“Jacob Sheaffer and 2 sons and a daughter came to Ness County, Kansas in 1878 and homesteaded one section of land (160 acres each) in Franklin Township. They built sod houses and had one common well, at the center of the section. “Shiloh” was the name of this homestead and Jacob had a post office in his house. He moved to Ness City in 1884 and operated a livery stable until 1890. He died in Reno County, near Sterling, Kansas December 24, 1895”

In July 1992 I visited the Ness City area, including Fairview Cemetery, the Courthouse, and the Historical Society Library. Jacob Sheaffer’s homestead was named Shiloh after the Civil War battle. He and his 4 sons had been in the Union army. He had the post office in his home and a small tract of land for Shiloh cemetery. From an old book at the Historical Society I read the following: “Jacob Sheaffer’s brother, Henry, (my grgrandfather), died December 15, 1880 while on an extended visit at Shiloh. He was buried in Shiloh cemetery. This cemetery has long since been lost and is now farm land”.

No evidence of Shiloh remains.

Old Sheaffer family record sheets that I have had for several years (obtained from my father) date back to the early 1800’s and record the birth, marriage, and death of Henry Sheaffer. His wife’s name is spelled Edenbaugh (Elizabeth Edenbaugh).