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PREFACE.
At the first reunion of the Shoffner family?September 5-7, 1!M)0?a historical committee, composed.of nine members, was appointed by the chairman, Mr. Chris. Jl. Shofner, eight of these representing the branches of Martin ISliofner's family, and the ninth representing Martin's brother, l?eter Kiiofner. Since that time most of those 011 this committee have been working faithfully, and several are now ready with their reports. Kvery one is looking forward to the time, and all hope that it is not far distant, when every member on the committee will report ? ready ? and the work be prepared for compiling into one cojnpletc volume.
In getting up this data, the usual obstacles of all such undertakings had to be surmounted. Doubtful traditions, unreliable and incomplete records, slow correspondence, careless answers, and a natural obscurity which time casts over all events in the distant past, all tend to mislead the one searching after the true facts. ]>ut with the careful assistance we have had from older people, the access to records of pioneer times that were well kept, and the energetic efforts of our colaborers in this work, we have Assurances that this volume presents many facts that should lie preserved to posterity. We earnestly hope that this effort is the beginning of greater strides toward crystallizing and perpetuating pioneer and ancestral history.
In presenting this volume to the relatives and the.
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