From the archives: The Keffer and Shunk families
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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monthly series, the City of Vaughan is releasing historical content from the Vaughan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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