Adam Kieffer was born,"Kiefer" in Höheinöd, Germany in 1794. He immigrated to America at  the end of August 1830 , with his wife, Anna Barbara, and two sons, Adam and Jacob.  Barbara's sister's family, the Anstätts, were along on the voyage. "Willkommen in  Amerika" !

Adam was married to Anna Barbara "Stichler". She was a half sister to Margaretha  Stichler, who married Johann Matheis Anstätt.  The Conemaugh Twp, Somerset Co, Pa  census for 1840-50 shows these two families living in close proximity  to one another. Also, the Anstadts, Mathias & Margaretha, are buried in the same  small family plot as Adam, less than a 1/4 mile from where they all lived.   
   Somewhere along the line, someone assumed that since William and Margaret Jonas lived  with the Kieffers in those years, that they were Barbara's parents. Adam did purchase  the property from them, but Anna Barbara's parents, the Stichlers, never left Germany.

 >>see link* from " Emigrants from Pirmasens and surroundings to America"

The Kiefers settled in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, in a valley now known as Somerset Pike. He was a farmer, cut lumber, built barns and made apple butter.  They had three more children, Valentine, John, and Margaret. Adam Jr was drafted into  the Civil War and returned safely. Valentine enlisted, but died four months later from  disease- less than a month after the war had ended. Adam spelled his name Kieffer. Adam  Jr spelled his Keefer. All the others changed it to Keafer, including Adam Jr's  children. On Adam Sr's headstone someone changed his name to Keafer. Valentine is  buried at the Alexandria Nat'l Cemetary under Keiffer, but his wife, Catherine is  buried as Keafer.
          Most 2nd and 3rd Generation Keafers made their living from farming. Several  moved into Upper Yoder Twp, in Cambria Co, and cleared new farmland. The log house on  the original homestead was abandoned after the Somerset Pike was built, and the  original property was sold off in later years.
          There are still Keafers in the area. The 50th Keafer Reunion was held in  August 2008, with many in attendance. It is held on the 2nd Sunday in August at the  Dwight Keafer farm in Soap Hollow, 5 1/2 miles South of Johnstown,Pa. A DNA sample was donated and tested to see if we are related to any other Kiefer/Kieffer/Keafer family. No positive results have returned as of this writing,  however a family with the last name of Oester/Easter is related at the 14th generation back. were still working at finding that connection.  If you're from another Keafer family and want to get tested, go to:  www.familytreedna.com/public/keefer     Thanks!

I traveled back to Hoheinod in the summer of 2010....180 years since Adam and  his family left. We spent four days in the area, with our host Gerhard Hoeh. He showed  us many former homes of Anstadts, Stichlers, and maybe the Kiefer house. Be sure to look at the picture of the church where Adam and Barbara were married. The area reminded me of the farm country in Somerset or Bedford county here in Pa. We met Hans Shaefer in Hoheinod, and now I wonder if he is related to Adam Shaffer, my g-g-grandfather. I have a copy of Adam Shaffer's marriage document, which has now been translated. I will post on this site, soon.    adrian

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