BIOGRAPHY: Henry R. SHAFFER, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lynne Canterbury and Diann Olsen. Portions of this book were transcribed by Clark Creery, Martha Humenik, Betty Mirovich and Sharon Ringler. USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ ____________________________________________________________ From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 93-4 ____________________________________________________________ HENRY R. SHAFFER, an old and highly respected citizen of Conemaugh township, who has served as a justice of the peace for a quarter of a century, is a son of John P. and Maria (Lehman) Shaffer, and was born in Richland township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, December 11, 1828. His paternal great-grandfather, George Shaffer, was a native of Germany, who came to this country prior to the Revolutionary war, in which he served as a soldier in the American army. He settled in the Kishacoquillas valley, in the eastern part of the State, where he lived until his death. His son, Henry Shaffer, emigrated from the valley to Richland township, where he followed farming as an occupation. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and his son, John P., who lived for some time in Richland township, was born on the old valley homestead in eastern Pennsylvania, July 19, 1804, and in 1848 removed to Conemaugh township, where he died November 30, 1875. John P. Shaffer did not enjoy very good educational privileges, as his father died when he was but fourteen years of age, and he was then busied with many cares. He was a farmer and a democrat, and held membership in the Reformed church for many years. He married Maria Lehman, whose father, Christian Lehman, was a resident of Richland township. Mrs. Shaffer died February, 1861, aged fifty-six years. Their family consisted of five sons and four daughters. Henry R. Shaffer spent his boyhood days on the farm, received a good English education in the schools of his day, and commenced life for himself as a repair hand on the old Portage railroad. He afterwards taught four terms of school, and then learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed for ten years. At the end of that time, in 1861, physical disability caused him to abandon his trade, and also prevented him from entering the Union army. Not desiring to be idle, he took timber contracts for the Cambria Iron company and the Pennsylvania Railroad company, and was thus engaged until 1866, when he removed to his present farm in Conemaugh township, which he tilled up to 1894. Since that year, Mr. Shaffer has been engaged in introducing improved and modern farming implements into the county. His farm, which is five miles from Johnstown, contains one hundred and forty-three acres of good land, one-half of which is cleared and improved. In matters of national import and issue, Mr. Shaffer has always supported the Democratic party, but in local affairs is independent, supporting men instead of parties. He has been honored with all of his township offices, served as county auditor in 1867, 1868 and 1869, and has been justice of the peace for twenty-five years, serving continuously from 1869 to 1896, except two years. 'Squire Shaffer is a member and trustee of Mt. Carmel United Brethren church, and ranks as one of the oldest and more representative citizens of his section of the county. On May 7, 1857, Squire Shaffer married Elizabeth Strayer, a daughter of Jacob P. Strayer, of Yoder township. To 'Squire and Mrs. Shaffer have been born eight children: Anna Matilda, wife of William Giffin, a farmer of Adams township; Charles, who died young; George W., who died April 1, 1894, aged thirty-two years; William B. F.; Mary E., wife of Edward H. Boytes, of near Somerset, Somerset county; Ellen, who married A. C. Rively, of Richland township; Effie Etta, wife of Harry Gilman, a farmer; and Robert H., who is at home with his parents. One died in infancy. The Shaffer family is one among the old families of the western part of the State, while its members have always been known as respectable and reliable people.