BIOS: Josiah D. SHAFFER, Paint Township, 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. 407/8

Josiah D. SHAFFER.

Josiah D. Shaffer, a prominent citizen of Paint township, Somerset county, 
Pennsylvania, is a descendant in the fifth generation of one of the pioneer 
families of Pennsylvania, who came to this country from Germany, and have 
helped in a great measure to build up its prosperity.
(I) Caleb Shaffer, the great-great-grandfather of Josiah D. Shaffer, was born 
in Germany, and emigrated to America about 1730.  He settled in York county, 
Pennwylvania, about that time and became the owner of a large tract of land. 
He married and reared a family.
(II) David Shaffer, son of Caleb Shaffer (I), was born in York county, 
Pennsylvania, about 1741.  He removed to Somerset county, Pennsylvania, about 
1812, and settled near Holsopple, afterward taking up land from the state, at 
a place now called Rummel, formerly Greenland.  Here he lived and died, on the 
farm now owned by Andrew Shaffer.  He was a member of the Lutheran church, and 
a Whig in politics.  He married Catherine Faust, and they had ten children: 
John, see forward; Jacob, David, Levi, Jessie, Andrew, George, Daniel, Eve 
and Susie.
(III) John Shaffer, eldest child of David (2) and Catherine (Faust) Shaffer, 
was born about 1790.  He came to Somerset county from York county, 
Pennsylvania, with his parents, about 1812, and followed the occupation of 
farming.  He was a member of the Evangelical church, and in politics, a Whig. 
He died in 1889.  He married, about 1816, Catherine Couster, and they had 
children: Philip, David, Susie, Susanna, William, Rebecca, David, see 
forward; Lizzie, Delia, Silas and John.
(IV) David J. Shaffer, fourth son and seventh child of John (3) and Catherine 
(Couster) Shaffer, was born January 27, 1828, died October 7, 1902.  The 
opportunities for acquiring an education in those early days were few, but he 
was a man of good judgment and sterling qualities, and these made up for 
educational deficiencies.  Later he gave his children all the advantages that 
the times and circumstances would permit, to acquire the learning he had been 
unable to obtain.  He settled in Paint township, in 1852, on the farm 
purchased from his father, and there resided until 1864, when he removed to 
where Windber now stands.  There he erected a saw and planing mill, in 1872, 
and fourteen years later moved it to Paint borough, where it is still in 
operation, conducted by his son, Josiah D. Shaffer, successfully for the past 
fifteen yeras.  He was in the lumber, contracting and building business at the 
time of the great flood of May 31, 1889, at Johnstown.  He was a member of the 
German Baptist church, in which he held the position of deacon, and 
affiliated with the Whig party.  He served for a number of years as school 
director and supervisor.  He was among the first to be drafted at the outbreak 
of the Civil war, and paid the three hundred dollars which the government 
accepted in lieu of his services.  During 1863-4-5, he was post provost 
marshal and enrolling officer.  He married, January 12, 1851, Rachel 
Holsopple, daughter of Isaac and Christiana Holsopple, and they had nine 
children: Frances, born August 28, 1851, died December 22, 1893; Isaac D., 
born February 2, 1854; Catherine A., January 16, 1856; Jacob W., January 18, 
1858; Christiana, April 21, 1860; Josiah D., see forward; Lewis D., February 
29, 1864; Daniel D., February 8, 1868, died December 6, 1900; Norman D., born 
December 14, 1869.
(V) Josiah D. Shaffer, third son and sixth child of David J. (4) and Rachel 
(Holsopple) Shaffer, was born in Paint township, Somerset county, 
Pennsylvania, April 11, 1862.  He married, May 5, 1887, Katie A. Baumgardner 
(or Bomgardner), born Jun 17, 1864, daughter of Michael Baumgardner, and they 
had children: 1. Daisy M., born May 19, 1888, was educated in the Paint 
borough schools, and is now teaching in the public schools.  2. Percy W., born 
October 28, 1889, educated in Paint borough schools, and is now teaching in 
the public schools.  3. Cloyd R., born February 25, 1891.  4. Morris A., May 
13, 1893.  5. Edith M., April 14, 1899, died April 16, 1905.  6. Foster C., 
born November 16, 1900.  7. E. Robert, May 31, 1903.