Elizabeth Shafer 
F, (3 September 1874 - 28 November 1968)
- Relationship
- 9th great-granddaughter of Eberlin Haim
Elizabeth Shafer was born on 3 September 1874 at Hepburn Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.1 She was the daughter of Samuel B. Shafer and Maria Heim. Elizabeth Shafer married, at age 28, Levi Fretz, age 27 on Tuesday, 23 December 1902.1 Elizabeth Shafer died on 28 November 1968 at age 94 years, 2 months and 25 days.1
She Written by Howard J. Fretz - Son
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Shafer was born September 3, 1874 in Hepburn Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, the second child of Samuel B. and Mary Heim Shafer. In 1884 her parents moved to Nebraska as several families from Lycoming County had migrted to the west, finding new land much to their liking. They settled in Imperial, Nebraska, and mother recalls the early activities there, building their own sod houses, staking the site for the Town Hall, and grading the right of way for the railroad.
While the land was productive, Mary and Samuel often suffered losses from hail, grasshoppers and drought. Their children had great fear of prairie fires and cyclones. Elizabeth had also related many pleasant memories of those days,
and to us those stories were always very interesting and exciting.
Mother returned to Pennsylvania with her parents, her sister, Mattie, and her brother, John, around 1899 after living at several locations in Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa. Soon after reaching Pennsylvania, she was severely stricken
with typhoid fever which had taken several lives in Hepburnville and the community nearby.
Samuel then purchased a farm in Canada, near Ridgeway, Ontario, where mother became acquainted with my father, Levi Fretz. After their marriage on December 23, 1902, they settled on the Fretz homestead which has been in the family since July 21, 1800. Elizabeth and Levi became members of the Brethren in Christ Church in Bertie Township where they faithfully attended through the years, and of which we children have many happy childhood recollections.
Elizabeth was able to keep in touch with her relatives in Nebraska and Pennsylvania; whenever any of them came to visit, a special trip to Niagara Falls was in order, sometimes with horses and wagon.
Levi passed away April 14, 1952. Mother died November 28, 1968 after living on the home farm for many years. They are buried in the cemetery near the church. The farm is now owned and operated by Howard Fretz, her oldest grandson.
She Written by Howard J. Fretz - Son
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Shafer was born September 3, 1874 in Hepburn Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, the second child of Samuel B. and Mary Heim Shafer. In 1884 her parents moved to Nebraska as several families from Lycoming County had migrted to the west, finding new land much to their liking. They settled in Imperial, Nebraska, and mother recalls the early activities there, building their own sod houses, staking the site for the Town Hall, and grading the right of way for the railroad.
While the land was productive, Mary and Samuel often suffered losses from hail, grasshoppers and drought. Their children had great fear of prairie fires and cyclones. Elizabeth had also related many pleasant memories of those days,
and to us those stories were always very interesting and exciting.
Mother returned to Pennsylvania with her parents, her sister, Mattie, and her brother, John, around 1899 after living at several locations in Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa. Soon after reaching Pennsylvania, she was severely stricken
with typhoid fever which had taken several lives in Hepburnville and the community nearby.
Samuel then purchased a farm in Canada, near Ridgeway, Ontario, where mother became acquainted with my father, Levi Fretz. After their marriage on December 23, 1902, they settled on the Fretz homestead which has been in the family since July 21, 1800. Elizabeth and Levi became members of the Brethren in Christ Church in Bertie Township where they faithfully attended through the years, and of which we children have many happy childhood recollections.
Elizabeth was able to keep in touch with her relatives in Nebraska and Pennsylvania; whenever any of them came to visit, a special trip to Niagara Falls was in order, sometimes with horses and wagon.
Levi passed away April 14, 1952. Mother died November 28, 1968 after living on the home farm for many years. They are buried in the cemetery near the church. The farm is now owned and operated by Howard Fretz, her oldest grandson.
Children of Elizabeth Shafer and Levi Fretz
- Howard John Fretz+ (19 Aug 1904 - 15 May 1988)
- Viola Pearl Fretz+ (30 Jul 1907 - )
- Clarence Elmer Fretz+ (30 Oct 1911 - )
Last Edited=26 May 2004
Citations
- [S22] Thomas J. S. Heim, The Fourth Generation of the Frederick Shafer Family in America (West Chester, Pennsylvania: n.pub., unknown publish date), p. 3.