In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1910) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1866
From Twentieth century history of Findlay and Hancock County and representative citizens (1910), A Centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio : embellished with portraits of many well known people of Hancock County, who have been or are prominent in its history and development (1903)
MORGAN C. SHAFER.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
Mr. Shafer was born in Findlay, on the 4th of December, 1866, and is descended from a good old German family. His paternal great-grandfather, Michael Shafer, in company- with a brother, came from the fatherland to the United States, landing at New York city late in the eighteenth century, and there the brothers separated, Michael going to Washington county, Pennsylvania, from which time on the brothers never knew of each other's existence. Later in the eighteenth century Michael Shafer was married in 'washington county, Pennsylvania, to a girl whose first name was Elizabeth, and among their children was Michael Shafer, the ifrandiatlier of our subject, who was born in the Keystone state, and was thirteen years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Knox county, Ohio. In Mount Vernon, this state, he learned the blacksmith's trade. When twenty-two years of age he married Miss Nancy Ireland, and in 1835 they moved to Hancock county, Ohio, where they became owners of real estate near Mt. Blanchard. Until he was twenty-one years of age Michael Shafer could only speak the German tongue, but his wife taught him the English language, and being a great reader he soon became a well informed man. This worthy couple were the parents of twelve children, eight sorts and four daughters. Mr. Shafer was called from the scenes of this earth in August, 1852, when he was fifty-seven years of age.
Morgan D. Shafer, the father of our subject, was born in Mt. Blanchard, Hancock county, Ohio, in 1838, and his education was received principally in the city of Delaware, this state, where he prosecuted his studies for a time in Ohio W'wesleyan University, having defrayed his expenses by teaching school for several years. He was admitted to the bar in 1860, but soon afterward laid aside the work of his profession to go forth as a soldier during the Civil war, enlisting at the first call for troops, in 1861, as a member of the Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he was first lieutenant of Company E. After a service of three months he returned Ijpme and did not again enlist, having been a strong Democrat and having had certain conscientious prejudices against the war policy of the government He ()ened a law office in Findlay, and here continued in the active practice of his profession until his death, which occurred in 1899. He was a man of fine intellectuality and attained high reputation in his chosen profession, being concerned in much of the important litigation brought before the courts of this section of the state and commanding the unequivocal esteem of his professional confrerers and the community in general.
Morgan C. Shafer, the immediate subject of this review, was reared in the place of his nativity, securing his preliminary education in the public schools and living graduated in the high school as a member of the class of 1885. He thereafter put his scholastic acquirements to practical test by
5o8 CENTENNIAL teaching school in his native county, and finally continued iiis studies for a year in Findlay College, after which, in 1887, he matriculated in the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1890. He then returned to his home in I'lndlay, where he continued his technical reading in the law office of his father, whom he assisted in his professional work until 1893, when he secured admission to the bar of Ohio and has since been engaged in active practice here, being recognized as a thoroughly well informed and discriminating advocate and safely conservative counsel and gaining precedence through his careful and devoted attention to the work of his profession. He is a Democrat in his political proclivities and gives a stanch support to the cause. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Shafer was married in 1893, at Findlay, to Miss Florence Hamlin, daughter of John M. Hamlin, and they take a prominent place in the social activities of the city, their home being one in which the refined amenities are ever in evidence.
As printed in A Centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio : embellished with portraits of many well known people of Hancock County, who have been or are prominent in its history and development (1903). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
M. C. SHAFER,* a prominent member of the Hancock County bar and a representative of one of the old pioneer German families of Ohio, was born at Findlay, Ohio, December 4, 1866, and is a son of Morgan D. and Mary L. (Buntz) Shafer.
The late Morgan D. Shafer was born in 1838, at Mt. Blanchard, Hancock County, Ohio, and wras one of a family of twelve children born to his parents, Michael and Nancy (Ireland) Shafer, and a grandson of Michael Shafer, who, with a brother, came to America from Germany, and settled in Washington County, Pa. This first Michael Shafer married there and remained until his son Michael was about thirteen years of age, when he moved to Knox County, Ohio. The second Michael Shafer, wrho was the grandfather of M. C. Shafer of Findlay, was the pioneer of the family in Hancock County, where he acquired property and reared a large family. Throughout life he maintained his old ideas of German thrift and when his children grew old enough to desire more extended educational advantages than the local schools offered, they were required to provide themselves with the means, although at that time he was amply able to give them assistance. Thus, when Morgan D. Shafer found the environments of the farm too narrow for his ambitions, he left home and taught school until he had earned enough to take a law course in the Ohio Wesleyan University, being admitted to the bar in 1860. In the following year, however, when the Civil War broke out, he put aside his personal plans and responded to the first call for troops, entering the Federal Army as first lieutenant of Company E, 21st O. Vol. Inf. After the end of his term of enlistment he came to Findlay and entered upon the practice of his profession, which he adorned for many years, his death occurring in 1899. He married Mary L. Buntz, who was born at Ellsworth, Mahoning County, Ohio, where her family was exceedingly prominent. She survives and resides with a daughter, Mrs. Dr. Jones, at Cleveland, Ohio.
M. C. Shafer was reared at Findlay and was graduated from the Findlay High School in the class of 1885. His father owned 600 acres of land in Hancock County and Mr. Shafer became interested for a time in farming and during one winter he taught a school in Marion Township. He then spent one year at Findlay College, after which he entered the University of Michigan, where he devoted two years to literary studies in general and two more to the special department of law, being graduated in 1893. Immediately after his return to Ohio and admission to the bar he established himself in his present convenient offices at No. 407-2 Main Street, Findlay. Mr. Shafer’s practice is general, requiring much knowledge along many lines, and he has earned a foremost place among a notable body of professional men.
Mr. Shafer was married at Findlay, in 1893, to Miss Florence Hamlin, a daughter of John
M. Hamlin, and they have three children: Richard H., Mary C. and Douglas M. Mr. Shafer has club connections and fraternal affiliations and is particularly active in the Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen.
As printed in Twentieth century history of Findlay and Hancock County and representative citizens (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: John M. Hamlin (b. 1841)
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.