The early history of my Sheffer is very maybe... Ira W (maybe Wilder his mother's maiden name) Sheffer was born in NY ca 1832 (possibily in the Utica area). Moved to MI (maybe Grand Rapids area) about 1840 but may have moved to Western NY prior to that. Possibily in Flora, Boone Co IL in the early 1860s. Living in Bremer County, Iowa by January 1867. On 12 April 1869 Ira married Emily Bean Wilson a widow in Chickasaw Co, Iowa. They had four children 1- Minnie born Sept 1869 died Oct 1870 in Mason City Iowa; 2- Albert b 1871 Mason City, (moved to the Northwest by 1900 and not heard from again); 3- Melissa b 17 June 1872 died 1948 (my grandmother); 4- Myrtle b May 1875 died Sept 1944 married Elmer E. Lufkin. Ira and Emily moved to Motley, MN before the 1880 census and are recorded there through 1910. Emily died in 1899 in Motley. It is believed that Ira was staying with Melissa and her 2nd husband Tom Heaton in Perth, ND when he died in 1912. The maybe parts are related to a Uriah Shaver/Sheffer reported to be a brother to my Ira. Uriah was born in Niagara County NY ca 1834, moved to Grand Rapids MI, then to Boone county Illinois where I did find him in a military census as Sheffer. Uriah married, raised a family and died in Lake Park, Iowa 11 Oct 1906 age 71 years 11 month 24 days. Uriah's death registration notes father as Ari Shaver, no mother's name given. Married Lavina Goodnow, they had 7 chldren 5 survived in 1906. 1900 census lists Guy E b Dec 1878; Lymon L ?? b April 1881, Clarence b 1885 and Jasper (no dates copy unreadable). Both Uri and Ira list their father as born in Maryland on the 1900 census. Does any of this look familiar. I would enjoy hearing from anyone with ties to these two possible brothers. Diane Bassette Nelson Town of Covert Historian (Seneca County, NY) [email protected]