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 ILLIAM SHAFER, a retired farmer living in the village of Ashmore, was one of the gallant soldiers who offered his life in the defense of his country, and although spared from death on the battle-field, has been a sufferer all his life. He was born Jan. 25, 1826, in Jefferson County, Ky., and is the son of Joseph F. and Elizabeth (Evinger) Shafer, his father born in Germany, and his mother a native of Kentucky. Joseph Shafer was a successful farmer, possessing that shrewdness in financial affairs characteristic of his nationality. He was one of the early pioneers of the State, having come to Illinois in the year 1836. where he identified himself with the interests of his adopted country. His wife and himself were members of the United Brethren Church, and were actively interested in promoting the cause of religion on the Western frontier. His wife died in 1850 at the age of forty-two. He survived her several years, and died in Tuscola, Douglas Co., Ill. Their family comprised sixteen children, four of whom are deceased. Their names are: John; William, the subject of this biography; George, Catherine, David, Samuel, Solomon, Mary, Henry, Lewis, Alexander, Sarah, Nancy, Henry, and two who died in infancy. December 20, 1848, William Shafer was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Skinner, by Rev. William Brown, pastor of the United Brethren Church at Westfield, Clark Co., Ill. His wife was born in Canada, July 6, 1824. Her family came to the States when she was a child, and first located in Indiana, where her father died. After the death of Mr. Skinner, his widow came to Illinois with her family of seven children, where her death occurred in 1866. The names of her children are: Mary S., Joseph, John, Sarah, Catherine, Levi and Adam. Mrs. Shafer is a lady of unusual mental ability and force of character. She has reared a family of eight children, in the training and education of whom she has been obliged to some extent to take the part of both father and mother, as her husband has the misfortune to be totally blind, his eyesight having been permanently injured during his service in the Civil War. The record of their children is as follows: John, born Nov. 30, 1849. married Miss Alice Holladay; William, born Sept. 4, 1851, married Miss Mary Roberts: Hannah E.. born Nov. 24, 1853, married William King; Joseph A., born Dec. 21, 1855, married Josephine Roberts; Martha, born Nov. 23, 1858; Henry, born April 13, 1860, married Susan Wilkins; Winfield S., born July 19, 1862, died April 29, 1882; Elmer E., born July 8, 1866. On the breaking out of the Civil War, Mr. Shafer enlisted, Aug. 1, 1862, in Co. F, 123d Ill. Vol. Inf., and was mustered in at Mattoon, Ill. He was encamped there about six weeks before marching to the front, and thence was ordered to Kentucky. He was engaged in the battle of Hoover’s Gap, after which his eyes began to trouble him so severety that he was ordered to the rear and sent to Chicago, where he remained in the hospital from July 1, 1863, to March 6, 1865, when he returned home. His .eyesight was finally lost beyond the power of restoration, and this affliction has, in a measure, unfitted him for the duties of life. Besides his pleasant home in the village he owns a farm of eighty-seven acres, which is in a fine state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Shafer are actively interested members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Shafer is a man of much intelligence and influence in the township, notwithstanding his affliction. In politics he is a stanch Republican. |
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