Middle Names

It appears that the middle names of Samuel C. Sheffler's sons were the last names of close friends or neighbors, perhaps sponsors at baptism?

Hence his sons whose middle names we know are Israel Truxal Sheffler (after either Henry Truxal - Samuel's godfather - or one of his sons); Henry Foster Sheffler (perhaps after the Henry Foster who lived just 3 homes away from Samuel in 1840 census); and Jerome Hartzel Sheffler (which Hartzel has not been identified - there were many around).

This tradition appears to have continued in a couple of the family lines of Samuel C. Sheffler's sons.