The windows and doors, and also the hardware, all came from Chicago by sailboat. Thus the farm takes its name of The Octagon Fruit Farm.
NOTE: (in an article from the Kalamazoo Gazette on the Octagon House).
"In 1872 Clark SHEFFER, a New York leather currier who set up one of the first fruit farmers in the area, had an octagon built on what is now North Shore Drive in Casco Twp., (Allegan Co.). Fifty years after it was built it became part of a resort, and it is rumored to have housed some colorful and even notorious characters. according to Bernie MORET who owns the former resort, it was a lively place in the 1920s and 1930s with gambling and card games a regular, back room activity. Today it is used as a storeroom."
(It was restored in the early 1980s and is now a residence again Robin FORREST)
To see pictures before and after the restoration click on the Octagon Home.
Mr. SHEFFER chose as a companion and helpmate for life's journey Miss Roxina Abigail KNAPP, the marriage ceremony being celebrated in 1857 (18 November). Her birth occurred in (Schroeppel), Oswego, New York, 10 October 1838, where she was reared to the age of 8 years, when she accompanied her parents, Chauncey and Rosetta (HALE) KNAPP, on their removal from the Empire State to Watertown, (Jefferson County), Wisconsin. Her parents were natives of Vermont, and after their removal to Watertown, Mrs. SHEFFER remained with them until she had reached the age of eighteen years, when she came to South Haven, this state, where she has resided to the present time, with the exception of two years spent with her husband in California, where they went in the interest of their son's health. (This was their son Frank I SHEFFER).
(Roxina's mother died in 1855 and her father was prospecting in the west. Her mother's brother Marshall HALE, who owned the Hale's Department Store in South Haven, went to Wisconsin and over saw the burial of his sister Rosetta and brought his three nieces back to South Haven in 1856. Leaving their brother in Wiscinsin to inform their father when he returned from his prospecting trip. Roxina's sister Lydia KNAPP later married Clark's brother John (see John V. SHEFFER below for more information.)
More on Roxina A. KNAPP
Mr. SHEFFER formerly gave his political allegience to the Repumlican party, but later became a Bryan democrat. He was deeply interested in educational progress and served as school officer for many years, but aside from this was never in office holding. In religious faith he was a Spiritualist from his boyhood days and ever took a deep interest in the work and teachings of that denomination. he was devoted to his home and family, and his greateset delight was in doing whatever would enhance their pleasure and happiness. he was a kind neighbor and faithfull friend, and was well known in Allegan county, where he had lived and labored for more than half a century, and thus his death, which occurred May 10 1906, was the ocassion of deep and wide felt regret, for he had been long associated with trhe development and progress of this section of the state, for he came here in the early fifties, when the land was still in its wild and unimproved state and when no roads had as yet been laid out. it was on his farm that two streets were laid out, one of which bears the name of SHEFFER Avenue, being named in his honor. This highway runs east and west while the other runs north and south and is called Pioneer Street, so called because of the pioneer conditionwhich here existed, our subject having burned the first brush in this district.
Mrs. SHEFFER still survives her husband, and yet makes her home on the farm, being assisted in its opperation by her son (Woodman). She, too is actively interested in Spirtitualism, and for eight years served as treasurer of the State Spiritualists' Association of Michigan, and during that period missed but one quarterly meeting of that body. She was likewise for twelve years treasurer of Van Buren and the adjoining counties' Spiritualist Association, resigning the office when she took a trip th the Pacific coast. She is widely known because of her interest and work in the cause, not only in this state but throughout other states as well, and in this connection has been brought in contact withmany of the national leaders of the movement.
Clark SHEFFER died from dysentery and was burried in the McDowell Cemetery, Casco Twp., Allegan, Michigan. Mrs. SHEFFER died January 20, 1914 of Stomach Cancer.
Back to Clark M. SHEFFER
1830 Census Vernon, Oneida, New York.
George Shaver
Under 5; 5 to 10; 10 to 15; 15 to 20; 30 to 40;
Males: 1 1 1 -------- 1
Females: 1 ------- -------- -------- 1
1840 Census Aurelius, Cayuga, New York.
G. SHEFFER
Under 5; 5 to 10; 10 to 15; 15 to 20; 30 to 40; 40 to 50
Males: 2 ------- 1 1 1 --------
Females: 1 2 1 -------- -------- 1
1850 Census ?????
1870 Census Casco Twp., Allegan, Michigan Page 26
R Estate Personel Where
Name Age Sex Race Occupation Value Value Born
SHEFFER Clark 42 M W Farmer -------- -------- New York
" Oxana 33 F W Keeping House -------- -------- New York
" Nettie 12 F W At School -------- -------- Michigan
" Woodman 10 M W At School -------- -------- Michigan
" Sherman 4 M W ------------- -------- -------- Michigan
" Frank 2 M W ------------- -------- -------- Michigan
1880 Census Casco Twp., Allegan, Michigan ED 20 Page 31 Line 28
Mar
Name Race Sex Age Relat Sta Occupation |Self Father Mother|
SHEFFER Clark W M 57 ----- M Farmer N. Y. Penn. N. Y.
" Roxina W F 42 Wife M Keeping House N. Y. Verm. Verm.
" Woodman W M 20 Son S Works on Farm Mich. N. Y. N. Y.
" Sherman W M 13 Son S At School Mich. N. Y. N. Y.
" Frank W M 10 Son S At School Mich. N. Y. N. Y.
1900 Census Casco Twp., Allegan, Michigan, ED 4 Sheet 9B Line 92
Mont Year Mar Yrs | Place of Birth |
Name Relat R Sex Born Born Age Sta Mar |Self Father Mother| Occupation
SHEFFER C M Head W M Aug 1828 71 M 42 N. Y. N. Y. Verm. Farmer
" Roxina A Wife W F Oct 1837 62 M 42 N. Y. Verm. Verm. ----------
JONES Nettie R Dau W F Sep 1858 41 M 18 Mich. N. Y. N. Y. ----------
" Grace V G Dau W F Jan 1883 17 S --- Mich. Ohio Mich. ----------
" Clark A G Son W M Dec 1883 16 S --- Mich. Ohio Mich. At School
" Lawrence M G Son W M Mar 1893 7 S --- S. D. Ohio Mich. At School
ROMSEY William Serv W M Jul 1881 18 S --- Ill. Germ. Germ. Farm Laborer
NOACK Carl Serv W M Apr 1881 19 S --- Mich. Germ. Germ. Farm Laborer
Roxina A Mother of 5 Children 4 Living
Nettie R Mother of 3 Children 3 Living
1910 Census
CHILDREN of Clark M. SHEFFER and Roxina Abibail KNAPP:
+ 41. 1. NETTIE ROXINA b: 24 Sep 1858; Casco Twp., Allegan,
Michigan.
md: 30 Mar 1882; , , .
Ruben JONES
md: 9 Jan 1901; , , .
Daniel LUDWIG
d: 5 Nov 1922; , Berrien, Michigan.
+ 42. 2. WOODMAN CLARK b: 16 Jun 1860; Casco Twp., Allegan,
Michigan.
md: 16 Oct 1883; , Green, Wisconsin.
Stella May WOOD.
d: 10 Apr 1943; South Haven, Van Buren,
Michigan.
bur: 12 Apr 1943; Lake View Cemetery,
South Haven, Van Buren,
Michigan.
43. 3. GEORGE HENRY b: 27 Mar 1865; Casco Twp., Allegan,
Michigan.
d: 14 Apr 1865: Casco Twp., Allegan,
Michigan.
bur: In there yard as no
cemetery had been
layed out yet.
+ 44. 4. SHERMAN HENRY b: 31 Jul 1866; Casco Twp., Allegan,
Michigan.
md: 30 Nov 1905; , , Michigan
Ethel May ROLLINS.
d: 20 Oct 1945; Berthoud, Larimer,
Colorado.
+ 45. 5. FRANK IRVIN b: 1 May 1870; Casco Twp., Allegan,
Michigan.
md: 10 Jan 1894; , , Michigan.
Jessie Lenore BAKER.
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