Labette County Biographies
From the "Portrait and Biographical Record of Southeastern Kansas"
Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, 1894
SAMUEL SHAFFER. The farming class of
America, and especially of southeastern
Kansas, is notable for the degree of intelligence that is possessed by its representatives. Our subject is one of those men to whom
this county owes much. He is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Blair County, June 1,
1844. His father, also a Pennsylvanian by birth,
was born in Huntingdon County in 1808. His
mother, Catherine (Hillman) Shaffer, was a native
of the same state. The family was among the oldest in Pennsylvania, and were prominent in all
matters of public interest. Grandfather Shaffer
was one of the Hessians in the Revolutionary War.
The parents of our subject died in Pennsylvania.
Samuel Shaffer was one of eight children born
to the above couple. He was reared on a farm,
and early learned the rudiments of that occupation. In September, 1865, he was married to Miss
Clara Henderson, a native of Jefferson County,
Pa., and born August 5, 1845. In 1869 our subject and his estimable wife came west, and for a
time located in Kansas City. In February of the
following year, they came to their present home,
and at that time the country round their home
was very wild, no house being in sight. They settled on one hundred and sixty acres, all of which
is now improved, and by his earnest efforts Mr.
Shaffer has one of the finest farms in the locality.
He is engaged in general farming, and has been
very successful in all his work.
In 1861, our subject ran away from home and
enlisted in Company C, Third Pennsylvania Regiment, being then only sixteen years of age. He
served all through the three months' campaign under General Wynkoop. When discharged from
service, he went to Washington and drove a team
for the Government, and assisted in building many
of the forts around Arlington. He went home
during the winter and summer, and in August enlisted for nine months in Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Pennsylvania, as a private.
He later became the Colonel's Orderly. He took
part in the battles of Antietam and Chancellorsville, besides doing other active service. He was
discharged at the end of the service and went home.
The next summer he again enlisted, becoming a
volunteer in Company B, Two Hundred and
Eighth Pennsylvania Division. He was in the
charge at Petersburgh, Va., under Butler April
2, 1865, and was also present at the surrender of
Lee. At the time of the Grand Review at Washington, D. C, he belonged to the First District,
Ninth Army Corps. He was mustered out of
service June 1, 1865, having served a little over
two years.
Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer are the parents of seven
children, six of whom are now living: Minnie
Kate, Robert, Rosa Pollen, S. B., Jr., Rolla Emery and Gertrude. William is deceased. The
children have had the best educational advantages.
Miss Minnie K. was a student at the business college of Topeka, and is now a practical
stenographer, type-writer and telegraph operator. She took
in short hand the last speech made in the county
by Senator Plumb.
Politically, Mr Shaffer is a Republican, and has
taken an active part in all the work of that party.
He has been a member of the School Board, and has
frequently been a delegate at conventions. He was
Sheriff of the county for four years. Our subject
is a member of Antietam Post, G. A. R., at Parsons,
and is also one of the Patriarchs of America.
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This website created September 18, 2011 by Sheryl McClure.
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