From the archives: The Keffer and Shunk families

March 27, 2022 10:00 a.m.
​Learn more about the city’s history from the Vaughan Archives

From the traditional territories of the First Peoples of Turtle Island, to a farmland community, to a bustling city centre and everything in between – Vaughan’s transformation is a story worth telling. As part of a monthly series, the City of Vaughan is releasing historical content from the Vaughan Archives, Office of the City Clerk. Citizens are encouraged to scroll through memory lane, learn about the city’s past and explore the places, people and events that were pivotal to the development of the city of Vaughan we know today. This month, the City is highlighting the story of the Keffer and Shunk families.

The Keffer and Shunk families were among the first settlers in Vaughan Township.

Brothers Michael and Jacob Keffer arrived in Vaughan with their families from Pennsylvania in 1806. Jacob settled on Lot 12, Concession 3 and Michael acquired Lots 9 and 10, Concession 3. Today, this area is known as Concord. By 1906, the Keffers had acquired a 1,000-acre block where 125 family members lived on the farm. By 1970, nine generations of the Keffer family had lived in Vaughan.

The Shunk family also originated from Pennsylvania. Upon arriving in Vaughan in 1804, Jacob Shunk purchased 200 acres, and by the mid-1800s, the Shunk family owned thousands of acres of property in Vaughan Township.

In 1901, Michael Keffers’ great-grandson, William Michael Keffer, and his wife, Lulu Shunk, had moved from Vaughan Township to Alberta. In 1911, they gave birth to a daughter named Marion Christena Keffer.

Deeply connected to her roots and family’s history, Marion was interested in the history of her ancestors and the study and practice of genealogy. She was one of the founding members of the Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS). Her research, while focusing on her ancestors, came to encompass Vaughan Township as a whole. Her studies ranged far and wide in these pursuits, and evidence suggests that Marion was an instructor in an introductory course sponsored by the OGS in genealogical methodology.

The Marion C. Keffer fonds consists of two sous-fonds: the Keffer Family papers from 1784 to 1901 and the Marion C. Keffer papers from 1911 to 1988. The fonds reflect Marion’s activities and principal areas of interest. They also document the roles of the Keffer and Shunk families in the development of Vaughan Township. The 19th-century agricultural enterprises, including the size of farms, equipment, crops grown, market forces, local co-operatives and pioneer experience, are well-documented. The following record types are found in these fonds: photo prints, broadsides, minute books, leaflets, registers, handbills, autograph books, correspondence, transcriptions of original documents (petitions, deeds, grants, etc.), research notes and compilations.

ABOUT VAUGHAN ARCHIVES
Established in 1988, the City of Vaughan Archives is home to more than 600 collections, consisting of both City records and cultural records about Vaughan from 1860 to present day. Records include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • City business records with long-term legal and administrative value, such as Council meeting minutes, by-laws, assessment rolls, financial records, reports and official correspondence
  • church, community and school records
  • census records
  • historical photographs
  • land records
  • historical maps, plans and aerial photographs
  • newspapers
  • personal papers of past residents and founding families, such as diaries, family histories, journals and letters
  • records of local organizations both past and present

VIEW VAUGHAN’S ARCHIVES ONLINE!
As part of the City's COVID-19 response, Vaughan City Hall remains closed to the public – but the City’s Archival Collection is on digital display for all to explore! The below galleries are now available in the City’s online gallery on Flickr:

  • Featured Artists of Vaughan
  • Historical Families of Vaughan
  • Historical Figures: Lord Beaverbrook
  • Historical Photography
  • Recollections of Rural Vaughan
  • The Mary Wood Collection
  • The Way We Were: Representations of Vaughan’s Past
  • Vaughan Working Environments
  • Vaughan Through the Ages: Medicine
  • Vaughan Through the Ages: Music
  • Vaughan Through the Ages: Sports and Recreation
  • Stories of Remembrance
  • Vaughan’s Forgotten Heroes
  • Early Churches of Vaughan
  • Historical Schools of Vaughan

A personal Flickr account is not required to access the City’s online gallery, which contains only a small selection of the full archives collection. If you are looking for a certain image, original file, primary source record or more, contact the Vaughan Archives by calling 905-832-2281 or emailing archives@vaughan.ca.

By managing and preserving both City and community records, the Enterprise Information Management Services team ensures that Vaughan’s rich and varied history will continue to be available for future generations. Learn more at vaughan.ca/archives.

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