HISTORY OF A SCHAEFFER KINSHIP
By Jim Blair
INTRODUCTION
This article takes us from Medieval Times to the Post-Revolutionary War Period. The story begins with a backdrop of 15th century Mainz, Germany. The initial focus is on Johannes Gutenberg, who was the inventor of modern typography.
JOHANNES GUTENBERG
In 1455 Johannes Gutenberg printed a 42- line Bible. His publication played a key role in the age of the Reformation. His apprentice and principal workman was Peter Schoffer (1425-1503), who was also one of my 16,384 maternal 13th great grandfathers. Peter was born in Gernsheim, Gross-Gerau, Hessen, Germany. Gutenberg’s financier in this project was Johann Fust (1400-1466). Fust advanced Gutenberg 800 guilders for developing printing with movable type. Fust controlled the sales aspect of the business. Fust also persuaded Peter, an associate, to leave a prestigious job in Paris to be an apprentice for Gutenberg. Peter did this reluctantly.
Gutenberg mortgaged his property through Fust. Gutenberg was also advanced 800 guilders from Fust for other medieval projects, which were not pursued. As a result, Fust took Gutenberg to court for misuse of invested proceeds. Peter supported Fust in the suit and Fust was successful in the litigation in 1457. Fust foreclosed on Gutenberg’s mortgage and printing workshop. There is no evidence that Fust took any of the printing materials for himself, although some of the printing equipment was required to be turned over. Because of the way Fust was affiliated with the project, Gutenberg had no legal protection for his invention. Thus, theft of intellectual property was unlikely. Even if there was, because of Peter’s contribution to the project, whose creations of the mind could have been stolen?
DAWN OF THE PRINTED AGE
After the matter was adjudicated, Fust and Schoffer began a printing firm together. Their efforts had an impact on the culture and technological landscape. Peter (pictured) also married Fust’s daughter, Christina Dyna Faust (1434-1513) years later. Fust was a member of the Goldsmith Guild of Strasbourg. Peter was the first printer to use a printer’s mark, date books and indicate the publisher in his works when he published the Mainz Psalter (Psalms) in red ink. In his lifetime Peter printed over 300 books. In 1466 Fust went to Paris to make arrangements for a firm to market their literary works. He died there of the Plague.
SCHOFFER BEER
Peter had a passion for beer and initially began brewing it in his own home. In 1852 a brewery was established known as Brauerei Dreikonighof to produce Schofferhofer Beer (pictured). The brand sports a portrait of Peter as its trademark. The wheat beer ‘s special taste and dedication to quality pay homage to the unique and revolutionary skills of its namesake Peter Schoffer. According to operators of the brewery, Peter played a major role in shaping a variety of uses of letterpress printing. The Brewery is still in business today and recognized around the world as an award-winning beer. A popular variety is grapefruit flavored.
PETER SCHOFFER MEMORIAL
To commemorate Peter’s contributory innovations such as dating books, including title pages, using colored inks and adding a printer’s mark, a statue of his likeness was erected in 1836 in Gernsheim Germany. The statue (pictured) is located in front of the Schoffer Museum.
DESCENDANT SCHAEFFERS
Coming forward in time, one of Peter’s 7th great grandsons, Adam Schaeffer, Sr. (1693-1766), who was my 6th great grandfather, was born in Sponheim, Bad Kreuznach, Rhineland-Pfalz, Germany. His son Adam Schaeffer, Jr. and two friends, George Schmidt (1717-1756) and Wilhelm Best (1713-1762) decided to come to America on the ship Winter Galley in 1738. Wilhelm Best was married to Adam Schaeffer, Jr.’s sister, Anna Susanna Schaeffer (1713-1762), while George Schmidt was married to his sister Catherine Barbara Schaeffer. The Bests settled in Walnutport, Northampton County. Lehigh Township, Northampton County was where the Schmidt’s established their abode.
Adam Schaeffer, Sr. did not follow his son to America until 1754 on the ship Chance. His wife, Anna Margaret Weiland (1695-1776) was also on board. Two other sons, Valentine and William, also came to America, but it is not known when they came. At the time of the French and Indian War, on New Year’s Day 1756 Adam Schaeffer, Sr. was ambushed and killed by members of the Delaware tribe on the frozen Lehigh River. Fifteen days later George Schmidt was mortally wounded by the same savage gang. In a span of fifteen days Catherine Barbara Schaeffer Schmidt lost her father and husband. Around that time Wilhelm Best was attacked and wounded by the same indigenous group in spite of weaponry that was provided to Northampton County farmers by Benjamin Franklin. Wilhelm died 6 years later from his injuries. The same savage group had already raided the Moravian Settlement of Gnaddenhutten on November 24, 1755.
Wilhem Best’s son, William, moved to Westmoreland County sometime before the Revolutionary War. During the War he was a Captain in the Continental Line. He eventually developed a homestead known as Beassburg. The property consisted of what became Greensburg’s North Main Street. He also, was one of the founders of Greensburg’s First Lutheran Church.
WESTWARD MIGRATION
Subsequent to George Schmidt’s death Catherine Barbara married John Dorn. Well after it became legal, Catherine Barbara and John brought her sons Henry, Phillip, Jacob, Leonard and George, Jr. to Westmoreland County in 1777. At the time, she thought they could escape the savage attacks . They initially put down stakes in the Brushcreek Settlement. Her brother-in-law, Valentine, came later to Hempfield Township. William Schaeffer put his roots down in Adams County. All of the Smith brothers served during the Revolutionary War. During Dunmore’s War, Henry (Protector of the Frontier) was at Fort Allen and later served as a Rifleman in PA’s 3rd Battalion under Col. William Thompson. Jacob became a Westmoreland County Commissioner in 1790. Leonard was in PA’s 6th Regiment and George, Jr. who was born 8 ½ months after his father died, served in the Continental Line and was at the Battle of Brandywine. During his lifetime, George, Jr. acquired an aggregate of 685 acres of land near Arona.
Philip (1748-1824), who was my 4th great grandfather, married Catherine Rugh (1756-1828), whose father was Micheal Rugh. Sr owner of what became South Greensburg. Philip was born in Lehigh Township, Northampton County. Philip was at Ft. Hannastown in 1774 in preparation for pending Indian wars. Philip (Protector of the Frontier) also became a Ranger with Captain Thomas Craig under the command of Arthur St. Clair. It is believed that Philip was involved in the disastrous “Sandusky Expedition,” where the goal was to destroy native American towns along the Sandusky River in Ohio during May and June of 1782. A month later, prior to the destruction of Hannastown, Catherine’s mother, Anna Frazina Merkel Rugh (1717-1782), was killed by Seneca Warriors while attending a wedding reception. Anna Frazina’s sister was Anna Magdalena Merkel and my wife Carole’s 6th great grandmother! Philip acquired several pieces of real estate. However, their principal homestead was 140 acres, representing a portion of what became Adamsburg. This property they called “Smithfield.” Catherine’s father also gave them land south of Murrysville (311 acres), which they dubbed “Smith’s Retreat.” Catherine’s brother, Peter, was also one of the founders of Greensburg’s First Lutheran Church.
HENRY MASSACRE
A homestead known as “Fredericksburg” in Hempfield Township became the site of an incident known as the “Henry Massacre.” In June of 1779 Seneca Braves raided the home of Frederick and Catherine Henry. Catherine was killed along with an infant, whose brains met a violent blow. Other children were taken captive. One daughter, Anna Margaretha, hid in a corn field. A posse was formed to locate the assailants and their captives. They were located north of Pittsburgh and the children were rescued. The Native American that killed the infant was tied to a tree whereupon Frederick’s hiding daughter, Anna Margaretha, carried out vigilante justice. The other tribal members were later captured 15 miles north of Kittanning by Captain Samuel Brady and his forces. Subsequently, Frederick married Philip Smith’s sister, Margaret “Maggie” Smith (1752-1832).
NATIVE GREENSBURG KIN
My mother, Mildred Harrold Blair (1908-1990) was a descendant in this Schaeffer line. An additional descendant was my Somerset High School football coach, Carl Waugaman (1914-2005), who played on Greensburg High School’s undefeated football team in the early 1930’s. Both were born in Greensburg and their common ancestor was their 5th great grandfather, Adam Schaeffer, Sr., which made them 6th cousins. My mother descended from George Schmidt, Sr. and Carl (pictured) descended from Wilhelm Best. Both these ancestors were married to daughters of Adam Schaeffer, Sr. mentioned earlier, and were friends that came to America on the same ship. Carl was a tight end for the Greensburg (Salem) football team, that experienced an undefeated season his senior year, which, as of this writing, has never happened again. He went on to play for Penn State.
EPILOG
It is recognized that the Schaeffer clan played important roles in the development of local civilization. With kindred spirits they not only provided a means of information sharing (before the Internet). but contributed to the establishment of an independent country. In taking bold steps forward, they gained the experience of achievement. Moreover, they left a legacy of innovative creation, concern for freedom, love of country, and expanded literacy, as well as education, all the while cognizant of their German heritage.
References:
Family Search.org
Wikitrees
Old and New Westmoreland County, John N. Boucher, The American Historical Society, Inc., 1918
Wikipedia
Biography Central
Gutenberg’s Apprentice, Alex Christie, HarperCollins, 2014
Gutenberg, Stephan Fussel, Haus Publishing, 2020
The Smith’s of Hans Jurig Schmidt, William P. Smith, Jr., 1993
The Henry Family of Westmoreland County, Dennis Henry, 2001
Genealogy Heinrich Henry, Dennis Mensch
Report of the Commission to locate the site of Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania, Thomas Lynch Montgomery, 1916
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