I'm trying to trace part of the Shirey family that seems to go back to a Peter Shirer (1815 Penn) and Lydia (Bennett?). First indication of Peter is in Plain, Stark Co., Ohio in the 1840 census. He shows up later in De Kalb Co, Indiana (1850 and 1860). There is also a Jacob Shirer listed in the 1840 Stark Co. (Osnaburg) Ohio census. Jacob is listed as 50-60 years old which would seem to make him a likely candidate as Peter's father. Any help would be much appreciated.

Noel

Hi Denny

Thanks for the reply. Not sure what faith Peter was although there was mention of a "Friends Church" in oral family history. My grandfather (John William Shirey) claimed to be "Pennsylvania Deutsch" although that may be due to being raised in that part of the country not where the family came from originally.

As for the spelling of the name, I am going by what the people at Ancestry.com have listed which may or may not be accurate. The 1850 Indiana census lists him as Shier (1815 Pennsylvania) although the name looks more like Shirer to me. On that census his family is listed as: Lydia (wife) 1820, Ohio - Rachel 1837, Ohio - Catharine, 1839, Ohio - Elizabeth, 1845, Ohio and Washington, 1847, Iowa.

On the 1860 census the family name is listed as Shirey and from that point on all of the children seem to have adopted that spelling. On that census all of the children (now including John (my ggp) 1849, Lewis 1853, Jeremiah and Jesse 1856) are listed as having been born in Indiana. Most of those settled in Allen County, Indiana.

I have also found one mention of Peter Shirey and Lydia Bennet being married in Stark County, abt 1838. There's no documentation with that so don't know where the researcher came up with it. Other than that records for Peter and Lydia seem to be pretty scarce.

Will keep nosing around and see if I can find anything else.

Noel

There was a large Swiss/German settlement in Plain Twp. and most of them were Lutheran. There is a Lutheran church right across the street from Henry Warstler Cemetery where many of them are buried. I have some Firestone relatives in there and the Scheurer family I told you about from North Canton also has some relatives in there. It seemed to be the only Lutheran church in that area so they would have all gravitated to it. The name of the church is Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and is on 55th St. and Middlebranch. Next time I am at the library I'll see if I can find anything on that church's history. Since it is still an active church you can contact them yourself and see if they have any info on that family.

I just did a search for the name Shirey and Warstler and a record popped up in DeKalb Indiana for a real estate transfer, not between the two families but on the same page. It might mean that Warstlers from Plain township, Stark Co., OH migrated to the same area as Peter Shirey. I always tend to look at neighbors and that is almost too much of a coincidence.

Good luck with your search and if I find anything, I'll let you know..

I was able to contact the people at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and they have confirmed that Peter Shiry and Lidia Bennet were members there during the late 1830's. For what it's worth, a joint congregation of Lutheran and German Reformed existed from 1814-1857.

The only other Shirer that showed up in their records during that time frame was a Jacob Shirer that communed 10 April, 1842.

Thanks for the help.

Noel

Your very welcome! I am going to the library on Thursday. I will see if there are any burials for those Shireys in Warstler cemetery.

Hi Noel... I am so happy to read your post. I think your GGP John is the brother to my Great Great Grandpa Lewis. Like you, I have seen other researchers work and am having trouble finding the documentation linking Peter with Lewis, not to mention finding anyone before Peter Shirey. I would love to correspond with you!! (maybe = cousin).

Kim

Hi......Yes John did have a brother Lewis (Louis 1853 - 1923). The children I have listed for Lewis were Daisy, Lillie and Chauncy. Does this sound like your family? My first info on Peter is from Clark County, Ohio where he married Lydia Bennett.

Look forward to hearing back from you.

Noel

YES, YES, YES....

Sorry, I am sooo excited. Chauncy was my great Grandpa. We always called him Granddad. This is so exciting. I can't wait to talk to you some more to share more info/stories, whatever.

Thanks.... you just made my week. I have been getting really discouraged regarding my Shirey line.

Talk to ya soon.

Kim

Good Morning. My part of the Shirey line moved west in the late 1800's so have been separated from the Allen County Shirey's for a while. Drop me a note at Galswen@aol.com and we can share data.

Noel