Robert & Lula Shoffner

Sawmills were a common trade in Alamance County in the early 1900s

Robert Shoffner was born to Pleasant and Mariah Shoffner on October 28, 1875. We believe he was the oldest child of the couple. Robert grew up in Alamance county, and like his father, he was very good with his hands and was also a Carpenter. He worked at the Saw Mill in Burlington, NC, until relocating to Brooklyn New York.

Robert married Lula Clapp, raising five daughters and one son together. All their children were born in Alamance County. The couple decided to move to Brooklyn, New York, in the early 1900s. We know that Roberts's sister Martha had moved to Brooklyn many years earlier. This could have been the deciding factor that inspired them to leave Burlington with their children.

I could not find an exact date of when they moved. According to Roberts's registration card, they still resided in Burlington in 1918 at age 42. We also know that his father died in 1920 and believe he made a decision to leave Alamance County shortly after that. We did find a Census record of the couple before and after relocating to New York with the ages of the children listed.

The 1912 Alamance County Census

Shows Robert Age 37

Lula Age 40

Cora 22

Luther 21

Bertha 13

Bulah 11

Lizzie ( Elizabeth) 9

Virgie 7

Cleat 6 - Oldest Son of Cora Shoffner

Lula Clapp was born in 1879 to Alexander & Clarissa Clapp. We Know from the Census records that Lulas father Alexander was born in 1854 and her mother Clarissa was born in 1861. The Clapp Plantation was also a large plantation in Alamance County just like the Shoffner Plantation. Alexander and Clarissa were owned by the (Clapp family) and we can assume they were set free on or about January 1, 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

Lula and Robert moved to Brooklyn and resided there until their death. We know they had full and active lives. Robert was affectionately known as (Papa) and was close to all 5 of his daughters and grandchildren. We know Lula was a loving grandmother and very dedicated to her church. I'm not exactly sure the year they moved to New York, but I know that Aunt Mother Dear, talked about being a little girl when they came up north and how she was told that the streets were paved with gold. She expressed her excitement about moving to "The Big City". Im sure living in the city was a big change from the small town in the south.

We can only imagine that Papa brought his family to Brooklyn, New York, searching for a better life for his girls. He and Lula were not young when they made the transition. They were in their early 40s. Coming to New York in the roaring 20s probably had great possibilities and challenges. Together the couple raised their children and grandchildren, and because of them, we have opportunities they could probably never imagine.

Lula Shoffner 1861-1942