Revision as of 06:19, 11 February 2010

Dorothy Sheffer was born in Venango Co. PA, where her parents lived in the town of Emlenton. Her brother Brahfield was 3 1/2 years older than she was. Her father died when Dorothy was one year old, and her mother died when she was four. The children stayed for a time with their Aunt Winnie Beals' family, and then for a time with Aunt Annie Sheffer's family.
In 1928 Branfield was ten years old. He drowned in the Allegheny River where he and a few friends had gone to swim under the Emlenton bridge. Aunt Stella Sheffer thereafter kept Dorothy with her. She and her husband, Silas Wonderling, took Dorothy with them out of state to various construction sites where Mr Wonderling was working, including the Hoover Dam project. When Aunt Stella died, Dorothy stayed with her Grandpa Sheffer back in Emlenton. Eventually a guardian was appointed for her until she married.
Dorothy married at about age 16 to Ralph Garmong, and had a daughter, Bonnie. Dorothy had a second daughter, a second and third marriages, and a son by the 3rd marriage. She lived to age 70 and died in 1988. Dorothy lived in Ohio, but her children later resided in Florida.

Ancestry chart segment

 Generation 2              Generation 3               Generation 4
 
                                                        +--  John Abram Kline
                                                        |    (1857-1915)
                         +-- Beulah Gladys Kline  ------+
                         |   (1890-1925)                |
 Dorothy Kline Sheffer --+                              +-- Anna Catherine Howe
 (1918 - ????)           |                                  (1830-1890)
                         +-- William Otis Branfield Sheffer
                             (1887-1922)

Sources: ^[4]

Children

( 3 children with 3 different fathers)

Places of Residence

Photo Gallery

Dorothy & Branfield Sheffer, possibly about 1922

John Frederick, George M. Sheffer, & grandchildren (possibly Ailene or Hazel Sheffer), Branfield & Dorothy Sheffer

Dorothy & Branfield Sheffer circa 1927, with unidentified friend, possibly a Sheffer cousin.

Portraits and Klein family photos: photographers & dates unknown, provided by Ella Beals Wilson
Photo of John Frederick & George Mansfield Sheffer with grandchildren provided by Ed Barry

Sources

Ref. Num.	Description	Image of original
1	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.
2	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.
3	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.
4	Research Manuscript of Ella May Beals (Wilson) researched 1975-1985, including personal knowledge and interviews of her siblings Robert Beals and Bertha Beals (Chambers), and of her aunt Mary P. Kline (Fillgrove). Ella May Beals Wilson was a daughter of Winnifred May Kline.
5	Personal correspondence with Ed Barry, 2006 ongoing; grandson of Beulah Gladys Kline and W. O. B. Sheffer.
6	Personal correspondence from Elizabeth Wilson Williams, granddaughter of Winnifred May Kline.	N/A
7	Bertha Beals Chambers, notes on family births, deaths, marriages, contributed June 2009

Source notes

Conjecture

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