Descendants of Michael REFFNER and Elizabeth ZIGLER

as of 15 August 2001

Generation No. 1

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1. MICHAEL2 REFFNER (HENRY1) was born 24 May 1800, and died 25 Apr 1879 in Orion Twp. Fulton Co. IL. He married ELIZABETH ZIGLER ca 1821, daughter of MICHAEL ZIGLER and SALLY (ZIGLER). She was born 5 Dec 18011, and died Aft. 1881 in Orion Twp. Fulton Co. IL.

It seems likely that Michael Reffner was a son of a certain Henry Reffner, who appeared in early Greenfield Township, Bedford County, PA records as follows:

1810 PA Census: Bedford Co. Greenfield Twp. p. 539:

Henry RIFNER 11101-21011
______________________________________

Resident of Greenfield Twp. Bedford Co. PA 1810-1821 (at least).

1811 Tax List: Greenfield Twp. Bedford Co. PA:

REPHNER, Abraham: 1 horse; 1 cow (28)
REPHNER, Henry: 50 acres (patent); 1 horse, 2 cows (55.50)

ZIGLER, Michael: Shoemaker; 1 horse; 2 cows (44) [This person was very likely the father of Elizabeth, wife of Michael Reffner.]
______________________________________

Whisker, James B., ed., BEDFORD COUNTY ARCHIVES, Volume III, pp. 103-105

Greenfield Township, 1814 Tax List

"Greenfield Township includes the town of Claysburg. It was incorporated as a part of Blair County at the time of the erection of that county. This tax list is unique in that it lists ages and occupations of the inhabitants."

Henry Refner, 60, farmer
Abraham Refner, 29, farmer
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1817 Tax List: Greenfield Twp. Bedford Co. PA:

REIFNER, Henry
REFNER, Peter
REFNER, John (single freeman)
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1820 PA Census: Bedford Co. Greenfield Twp. p. 28:

Henry REFNER
Males: 1 (16-26); 1 (26-45); 1 (45+)
Females: 1 (16-26); 1 (45+)
3 engaged in agriculture

However, until incontrovertible proof is discovered, my established Reffner lineage begins with Michael:

Notes for MICHAEL REFFNER:

1830 PA Census: Bedford Co. Greenfield Twp. p. 73:

Michael REFFNER
Males: 1 (<5); 2 (5-10); 1 (20-30)
Females: 1 (20-30)
__________________________________________________

1840 PA Census: Bedford Co. Greenfield Twp. p. 341:

Michael REFINER
Males: 2 (<5); 2 (5-10); 1 (10-15); 1 (40-50)
Females: 1 (5-10); 2 (10-15); 1 (30-40)
__________________________________________________

1850 PA Census: Blair Co. Juniata Twp. Dwelling 114, family 120:

Michael REFNER, 50, Farmer, Virginia
Elizabeth, 49
Sarah A., 20; Peter, 19, Laborer; Rachael, 17; Mary, 14; Joseph, 12
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1860 PA Census: Blair Co. Juniata Twp Newry P.O. p. 350:

Michl REFFNER, 60, Farmer, b. Md.
Elizth, 58
Mary, 21
Wm Simers, 19, Farm Laborer
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1870 Illinois Census: Fulton Co. Canton City, 3rd Ward, page 407A:

Michael REFFNER, 70, Retired Farmer, $1800, $800, b. Pa
Elizabeth, 67
Nettie McINTOSH, 10, [granddaughter]
__________________________________________________

Fulton County, IL "Ledger" Friday, May 2, 1879 issue:

"Died. In Orion township, April 25, 1879, of old age, Mr. Michael Reffner, aged 79 years and 11 months."
__________________________________________________

Notes for ELIZABETH ZIGLER:

1880 IL Census: Fulton Co. Orion Twp. p. 327C:
Dwelling 98, family 100, 9 June 1880:

Adam WELCH, 32, Farmer, b. Prussia, parents b. Prussia
Mary M., 22, Wife, PA/PA/PA
Elizabeth REFFNER, 78, Grandmother-in-law, PA/PA/PA
_______________________________________________

Follow the underlined links for outlines on each Reffner child's family.

Children of MICHAEL REFFNER and ELIZABETH ZIGLER are:

 i. ALEXANDER3 REFFNER, b. 19 Jan 1822, Bedford Co. PA; d. Oct 1861, Altoona, Blair Co. PA; m. CATHARINE KLOTZ; b. 5 Feb 18252; d. 26 Jul 1890, Altoona, Blair Co. PA3.

ii. HENRY REFFNER, b. 15 Jun 1823, Bedford Co. PA; d. 19 Nov 1907, Bedford Co. PA4; m. ELIZABETH KLOTZ, ca 1846; b. 18275; d. 18925.

iii. DAVID REFFNER, b. 6 Mar 1825, Bedford Co. PA; d. 28 Sep 1885, Canton, Fulton Co. IL6; m. ELIZABETH GIBSON; b. 11 Feb 1829; d. 23 Apr 1900, Canton, Fulton Co. IL6.

iv. SARAH ANN REFFNER, b. 12 Mar 1830, Bedford Co. PA7; d. 14 Nov 1910, Bedford Co. PA8; m. FREDERICK JOSEPH WILT9, 9 Jan 18539; b. 1828, PA; d. 8 Sep 1864, U.S. General Hospital, Baltimore, MD10.

v. PETER REFFNER, b. 1 Oct 1832, Bedford Co. PA11,12; d. 14 Apr 1913, Richland Twp. Harvey Co. KS13; m. (1) SUSANNAH M. WILT, 7 Apr 1859, Juniata Twp. Blair Co. PA; b. 24 Jul 1836; d. 29 Mar 1862, Juniata Twp. Blair Co. PA; m. (2) MARY ANN PITCHER TATUM, 19 Feb 1867, Fulton Co. IL14,15; b. 17 May 1834, Bartholomew Co. IN15; d. 9 Aug 1905, Harvey Co. KS15.

vi. RACHAEL REFFNER, b. 2 Nov 1833, Bedford Co. PA16; d. 5 Feb 1905, Bedford Co. PA; m. ABRAHAM STIFFLER; b. 31 Dec 1826, Blair Co. PA; d. 1 Feb 1899, Juniata Twp. Blair Co. PA17.

vii. MARY REFFNER, b. 3 Mar 1836, Bedford Co. PA; d. 19 Feb 1919, Glasgow, Cambria Co. PA; m. (1) ____ MCINTOSH, [unmarried]; m. (2) WILLIAM SIMMERS, 27 Oct 1860, Newry, Blair Co. PA18; b. 30 Jul 1840, "Cole Rain Forge" Huntingdon Co. PA19; d. 9 Apr 1919, Flinton, Cambria Co. PA19.

viii. JOSEPH REFFNER20, b. 17 Feb 1839, Bedford Co. PA21; d. 13 May 1913, Marshalltown, Iowa; m. ROSETTA FRANCES WHEELER, 4 Jul 1863; b. 28 Dec 1844, Lycoming Co. PA; d. 17 Apr 1905, IL.

Endnotes

1. Newry Lutheran Church records manuscript (written in German) photocopy of actual record sent to me by Audrey Mader
2. The Altoona, PA "Mirror", obituary, issue of 28 July 1890 [age at death 65 yrs, 5 mos, 23 days].
3. The Altoona, PA "Mirror", obituary, issue of 28 July 1890.
4. Death Certificate
5. Robetta E. & Thomas C. Imler, Bedford County, Pennsylvania Cemeteries, (1975), Volume 3, Barley St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery, Bakers Summit, [Bloomfield Twp.] Bedford Co. PA, p. 33.
6. Greenwood Cemetery record
7. Newry Lutheran Church, Newry, Blair Co. PA Birth & Baptismal record, Newry Lutheran Church Birth & Baptism record:.
8. information sent by Zane L. Grant; 6334 Cherry Laurel Drive; Jacksonville, FL 32210-3847
9. Michael W. Pelter; Associate Professor Purdue University Calumet; Hammond, IN 46323-2094; pelter@calumet.purdue.edu, e-mail dated 16 Aug 1998 referring to pension file of Sarah Reffner Wilt, widow of Frederick Joseph Wilt.
10. Buried Louden Park, Grave 713, Baltimore, MD
11. Family Bible page found in Joseph Reffner's Civil War papers
12. Newry Lutheran Church, Newry, Blair Co. PA Birth & Baptismal record, Newry Lutheran Church Birth & Baptism record:.
13. Lianne Thomson Anderson; 1455 S.W. Nelson Court; Lake Oswego, OR, 97034 (WaldronPac@aol.com), June 1998 letter and package.
14. Fulton County Marriage Record
15. Lianne Thomson Anderson; 1455 S.W. Nelson Court; Lake Oswego, OR, 97034 (WaldronPac@aol.com), June 1998 letter and package.
16. 1900 PA Census: Blair Co. Juniata Twp. (Series T623, roll 1381), ed 86, p. 4a, lines 24-26, dwelling 61, family 61, 11 June 1900, "Rachael STIFFLER, Head, Nov 1833, 66, widow, 10 children / 9 still alive, Pa/Pa/Pa."
17. Newry Lutheran Cemetery + Death Record at Blair Co. Courthouse
18. Civil War Papers of William Simmers
19. Civil War Pension records
20. Newry Lutheran Church, Newry, Blair Co. PA Birth & Baptismal record, photocopy of original page with no page number visible.
21. Family Bible Record found in Civil War package