BIOS: George W. SHAFFER, Somerset, Somerset County, PA

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History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania; Bedford County by E. 
Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis 
Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, ppg. 484/5

George W. SHAFFER.

George W. Shaffer, a prominent business man of Somerset, Somerset county, 
Pennsylvania, was there born March 3, 1863, a son of William and Elizabeth 
(Berkey) Shaffer.  He is of German descent.  His grandfather, Tobias Shaffer, 
was born near Stoystown, Somerset county; was a farmer by occupation and the 
owner of a coal mine.
William Shaffer (father) was born in 1837 in Somerset, Pennsylvania, and is a 
retired farmer.  He served in the Civil war.  His wife, Elizabeth Berkey, is a 
daughter of Henry Berkey, who was a farmer and a minister.  William and 
Elizabeth (Berkey) Shaffer had children as follows: Harry, deceased; George W., 
see forward; Carrie; Anna; Lucy, deceased; Hattie W.; Charles, deceased; Frank, 
deceased; William, deceased; Albert; and James.  Of these children, Carrie, the 
second child and eldest daughter, married W. P. Rifer.
George W. Shaffer obtained his educational training in the common schools of 
Somerset, and at the early age of sixteen started out to make his own way in the 
world.  He was engaged with his father in farming and in the conduct of a coal 
mine until he was twenty-eight years of age.  He then learned the trade of mason 
and plasterer, and after some time spent at this occupation with the firm of 
Laws & Snyder he formed a partnership with Harry Pile, and together they 
established themselves in business in Somerset.  Both of these men are thorough, 
capable business men, and their business is a successful and profitable one.
George W. Shaffer married, April 9, 1889, Miss Elmira Stull, born January 1, 
1872, in Shanksville, Somerset county, the daughter of Edward and Carrie (Groft) 
Stull.  She is the granddaughter of Harry Stull, who was born in Stoystown and 
was the proprietor of a hotel there for eight years, and was for forty-seven 
years so engaged in Shanksville.  Edward Stull (father) was born July 27, 1851, 
in Berlin, and was a farmer by occupation.  His wife, Carrie Groft, was born 
April 16, 1852, a daughter of Henry and Caroline (Lebsier) Groft.  Edward and 
Carrie (Groft) Stull had children as follows: Elmira (Mrs. Shaffer); Rose; 
Mabel; Anna; Vida; Daisy; Albert; Orange; Harry. Mr. and Mrs. George W. Shaffer 
are the parents of one child, Maud K., born May 7, 1890, in Somerset, and now 
resides at home with her parents.