William Otis Branfield Sheffer
William Otis Branfield Sheffer had a brother, J. Austin Sheffer, and a sister Stella Sheffer. They were the children of George M. Sheffer and Sarah Elenore Myers.
Branfield married Gladys Kline and had three children,one who died at birth, William Otis Branfield Sheffer, Jr. who died at age 10, and Dorothy Kline Sheffer.
Gladys died from a cerebral blood clot in 1925, when son Branfield was seven years old and Dorothy was four. The children stayed at times with the families of their aunts, Winnie Kline Beals, Annie Kline Sheffer, and Branfield's sister Stella Sheffer Wonderling.
In 1928, when Branfield Jr. was ten years old, he drowned in the Allegheny River where he and a few friends had gone to swim under the Emlenton bridge. He is buried in the Sheffer plot at Emlenton cemetery. Dorothy stayed with Aunt Stella Sheffer for a time, with her Grandfather Sheffer, and then with a guardian until she married.
William Otis Branfield Sheffer's father, George Sheffer, was a Civil War Veteran who heard President Lincoln deliver the Gettysberg Adddress. He would recite the Address at local Decoration Day (Veterans Day) programs. He had a machine shop,and held patents on several inventions. He was also a singer, violinist and pianist., and music ran in the family.
(Emlenton, Pennsylvania)
| Date | Location | Notes | Sources | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | 27 June 1887 | Emlenton, Venango Co., PA | [7] | |
| Marriage | 3 Apr 1916 | To Beulah Gladys Kline at parsonage, Oil City Evangelical church by Rev. E.A. Miles |
[7] | |
| Death | 6 Oct. 1922 | at home, Hill St., Emlenton, PA |
[7] | |
| Burial | Emlenton Cemetery | [6]/sup> |
Ancestry chart segment
Generation 3 Generation 4 Generation 5 Generation 6
+-- John Sheffer
| (1784-1864)
+-- Jacob Best Sheffer--+
| (1814-1900) |
+-- George Mansfield Sheffer --+ +-- Barbara Bescht/Best
| (1847-1937 ) |
+--William Otis Branfield Sheffer --+ +-- Sarah Linn
| (1880-1960) | (1824-1890)
| +-- Sarah Eleanor Myers
| (1853-1910)
|
+-- Beulah Gladys Kline
(1890-1925)
Sources: [8][9]
Children
(all children with William Otis Branfield Sheffer)
| Name | Gender | Date of Birth | Birthplace | Spouse | Notes | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| infant Sheffer | ? | 1917 | d. 1917 | [7] | ||
| William Otis Branfield Sheffer | M | 18 May 1918 | unmarried | died 13 Sept. 1928, age 10 Emlenton cemetery |
[6][7][8][9] | |
| Dorothy Kline Sheffer | F | 26 Feb 1921 | married 3rd)26 Apr 1953 to Edward Ennis Barry (b. 5 June 1914 - d. 9 Oct 1990) |
died 15 Mar 1988 | [7][8][9]
|
Photo Gallery
,_Emlenton_Cem.jpg)
Emlenton Cemetery gravestone photos 1991 by E W Williams
Sources
| Ref. Num. | Description | Image of origina |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1900 United States Federal Census, District 141, Emlenton, Venango Co, PA, page 10, lines 93-98: George M. Sheffer, 52, born Jun 1847, lives with his wife of 25 years, Sara E. Sheffer, 47, born Feb 1853. They have had six children, four of whom are alive and present in this household: Son Austin J. Sheffer, 19, born Jun 1880, daughter Estella Sheffer, 17, born Jul 1882, son Plummer U. Sheffer(?), 15, born Mar 1885, and son William O. Sheffer, 12, born Jun 1887. Everyone and their parents were born in PA. George is a machinist. They live on Hill St. |
 |
| 2 | 1910 United States Federal Census, District 112, Emlenton, Venango Co, PA, page 11. Census dated 19 Apr 1910. Lines 10-14: George M. Sheffer, head, 63, ist marriage, 35 years, machinist, machine shop, owns home, no mortgage; Sarah M., wife, 57, 1st marriage, 35 years, 6 children born, 4 living; Estella, dau., 28; Plummer, son, 25; Otis W., son, 22, freight agent, depot. All and all parents b. PA. All can read, write and speak English. |
 |
| 3 | 1920 United States Federal Census, District 110, Emlenton, Venango Co, PA, page 4. Census dated 6,7 Jan 1920. Lines 57-59: William O.B. Sheffer, 31, owns home with mortgage, bookkeeper, Steam RR Dept; Gladys B., wife, 29; Oatis, 1 year 9 months. All and parents b. PA. All can read, adults can write and speak English. The family lives on Hill Street. |  |
| 4 | 1930 United States Federal Census, District 6, San Luis Obispo, Atascadero Co, CA, page 30. Census dated 18 Apr 1930. Lines 86-88: Silas M. Wonderling, 62, first married at age 22, owns home, value $3500, no radio, carpenter, building trade, not a veteran; Stella S., wife, 47, first married at age 46; Dorothy K. Sheffer, 9, niece, in school. All and parents b. PA, adults can read, write, all can speak English. This is Dorothy Sheffer living with her Aunt Stella and Mr. Wonderling after the death of her parents and brother. |
 |
| 5 | Obituary for Beulah Gladys Sheffer, who died on Sunday, 19 Jul [year missing]. She died at the home of her sister, Mrs. J. E. Beals, following an extended illness. She was born on 28 Nov 1890 in Richland Twp., Venango Co., PA. Her parents were John A. Kline and Ella Frederick Kline. She was married to W. O. B. Sheffer on 3 Apr 1916 in Oil City, PA. Her husband died on 6 Oct 1922. She is survived by two children: Otis Branfield Sheffer and Dorothy Kline Sheffer, as well as four siblings: Mrs. J. A. Sheffer of Emlenton, Mrs. J. E. Beals of Richland Twp., Fred E. Kline of Rimersburg, PA, and Mrs. Harold Fillgrove of "near town." Beulah Gladys Sheffer was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Emlenton. She was buried in a cemetery in or near Emlenton. |  |
| 6 | Gravestone transcriptions, Emlenton Cemetery, Venanto Co. PA, 1991 by Elizabeth Wilson Williams. William Otis B Sheffer 1887-1922, Gladys K Sheffer 1890-1925
|
|
| 7 | Personal correspondence with Ed Barry, 2006 ongoing; grandson of Beulah Gladys Kline and W. O. B. Sheffer. | |
| 8 | Rick Sheffer personal correspondence Aug 2008. "Sheffer Family Journey, from the Rhineland to Venango County, Pa.", copyright 2008 by Rick Sheffer, a powerpoint presentation of data and photos,program presented in Emlenton PA Sept. 2008. Information based on Hazel Sheffer Crawford's collection of family and other photos to be donated to the Pumping Jack Museum ( of the local oil industry), Emlenton, Venango Co. PA. The museum is located in the former Crawford High School building. |
 |
| 9 | The John Adam Scheffer Family History and Lineage 1751-1958 compiled by Hazel Sheffer Crawford, Emlenton, PA 1958. Submitted to us by Nancy Beals Walls Oct 2008. | |
| 10 | Personal correspondence from Elizabeth Wilson Williams, granddaughter of Winnifred May Kline. | N/A
|
| 11 | Obituary of William Otis Branfield Sheffer, from collection of Peg Kahle. Original source not given. William Otis Branfield Sheffer died 6 Oct 1922 ar 12 in the morning, in his home on Hill Street, Emlenton, PA due to heart trouble. Born 27 June 1887 in Emlenton, son of George M. and Sarah Elenore Myers Sheffer. His mother preceded him in death. Married 3 Apr 1916 to Beulah Gladys Kline, daughter of Mrs. Ella Kline of Salem, at the parsonage of the Oil City Evangelical church by pastor Rev. E.A. Miles. Two children: Otis Branfield, age 4 and one daughter Dorothy Kline age 10 mo. Also surviving are his wife, father G.M>Sheffer, one sister Estella Sheffer, and one brother James Austin Sheffer, all of Emlenton. Member First Methodist Episcopal Church of Emlenton and of Odd Fellows. Services at the home on Hill Street with pRev. J.G. Ginader; burial at Emlenton Cemetery |
 |
| 12 | World War I Draft Registration Card dated 5 Jun 1917 for Wm. Otis Branfield Sheffer, age 29. He lives at Eighth St., Emlenton, PA. He was born on 27 Jun 1887. He is a natural-born citizen. He was born in Emlenton, PA. He is employed as a warehosueman with the PA railroad in Emlenton, PA. He lists his wife as a dependent. He does not claim exemption from military service. He is caucasian, short, of medium build, with grey eyes and brown hair. He is not bald. |  |
