20th Century History of New Castle and
Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens

JAMES W. SHAFFER,

[p. 557] a prosperous farmer residing on a farm of 133 acres lying one and a half miles south of Princeton, in Slippery Rock Township, was born on the farm adjoining his on the south, at a time when it formed a part of Beaver County. The date of his birth was March 27, 1843, and he is a son of Abraham and Martha (Kildoo) Shaffer.

Jacob Shaffer grandfather of James W., was the first of the family to locate in what is now Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and was a native of Holland. His father also came to this country and died on the farm which Jacob Shaffer purchased in Slippery Rock Township, which has been known as the old Shaffer homestead for so many years. The latter was a carpenter by trade, as well as a farmer.

Abraham Shaffer was born on the old homestead in Slippery Rock Township, and there engaged in argicultural pursuits all his life, although he, too, followed cabinet-making in addition, for some years. He died in the ninety-second year of his age. He married Martha Kildoo, a daughter of James Kildoo, of Lawrence County, and they became parents of the following children: W. H. H., James W., Franklin, John W., Sylvester, Milo, who died young, Jemimah, and Mary Jane, Catherine and Susan, all three deceased.

James W. Shaffer was educated in the district schools of his home community, and remained on the home place until his marriage, when he purchased his present place of 133 acres of Athen Thomas. He made many improvements of importance on the place and has one of the best appointed farms in the township. He carries on general farming, operating along modern and approved lines, and ranks with the successful men of the community.

Mr. Shaffer is a veteran of the Civil War, first enlisting for nine months in 1862, as a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He re-enlisted as a member of the Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and of the officers of that regiment, under whom he served, but one is now living, Col. James M. Schoonmaker, now vice-president of the Pittsburg & Lake Erie Railroad Company. Mr. Shaffer participated in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and the many skirmishes and fights in the Shenandoah Valley, being at the last under the command of General Sheridan. He was in the engagement in which that famous general made his memorable twenty-mile ride, and was in the saddle for thirteen days of continuous fighting. Notwithstanding the many hot engagements in which he took part and the length of his service, he was fortunate enough to escape without injury.

Mr. Shaffer was united in marriage with Margaret Myers, a daughter of Samuel Myers, a farmer of Lawrence County, and they are parents of four children: John Ross, who married May Frew and resides in Lawrence County; Samuel W., who is unmarried; Myrtle E., wife of Robert Black, by whom she has two children, Lawrence and Raymond, and Grant A., who is unmarried. Politically, Mr. Shaffer is an ardent Republican and frequently has been called upon to serve his township in official positions of trust. He was constable and tax collector three years, school director eight years, and road supervisor two years. In religious faith and fellowship, he is a member of the Presbyterian Church.


20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908

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