OUR 3rd GENERATION IN AMERICA, part 2 G- GRAFTON M SHEDENHELM

      George and Catherine Lease Shedenhelm's youngest son was named Grafton McClellan, He was born in Apple Ridge, Maryland in 1813 and he accompanied his parents when they moved to Ohio. Grafton is my 2x great-grandfather... and he may well be one of your great-grandparents too because he gave birth to many Shedenhelms/Shetenhelms in America.                              

Grafton Shedenhelm

      The record shows that Grafton bought 80 acres of land in Seneca County, Ohio in 1834 and another 40 acres in 1835. Indeed, he purchased a considerable amount of wooded land and instead of clearing it for farming, he built his own saw-mill, which he operated for decades. In a section entitled "Shedenhelm Crossing," Warner, Beers & Co. (1866) noted that "Grafton Shedenhelm established a saw-mill about 35 years ago which he has carried on to this day. The capacity is about 5,000 feet per day." (History of Seneca County, pg. 637) It is apparent, then, that Grafton was a entrepreneur who took advantage of the trees that covered his land. According to the 1850 Federal census, Grafton owned property already valued at $3000... and this was before his saw-mill became all that it would become. We also know that he built one of the first brick homes in the county.

Mary Elizabeth Shaull

In 1834, Grafton married Mary Elizabeth Shaull/Schall, who was the daughter of John David Schall and Elizabeth Kime. They had 10 children; George Nicholas (1836-1913), Henry David (1838-1923), Reuben Wm. (1839-1904), James Washington (1841-1924), Elizabeth Jane (1842-1903), Catherine Malinda (1843-1910), Thomas Monroe (1846-1940), and Levi Jacob (1848-1912).
      On August 9, 1849, Mary Elizabeth died and on September 5, 1850, Grafton married her half-sister, Catherine Malinda Schall, who was born to John David Schall and Jane Margaret Blue. Grafton and Catherine Malinda had 11 children together: John Grafton (1852-1926), Samuel Scott (1854-54), Rebecca Ellen (1855-1911), Margaret (1856-1925), Frances (Frank) Marion (1858-1926), Ida (1860-1885), Elizabeth (1860-1921), Joshua McClellan (1861-1926), Mary Lucinda (1863-1933), Clinton (1865-65), and Winfield Scott.

Catherine Malinda Schall Shedenhelm

      Grafton would marry one more time, but he reared all of his children with one of the Schall "sisters." We will turn our attention to Grafton's family when we consider our next generation, but it is clear that if you are related to anyone of the men cited above, or to the Tuman's. Neville', Farver's, Culver's, or Slaymaker's (who married Grafton's girls)... you are related to me and scores and scores of other Shedenhelms in America. Joshua McClellan is my great-grandfather and I am in communication with several Shetenhelm's who direct ancestor is Joshua's older brother, Frank.