In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1902) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio (1902), History of Seneca County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages ... portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of the Northwest territory; h (1886)
ALFRED L. SHAFER, farmer, P. O. Watson, was born in Clinton Township, this county, October 30, 1840; son of Joseph and Susan (Kain) vShafer. the former of whom, of German descent, was born in Virginia, the latter ii\ Pennsylvania, of Irish lineage. They were married in Greene County, Penn., and came to this county about 1836, settling in Clinton Township, where they reared their family of two sons and two daughters: Mary J., Eliza A., Alfred L. and John A., all residing in this county but John A., who lives in Pulaski County, Ind. The father of this family died in January, 1849, the mother in March, 1881. Our subject attended Heidelberg College for several terms, and until quite recently has given considerable of his time to school teaching. In 1869 he purchased land in Pleasant Township, this county, to which he has since added, and has now 143 acres. Mr. Shafer has served his township in several of its offices; was trustee for two years and justice of the peace for six years. He was married, April 11, 1865, to Miss Rachael A. McMeen, a native of Pleasant Township, this county, born July 7, 1842, daughter of William S. and Sophia (Stewart) McMeen, natives of Pennsylvania, and who were married in Lycoming County, that State, coming to this county in 1835. They reared a large family of children, of whom Mrs. Shafer is the youngest but one.
Mr. McMeen died March. 7, 1808, and his widow now resides with our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Shafer are the parents of four child'en: Alice L., Nora W., Nellie S. and Glenn McMeen.
As printed in History of Seneca County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages ... portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of the Northwest territory; h (1886). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
ALFRED L. SHAFER.
The agricultural interests of Seneca county have no better representatives than its native-born citizens, many of whom are classed among its most practical, enterprising and successful farmers. One of the number is Mr. Shafer, who is one of the prominent citizens of Pleasant township. Dependent upon his own resources from his boyhood, he has so applied his energies and ability as to attain a success worthy the name, while his high standing in the community indicates the objective appreciation of his sterling character.
Mr. Shafer was born in Clinton township, this county, on the 30th of Novemlber, 1841, being the son of Joseph and Susan (Cain) Shafer, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania, where their marriage was solemnized. They became the parents of four children, namely: Mary J., the wife of Ransom Meredith, of Marshall county, Indiana; Eliza, the widow of W. P. Daywald, of Qinton township; Alfred L., the subject of this review; and John A., who died in Indiana, at the age of fifty-seven years. The parents of our subject came to Seneca county in 1837, locating on a farm in Qinton township, where the father reclaimed a tract of wild land and where he made his home until his death, in 1849, at the age of forty-seven years, his wife passing away in 1881, at the age of seventy years.
Alfred L. Shafer was reared in his native county and when but ten years of age he assumed the practical responsibilities of life, working by the day or month for his board and clothing, and being in the employ- of others until 1861. He secured his early educational discipline in the public schools, and through his own efforts accumulated sufficient funds lo enable him to continue his studies for a time in Heidelberg College, at Tiffin. That he duly profited by the opportunities afforded him is evident from the fact that he began teaching school when seventeen years of age, and he continued his pedagogic work in Seneca county for twenty years during the winter months, while during the summers he devoted his attention to farm work. In 1861 he rented a farm/ and continued agricultural operations under these conditions until 1868, when he located on his present farm, which he likewise rented, the same being then the property of his father-in-law. In 1872 he purchased the farm, which comprises one hundred and forty acres, and here he has made the best of improvements and placed the land under a high state of cultivation, his success being due to his energy, discrimination and progressive inetJKxls.
Mr. Shafer has ever maintained a lively interest in public affairs of a local nature and has been influential in his township. He is a stalwart advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and for nearly thirty years served as justice of the peace, while he was a trustee of Pleasant township for several years. He is a man of forceful individuality and marked intellectuality, and to him has been given the mckt unequivocal confidence and esteem of the f>people of the community. He is one of the prominent and enthusiastic members of Union Grange, Xo. 1078, Patrons of Huslandry, of which he is the master at the time of this writing, and his religious faith is that of the Reformed church, being a member at Glade Union, in which he has been an elder for many years.
On the nth of April, 1865, Mr. Shafer was united in marriage to Miss Rachel McMeen, who was born in this county, being the daughter of William S. and Sopliia (Stewart) McMeen, a pioneer farmer of this section of the state. Our subject and his estimable wife have four children, namely: Alice L., the wife of Frank J. Stinchcomb, superintendent of schools at Pavne, Ohio; Xora, who remains at home, a popular and
Google successful teacher, having attended the Ada and Fostoria Normals and Heidelberg College; Nellie, the wife of Forrest Niswender, at Swander Ohio; and Glenn, who is a student in Heidelberg College.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
As printed in A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1902. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.