John A Sheaff

Citations

1. [S1664] William Whelan (March 1863), Will and Probate of William Whelan, Philadelphia Court (1863) No. 536, online Ancestry.com. Names as an heir "Catherine Feran, daughter of my deceased wife," and as co-executor "my friend Thomas Feran of the City of Washington."
2. [S18] 1870 U.S. Federal Census.
3. [S2711] The Lancaster Intelligencer, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Obit. for John A. Sheaff, "a Lancasterian by birth his father being John Sheaff, a well-known and respected citizen in his day."
4. [S20] 1850 U.S. Federal Census.
5. [S520] VWH.
6. [S2711] Lancaster Intelligencer, Mon., 30 Apr 1877, p. 2. John A. Sheaff, an old and highly-esteemed citizen of Lancaster, died suddenly of apoplexy between one and two o'clock this morning at his residence, corner of West King and Mulberry streets. Yesterday he was in as pod health as he had been for some years past. He attended mass at St. Mary’s church in the morning, and at the close of the service called on his old friend Luther Richards. The afternoon he spent at home. On leaving the supper table, and passing from the dining room to the one adjoining it, he was noticed by his sister to stagger, and he would have fallen to the floor had she not caught him in her arms. His son W. R. Shea ran to his assistance, seated him and then hurried for a surgeon. Dr. Atlee was soon on hand and rendered all possible assistance, and at 9 o’clock his family physician, Dr. Carpenter, who had been out of town, called and attended him; but medical skill was unavailing. Mr. Sheaff continued to sink and between one and two o’clock peacefully expired.
   Mr. Sheaff was a Lancasterian by birth his father being John Sheaff, a well-known and respected citizen in his day. After quitting school Mr. Sheaff was apprenticed to the printing business, serving his time with John Reynolds, at that time publisher of the Lancaster Journal, a paper that was afterwards consolidated with the INTELLIGENCER. Mr. Sheaff afterwards purchased a printing office in Columbia, and for a short time published a weekly paper. He afterwards studied surveying and became a civil engineer, and was principal assistant under Edward F. Gay in the construction of the tide water canal, and the Philadelphia and Columbia railroad. He designed and assisted in erecting the old Market street bridge, Philadelphia, destroyed by fire a year or two ago, and he built almost all the bridges on the tide water canal. He was the first person to survey the site of the great Victoria bridge in Canada. He was extensively engaged in a number of other enterprises, having been a partner of John Black in coal mining operations in Canada, a heavy stockholder in the unfortunate York furnace bridge company, and a partner in a copper mining operation at Water Gap, on the Delaware. His last principal work was the construction of the Junction and Breakwater railroad in Delaware, the contractors for the work being Mr. Sheaff, John M . Barry, Geo. K. Reed and Thomas Baumgardner. On the completion of the road Mr. Sheaff was for some time its general superintendent. He was also on several occasions a member of the Lancaster school board and of city councils. For four or five years past he has lived retired.
   Deceased was twice married. His first wife was Miss Ramsey, who belonged to one of the oldest families in Maryland. His second wife was Miss Gillespie, daughter of our well known citizen, Charles Gillespie. A son by the first wife and a daughter by the second survive him.
   Mr. Sheaff was highly esteemed by all who-knew him. As one of his life-long friends mid to-day, “a better hearted man or more genial companion never lived. He was the soul of honor and honest to a fault. He was a loving father, a true husband, a pod citizen and a faithful Christian." At his funeral will take place Thursday morning at 9 o’clock, at St. Mary's Catholic church."
7. [S238] 1810 U.S. Federal Census. John (26-44); F (26-44) [unidentified wife of John S]; 3 m (<10) [Joseph, William, John A]; f (10-15) [__f1].
8. [S2711] Lancaster Intelligencer, Obituary for John A. Sheaff, 1877, q.v.
9. [S20] 1850 U.S. Federal Census. John (70), b. PA, barber.
10. [S2714] Lancaster County Wills; (Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993: Ancestry.com), Wills Book W, Lancaster County Court House, pp. 518-519. Last will of John Sheaff of Lancaster City, 27 Jul 1857. Bequeaths to dau. Christianna four shares of stock in the Farmers Bank of Lancaster. Bequeaths to sons Joseph, William and Henry one dollar each, to son John A the residue and remainder for the maintenance and education of grandson William Ramsey Sheaff. John A Sheaff, trustee and executor; witn. A Carpenter and Luther Richards. Proved 24 Nov 1862.
11. [S19] 1860 U.S. Federal Census. John (80), gentleman, personal estate $300 [birthplace illegible].
12. [S1664] Will and Probate of William Whelan, Philadelphia Court (1863) No. 536: The will first provides one-eighth part (either directly or in trust) to each of six children of William (and presumably of Catherine). It then provides one eighth part "in trust for the sole and separate use of Catherine Feran, daughter of my deceased wife," revealing that Catherine had been married before her 1807 marriage with William. It goes on to provide the "remaining eighth part. . . in trust for the sole and separate use of Catharine Smith and Ellen A. Sheaff, granddaughters of my said wife in equal shares." This would appear to indicate that grand daughters Catharine and Ellen were not the daughters of Catherine Feran (who if they were would be receiving a greater share than her half-siblings) and were probably sisters, again proving for equal shares to eight offspring and their heirs. It is unlikely, but possible, that the Catherine, wife of William in the1850 census, is a second Catherine, but this genealogy will presume the first case, and presume that Catherine who married William in 1807 was a widow of another Whelan.
13. [S18] 1870 U.S. Federal Census. John (56), b. PA, civil engineer, real estate value $8,000, personal estate $15,000; Ellen (40), b. PA, keeping house.
14. [S1628] FindAGrave.com, online findagrave.com, Large shared memorial. John A Sheaff, d. 30 Apr 1877, age 68; Ellen A Gillespie, wife of John A Sheaff, b. 9 Jun 1828, d. 7 Apr 1900; John S Sheaff, d. 23 Feb 1862, age 82; Christiann C Sheaff, d. 16 Apr 1902, age 86. Memorial 159025323, created by and photo added by Susan Bealefeld Rozar.
15. [S17] 1880 U.S. Federal Census.