Family history and genealogical information about the descendants of Peter Shaul (or Challe) who was born ca. 1750. He immigrated to America from London, England aboard the ship named "Virginia" and arrived in Fredericksburg, Virginia 24 February 1774. Peter married Rosanna (surname unknown) ca. 1778. They lived in Harrison Co., Virginia and were the parents of ten known children. Descendants lived in Virginia, Ohio, California and elsewhere.

Hermann Henrich Steffen was born in 1801 in Kalldorf, Lippe-Detmold, Germany. He married Marie-Elisabeth Schwarze in 1827. They had eight children. Hermann died in 1846. Marie-Elisabeth and the children emigrated in 1856 and settled in Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois. Descendants and relatives lived in Illinois, Iowa, North Dakota and elsewhere.