SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Charles H. Shafer, Page 480

CHARLES H. SHAFER, who is numbered among the early settlers of Sheboygan County, having for many years made his home within its borders, now owns and operates a finely improved farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres on section 35, Lima Township.  His land is all under a high state of cultivation, and upon the farm are a pleasant home and good outbuildings, together with other modern improvements and conveniences, which add to the value and attractive appearances of the place.

    Mr. Shafer was born April 13, 1820, in Guernsey County, Ohio, and is a son of Daniel and Margaret Shafer, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, while their parents were of German birth.  They were agriculturists, and when Charles was a boy of four summers they removed to Trumbull County, Ohio, there locating on a farm.  The mother died when our subject was only twelve years old, and was buried in Trumbull County.  In 1848, the father came with his family to Wisconsin.  They had nine children, five sons and four daughters, but Charles and Samuel are now the only survivors.

    In the usual manner of farmer lads, Mr. Shafer of this sketch was reared to manhood.  On the 11th of December, 1846, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Templeton, who was the sixth in a family of eight children born unto William and Elizabeth (Hampton) Templeton.  Three are now living:  Michael, a farmer of Trumbull County, Ohio; Olive, wife of Jake Harding, a farmer of the same county; and Rachael, wife of James Rayne, a farmer of Trumbull County.  The parents were farming people of that county and were numbered among its earliest settlers.  When they came to Wisconsin they located in West Bend, Washington County, where Mr. Shafer purchased eighty-five acres of land.  His family lived under an oak tree until they could build a house.  Putting up four poles, they covered these with brush and blankets, and this rude shelter furnished them a home until the log cabin was completed.  The county was very wild and times were hard.  Mr. Shafer performed the arduous task of clearing away the timber, and after a years and a-half he traded his first property for a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Trent Township.  Of this, about six acres had been cleared, and on the tract a log cabin had been built.  Mr. Shafer soon after erected a large frame house.  There the family resided until 1866, when, selling the farm for $3,500, they came to Lyndon Township, Sheboygan County.  Mr. Shafer then purchased two hundred and twenty acres of improved land for $6,000, and began farming in earnest.  He afterward deeded eighty acres of this property to his sons, who have since sold it.

    Of the nine children born unto our subject and his wife, all are yet living.  Norman is married and follows farming in Clark County; Arlow aids in the operation of the home farm; Austin is married, and is a farmer and stock-dealer of Mondovi, Buffalo County; Belle is the wife of Frank Potter, and they reside near Neillsville, Clark County; Ida resides at home and follows dress-making; Rhoda is engaged in a millinery business; Lois, who was educated in the Plymouth High School, is a cultured young lady, who for five years has successfully engaged in teaching; Della and Maud remain at home.  The family circle yet remains unbroken and its members have ever been held in high regard.

    Mr. Shafer cast his first Presidential vote for James K. Polk, and since coming to Wisconsin has been a stalwart Republican, but has never sought or desired official preferment.  He is a man of liberal and progressive ideas, and the motto of his life is the Golden Rule.  The community finds in him a valued citizen, who is alive to the best interests of the community, and has ever borne his part in the work of public improvement and advancement.  He has been familiar with the history of this community for many long years, and well deserves mention among the honored pioneer settlers.