William Shefelton
William Shefelton, farmer, P.O. Deerfield, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1831, son of John and Jane (French) Shefelton, natives of Washington County, Penn. His grandfather, John Shefelton, one of the earliest pioneers of that county, along with his son crossed the mountains on horseback in August, 1804, securing 160 acres of land in Newton Township, where they erected a shanty, after which the former returned East and brought back his family, the son remaining in the cabin through the winter and living on the results of his hunting expeditions. John and Jane Shefelton, our subject’s parents, reared a family of eight children, seven of whom are now living: George J., Eliza, Melissa, Joseph R., Alexander F., Cynthia and William M. Our subject enlisted at Newton Falls during the late war of the Rebellion, December 7, 1861, in Company D, Sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and participated in the following engagements: Woodstock, Va.,; Mount Jackson, Va.; Herrisonburg; Cross Keys, Va. (these four engagements were in June, 1862); Luray, Va. (July 28, 1862); Cedar Mountain; second Bull Run, Va.; Fredericksburg; Kelly’s Ford, Va.; Chancellorsville; Brandy Station; Middlburg, Va.; South Mountain, Md.; Hagerstown, Md.; Boonsboro; Jones’ Cross Roads, Md.; Culpeper Court House, Va., and was injured by his horse falling on him while charging a Rebel battery at Auburn Mills, Va., October 14, 1863. He re-enlisted in the veteran service December 24, 1863, and was in the following engagements: Malvern Hill, Va., July 28, 1864; Weldon Railroad, Va., August 21, 1864; Boydstown Plank Road, Va., October 27, 1864; Hatcher’s Run, Va., December 20, 1864; Hatcher’s Run, Va., February 6, 1865; Dinwiddle Court House, Va., April 6, 1865; Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865, and served till the close of the struggle, losing his health from injuries and exposures. Mr. Shefelton purchased his present farm of 159 acres in 1866, and was married in 1867 to Miss Deborah Hartzell, by whom he has had four children, two now living - Hartzell J. and Charles R., now (1885) respectively fifteen and seven years of age.
From History of Portage County, Ohio, Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885