SHEARER

The Shearer/Sharrer Family

This name keeps coming up in records as SHARRAR and SHARRAH, but also as Shearer. It may have originally been SHARRAR or SHARRAH when they came from Germany, and eventually the family adopted SHEARER. However, George and Margaret's tombstone has the name SHARRAR on it.

Parents of Elizabeth Shearer Strausbaugh

George Shearer was born about 1806 in Wurtemberg, Germany, and died 17 Aug. 1888 in Jackson, Cambria Co., PA. He is buried in Belsano Faith Methodist Cemetery, Blacklick, Cambria, PA.; Margaret Stifford was born about 1805 in PA, and is buried beside him but the date on her headstone is illegible.[1] A remembrance card provided by W. Barrett reads as follows: Margaret Sharrar, died Dec. 19, 1887, age 81.

They had five daughters:

i. Elizabeth Shearer (1830-1923) m. Peter Strausbaugh

ii. Magdalene Strausbaugh b. about 1836; never married, died 1917.

iii. Margaret Strausbaugh b. about 1838; married Christopher Heasley, died 1919.

iv. Emaline Strausbaugh b. about 1839; married John Rager, died 1919.

v. Rebecca Strausbaugh b. about 1842; (may have been adopted) m. William Shaffer.

Photo Courtesy of W. Barrett.

Photo Courtesy of W. Barrett.

Shaffer Reunion in Dale, PA, about 1913

Front: Unknown, Unknown, Dorothy Strayer.
Row 2: Edith Strayer, Norman Strayer, Unknown, John Rager, Emaline Sharrer Rager, Rebecca Sharrer Shaffer, Magdalena Sharrer, Elizabeth Sharrer Strausbaugh, Margaret Jane Sharrer Heasley, Margaret's daughter, Levi Shaffer, last 3 unknown.
Row 3: Edwin Wright Shaffer holding child, (skip to man wearing vest) Moody Paul, Jennie Paul holding baby, Unknown, Sarah Strayer?, Andrew Strayer? (standing behind her), Unknown last three ladies.
Farthest in rear, right side: Forest Strayer, Leroy Strayer.

The family is found in the Cambria County, PA census as follows:

1850: George Shearer, 50, occupation miller

Margaret 47

Elizabeth 22

Magdalene 14

Margaret 12

Emaline 11

Rebecca 8

1860, p. 323: George Shearer, 58, farmer

Margaret 55

Magdalene 23

Margaret 22

Emma 19

Rebecca 14

1870 p. 292: George Shearer 76, farmer, b. Prussia

Margaret 66, PA

Magdaline 31 b. PA

Elizabeth Sifford 90, b. PA. {This is probably Margaret's mother)

1880 Jackson twp, p. 285C: George Shearer 78 b. Wurtemberg, occ. Miller, both parents b. Wurtemberg;

wife Margaret 73 b. PA, both parents b. PA;

dtr Magdelene 40 b. PA.

Further information on the Shearer daughters:

Elizabeth Shearer and Peter Strausbaugh: see Strausbaugh

Magdelena Strausbaugh:

1900 Blacklick, Cambria, PA census: Lena Sharrar 62, birth Mar 1838, single, servant

Burial: Belsano Faith United Methodist Cemetery, Cambria Co., PA Lena Sharrah, 12 Sep 1917, 84 years, 8 mo. 16 days

Margaret Shearer and Christopher Columbus Heasley:

1870 Pine, Armstrong, PA census: Christopher Heasley 35, Margaret 28, Charles 12, Mary 10, Scott 8, Clinton 7, George 5, John 3, Frank 1

1880 Pine, Armstrong, PA census: Charles H. Heasley 46, Margaret 40, Charles 21, William 18, Clinton D. 17, George W. 15, Edwin 13, Frank L. 11, Maggie I. 8, Bell F. 5

1900 Pine, Armstrong, PA census: Christopher Heasley 60, Margaret 62, Christopher 18

1910 Pine, Armstrong, PA census: Margeret Heasley 72, widowed, living alone

Emmaline Shearer/Sharrer and John Rager:

From Presidents, Soldiers & Statesmen, 1898) (online at Cambria, PA website): JOHN RAGER, whose parents, Jacob and Barbara (Garman) Rager, have gone to their reward, was born in Cambria county, Pa., June 14, 1844. He was united in the bonds of matrimony in 1864, in this county to Emma Sharrer, who was born in Indiana county, Pa., Feb. 27, 1844. Her parents, no longer living, were George and Margaret (Sifford). Of this union were born these children, Georgie E. dec., Jacob, Ellen J., Margaret E., Harry W., William S., Emma D., Bertha and Elsie. Comrade Rager served in Co. C, 209 Pa. V.I., 1st Brig., 3d Div., 9th A.C., and rendered some important service during that trying time. He was 20 years of age when he was enrolled from Ebensburg, Pa. He was detailed to build breastworks and corduroy roads, and also bore conspicuous part in the battles of Ft. Steedman, Hatchers Run, Petersburg and Bermuda Hundred. He was honorably discharged May 31, 1865, at Alexandria, Va. His great-grandfather served in the war for American Independence. Comrade Rager is a member of John M. Jones Post 556, his occupation is that of a farmer, and his address is Glenglade, Pa.

1870 Cambria Co., PA census, p. 291, Ancestry.com image 5: John Rager 26, Emma 26, George 5, Jacob 3, Ellen 1.

1880 Jackson, Cambria Co., PA census, p. 285C:

John RAGER Self M Male W 35 PA Laborer PA PA

Emeline RAGER Wife M Female W 35 PA Keeping House WURTEMBERG PA

Etta RAGER Dau S Female W 15 PA At Home PA PA

Jacob B. RAGER Son S Male W 13 PA At Home PA PA

Ellen Jane RAGER Dau S Female W 11 PA At Home PA PA

Margaret E. RAGER Dau S Female W 9 PA PA PA

Harry W. RAGER Son S Male W 7 PA PA PA

William S. RAGER Son S Male W 5 PA PA PA

Emma F. RAGER Dau S Female W 3 PA PA PA

Bertha May RAGER Dau S Female W 1 PA PA PA

1900 Jackson, Cambria Co., PA census, Dist. 123, Ancestry.com image 9: John Rager 55, Jun 1844, married 35 years; wife Emma 50, Feb 1849, 9 children, 8 living; dau Elsie 16, Sep 1883; grandson William Goetz, 4, Jul 1895.

1910 Jackson, Cambria Co., PA census, Dist 117, Ancestry.com image 8: John Rager 66, wife Emma 66, dau Bertha 29.

Pike Cemetery record online at Cambria Co., PA website: RAGER, John 14 Jun 1844 5 Dec 1911 Father - PVT Co. C 209 PA VOL.; s/o Jacob & Barbara (Garman) Rager; h/o Emma Sharrer B125

Pike Cemetery records online at Cambria Co., PA website: RAGER, Emma (Sharrer) 1844 1919 Mother - w/o John

Rebecca Shearer/Sharrar and William Shaffer:

Photo Courtsey of W. Barrett

Rebecca Sharrar Shaffer and her grandson Jimmy Gillin.

According to Rebecca’s great-granddaughter W. Barrett, family researchers have indicated that Rebecca may have been adopted, and may have been of Cherokee descent.

1870 Jackson, Cambria, PA census: William Shaffer 22, Rebecca 29, Mary 1

1880 Taylor, Cambria, PA census: William Shaffer 32, Rebeccca 34, Harry Edwin 7, Andrew Nelson 6, George Winchester 2

1900 East Taylor, Cambria, PA census: William Shaffer 51, Rebecca 53, Maggie 14

1920 Jackson, Cambria, PA census: James Gillin 50, Margaret M. 34, Verna R. 16, Clyde E. 15, Paul W. 13, Ruth H. 11, Wave M. 9, James E. 3, Rebecca Shaffer, mother-in-law, 74

Tombstone in Wesley Chapel Cemetery, East Taylor Twp, Cambria, PA: William Shaffer, Aug 5, 1848-Sep 10, 1902; his wife Rebecca Jan 30, 1847--[no death date]