The 1909 history says he built a log cabin in a week on 160 acres of timber and, with no farm tools to be had, raked in his first wheat with brush tied to his horse's tail. He served a term as county commissioner and as township trustee, owned 240 acres, and died in 1896 at eighty-seven. His son Peter, born in 1845 in the house where he still lived in 1909, farmed 160 acres in Lafayette Township with his brother Alonzo, was a charter member of the Plainfield Grange in 1876, and served as an elder of the West Lafayette Presbyterian church. Two more Shafers have short 1881 sketches with no stated link to Abraham: George, born in Albany County, New York, in 1822, who came to Ohio when small and owned 116 acres in Lafayette Township, and Edmund, born in 1847, who farmed the home farm with a Plainfield post office. Every fact below is cited to a public-domain Coshocton County history.
Earliest in the record
Abraham Shafer and Maria (Davis) Shaferborn 1809Most recent in our records
Edmund Shaferborn 1847Each number matches a section below. Tap a name to jump to that person.
Pioneer farmers, Lafayette Township
SHAFER A., Lafayette township; farmer; postoffice, Jacobsport; was born m Albany county, New York, in 1809, and came to this township, in 1836; and is one of the oldest residents of this township. He was married to Miss Maria Davis, of Schnectady county. New York in 1886. They have had six children: Steven, deceased; Elizabeth A., Peter, Catharine, Baxter and Alonzo. Mr. S. was county commissioner one term, township trustee two terms, and supervisor numerous times. His parents were New Yorkers of German descent. He owns 240 acres of land and although at an advanced age, is industrious, and regarded as one of the prominent men of the township.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Farmer, Lafayette Township; Presbyterian elder
Peter Shafer, who in partnership with his brother Alonzo owns and operates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Lafayette township, was born in the house in which he now resides, December 1, 1845, the son of Abraham and Maria (Davis) Shafer, both of whom were natives of Albany county, New York. The father was born November 13, 1809, and in early manhood he wedded Maria Davis, who was five years his junior. They became the parents of six children, of whom five are now living, namely: Elizabeth, the widow of D. W. Lyons, of Coshocton; Catherine, the wife of James H. Hay, also a resident of Coshocton; Peter, of this review; W. B., who resides in West Lafayette, Ohio; and Alonzo, who was born on September 10, 1852, and owns a half interest with our subject in the farm referred to above.
In 1835 Abraham Shafer, accompanied by his young wife and infant daughter, Elizabeth, left their native state and came to Coshocton county, Ohio. Here he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, which was covered with timber with the exception of a small field and wholly unimproved. A week's time was consumed in the erection of a log cabin in which to reside and primitive buildings were hastily erected for the shelter of the grain and stock. The cleared land was seeded in wheat and because of a lack of farming implements which were not to be obtained at that time, he sowed his grain broadcast and raked it in, using for the purpose a piece of brush which was tied securely to the horse's tail. Such were the expedients resorted to in the pioneer days of the county, and all honor to the brave, resourceful pioneers who by their patience, energy and perseverance have made possible to us of the present day the many comforts and blessings which we now enjoy. New land was cleared and put under cultivation as rapidly as the labor could be accomplished, the work being pursued with all the more encouragement because of the rich harvests the new land yielded. Mr. Shafer passed away in 1896 at the age of eighty-seven years and his wife died in
1890. At the time of his death he owned two hundred and forty acres of land. In politics he was a republican. He served as county commissioner before the war and also as township trustee. Religiously both he and his estimable wife were faithful and consistent members of the Presbyterian church.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
On October 30, 1871, Mr. Shafer was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Scott, who was born in this county,.January 14, 1847, the daughter of James R. and Mary (Wallace) Scott. Her father was born in Ireland and was brought to this country when a small child and adopted by a farmer of Keene township, by whom he was reared and educated. In 1849 he went to California and later to Oregon but afterward returned to this state and spent his last days with our subject, dying at his home in 1897 at the age of seventy-two years. The mother of Mrs. Shafer died at West Lafayette about 1890. They were the parents of four children: Margaret, the wife of John W. Fisher, of Steubenville, Ohio; Elizabeth, the wife of our subject;.Jennie, the wife of Edmond Shafer, of Cleveland; and Thomas, who died in the army. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Shafer have been born four children, namely: Fay, at home: Bernie, deceased: one who died in infancy: and Charlie, also deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Shafer are devout members of the Presbyterian church of West Lafayette, in which Mr. Shafer presides as elder and trustee. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. He is now serving his first term as township trustee, and has held various positions on the school board.
As printed in the source2. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Farmer, Lafayette Township.
Farmer with a Plainfield post office.
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