My Genealogy Hound

ISAAC C. SHAFER. An influential position among the agriculturists of Cass County is occupied by the prominent farmer and stock-raiser who resides upon section 28, La Grange Township. Mr. Shafer was born in Union (now Snyder) County, Pa., on the 30th of November, 1842, and is the son of John H. and Hannah (Carvell) Shafer. The paternal grandfather, John Shafer, was born of German parentage in Pennsylvania, and was reared upon a farm, where his entire life was passed and where finally his eyes were closed upon the scenes of earth. In religion he was a firm believer in the doctrines of Christianity and held membership in the Lutheran Church. Politically, he was a Whig. During the early wars he served at various times, and always with fidelity to the cause of the United States.

John H. Shafer, father of our subject, was one of five sons, the others being Philip, Jacob, Peter and George. John H. remained at home until he was twenty-one, and meanwhile served an apprenticeship to the tailor’s trade for three years. He followed that trade throughout his entire active life, although in addition thereto he served for forty years as a local preacher in the Evangelical Church. His labors in that denomination were done gratuitously and without expectation of any reward or compensation other than the knowledge of good accomplished. While his age prevented him from entering actively the service of the Union during the late war, yet he sent three sons to the front, and knew no greater pleasure than to aid in every way possible the cause of the Old Flag. Politically, he was first a Whig, and after the organization of the Republican party he became identified with its active workers. His entire life was passed in Pennsylvania, where he owned three small tracts of land and carried on agricultural operations with success. His death occurred in 1878, and resulted from pleurisy. It was very sudden, as he had preached only a few days before he was called from earth. His widow survived him for a number of years.

The parental family consisted of six children, as follows: Henry; Mary, Mrs. Henry Housewerth; Benjamin, who enlisted during the late war as a member of the One Hundred and Seventy-second Pennsylvania Infantry, and was Second Lieutenant of Company A; Isaac C., our subject, who served in the same regiment during the Civil War; James, also a soldier in the Union service; and Minerva. In his youth our subject learned the trade of a carpenter, and was employed on railroad bridge work for eight years. Later he engaged in boating, and was thus occupied at intervals for fifteen seasons. On coming to Michigan in 1878, he located in Berrien County, where he rented land and followed his trade for two years. Later he embarked in farming pursuits and was engaged in that way for some time in Cass County. In 1882 he came to Cass County, and has conducted farming operations here ever since his location in the county.

In Pennsylvania, October 21, 1862, Mr. Shafer married Miss Mary, daughter of Joseph and Anna Rife, who was born in Manheim, Germany, and came to America at the age of seven years. They were the parents of nine children, two of whom died young. The others are: Mary, Mrs. Leander Miller, deceased; Anna L., Mrs. John Morris; John W., Carrie, M. Luther, Thomas M. and Minnie. In his social affiliations, Mr. Shafer was at one time actively connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Pennsylvania, and is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Cassopolis. He has given his children good educational advantages, and has aided them so far as possible in becoming good and useful citizens in their several communities.