1850 David Lafever (age 27) and Matilda Lafever (age 28) lived in Upper Dickinson Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, with John Lafever (age 1) and Margaret Ferguson (age 17). [1]
1860 A difficult to read census record suggests that David Lafever (age 37) and Matilda Lafever (age 38) lived in Dickinson Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, with Margt (age 9), Henry (age 7), David (age 5), Joseph (age 3), Matilda (age 1) and John (age 61) and Rebecca (age 62) and Henry (age 27). [2]
1870 David LeFever (age 47) and Matilda LeFever (age 48) lived in Penn Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, with Margaret (age 19), Henry R (age 17), David L (age 15), Joseph C (age 13), Matilda (age 11), Clarinda (age 7), and Henry (age 5). [3]
1880 David Lafever (age 57) and Matilda Lafever (age 58) lived in Penn Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, with Joseph C (age 23), Matilda (age 21) and Clarinda (age 17). [4]
1885 On January 8, 1885, Matilda LeFever died, inscription: 62y 11mo 10dy; Wife of David, and was buried at Church of Christ Cemetery, Dickinson, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. [5]
1904 On April 12, David Lefever died in Penn Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. [6] Administration bond was made by Margaret Lefever, J Snyder, and Chas Paden. [7]
1904 David LeFever (1823-1904) was reported buried at Church of Christ Cemetery, Dickinson, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. [8]
A biosketch reports [9]:
Rev. David Lefever, minister of the Christian Church and farmer, P. O. Huntsdale, Cumberland County, was born March 5, 1823, in West Pennsborough Township, this county. In the year 1708 a Dr. Lefever came from France and settled in Boston, Mass, and from him, probably, sprung all of the Lefevers in the United States. He was one of the famous Huguenots who fled from religious persecution to find a refuge in the New World. The line from him down is Philip, George, Lawrence, John and David. Lawrence moved from York County, Penn., to this county, with his father, in 1785, and resided here until his death. His wife was Veronica Alter, of the well-known Alter family. (Shc was sister of the wife of Gov. Joseph Ritner.) Their son John married Miss Rebecca Rine. He was a farmer by occupation, but took an active part in public afiairs. Being one of the few native citizens who could speak the German language fluently, he was appointed associate judge by Gov. Ritner about 1835, and, after rendering distinguished services, he retired from the position with honor. He was a man of very correct and methodical habits and kept an accurate diary for forty years. He was converted at the age of forty years, and at once rode 51 miles to Beaver Creek, Washington Co.. Md., to be immersed. He did active dut in the Christian Church, as a preacher. until his death, which occurred September 13,1864. His widow died in December, 1875. Rev. David Lefever is the eldest of their seven children, of whom he and Mrs. Maria Myers, of Adams Count . Penn., are the sole survivors. Our subject married, December 29, 1847, Miss Matilda Cunningham, a niece of Gov. Ritner, and they at once settled in Penn Township, this county, and began to develop a home. They continued in a successful course until they acquired 3 fine farms, comprising 375 acres of fertile and well improved valley land, besides a tract of 115 acres of timber land on South Mountain. Mr. Lefever bought a foundry, on the edge of Shippensburg. Penn., in 1870, which he still-owns. He carried it on for several years, residing in Shippensburg from 1876 to 1878. Mr. Lefever's wife departed this life January 8, 1885. She was a devoted wife, the mother of nine children, seven of whom are now living: Henry Rine, David Landis, Joseph C., Mrs. Margaret Smith, Matilda, Mrs. Clarinda Eyster. and Fannie. Our subject united with the Christinn Church at the age of nineteen years; was chosen elder in 1855; began preaching in 1864, and has continiued in the work of the gospel ever since. He built, almost entirely unaided. a handsome stone church on his land, and deeded it to the congregation. He has been a Republican most of his life. In 1885 he espoused the cause of the Prohibition party, and has devoted himself actively during the campaign, delivering lectures on the subject of temperance, He is a speaker of great force and energy, and wields a great influence for ood among a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
[1] United States Federal Census, 1850, [FamilySearchImage], [FamilySearchRecord].
[2] United States Federal Census, 1860, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[3] United States Federal Census, 1870, [FamilySearchImage], [FamilySearchRecord].
[4] United States Federal Census, 1880, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[5] Find A Grave Memorial 130424138, no photo, [FindAGrave].
[6] Pennsylvania, Will and Probate Records, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[7] Pennsylvania, Will and Probate Records, Cumberland, Administration H-373, [AncestryImage].
[8] Find A Grave Memorial 130424140, no photo, [FindAGrave].
[9] Samuel P. Bates, P. A. Durant, and J. Fraise Richard, History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania, Part I Pennsylvania (Warner, Beers:1886), 530, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust], [HathiTrust].