| bio | Offord, Daniel (1843-1911), of the North F., Mt. Lebanon, NY, came there in 1856. Five other family members became Shakers, too. In the US Census of 1860, Br. Daniel was a "shoemaker," in the Census of 1870, a "herdsman," in the US Census of 1880, an "elder." He signed the covenant in 1876. Daniel Offord attended the Mt. Lebanon school, and became 2nd elder of the North F. Elder Daniel had the charge of boys and young brethren. He left the Shakers in 1895 but returned in 1898 and was eventually reinstated as elder, in 1903. He worked very hard in the last years of his life, "trying to fill in the many vacant places, forgiving those who deserted him" (Stephen Paterwic notes). Even while attending to his numerous duties, he still found time to write a pamphlet" Seven Travails of the Shaker Church, "[1889], and to deliver" The Doctrine and Ufe of the Shakers,in 1893, for the "World's First Parliament of Religions," held in Chicago in connection with the Columbian Exposition of 1893 (Richmond, VoLl, 1977). Lastly and most importantly, he compiled with others (Lucy Bowers and Martha J. Anderson), two volumes of Shaker music: Vol. I. - Shaker Music - Original Inspirational Hymns and Songs, &c. &c. New York: Published for the North Family, Mt. Lebanon, NY by William A. Pond & Co., 1884; Vol. II. Original Shaker Music &c. &c., New York: Wm. A. Pond & Co., 1893. He "died suddenly at sawmill" February 25, 1911 (Hancock Shakers' daybook, 1837-1913).
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