ORMAN DELMONT SCHAFER Bio
Monongalia Co. WV


The History of West Virginia, Old and New 
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc. 
Chicago and New York, Volume II 
pg. 153

ORMAN DELMONT SCHAFER has for fifteen years been one of the skilled men in the service 
of the American Sheet & Tin Plate Company at Morgantown. He is a native or West Virginia, 
and directly and collaterally connected with several of the old families of the Monongalia 
District.

He was born at Laurel Point in the Grant District of Monongalia County, December 28, 1882, 
son of John C. and Miranda Estelle (Hildebrand) Schafer. His parents are still living and 
his father was born in Grant District, August 3, 1853, son of Peter and Anna (Gray) 
Schafer, while the mother was born at White Day in Grant District, April 6, 1854. They 
are the parents of two children. The older, Zenas, is the widow of the late Jesse H. 
Henry, of a prominent family of Monongalia County whose record is given on other pages. 
Mrs. Henry is the mother of E. Wayne Henry, of Morgantown.

Orman Delmont Schafer spent his early life on the old farm at Laurel Point. He attended 
district school, graduated from public school with a diploma in 1899, and following that 
for several years did farm work and also was employed on lock and dam construction on 
the Upper Monongalia River. In 1904 he became weighmaster at the Round Bottom Coal Mine, 
but in April, 1906, removed to Morgantown and entered the service of the American Sheet 
& Tin Plate Company. He was first an electrical crane man, then electrical engineer, 
electrical inspector of the Plant, then tracer and shipping clerk, and for several 
years Past has had the responsible duties of foreman of shearmcn and opening department.

Mr. Schafer is a justly popular citizen in Morgantown, active in civic and social 
affairs, is affiliated with Morgantown Union Lodge No. 4, A. F. and A. M., with the 
Modern Woodmen of America and the Methodist Church.

November 19, 1904, he married Miss Effie Edna De Vault, who was born in Clinton 
District of Monongalia County, daughter of James A. and Mary (Stansbury) De Vault. 
Mr. and Mrs. Schafer are the parents of five children: Benton Delmont, who was born 
November 30, 1905, and is in the class of 1922 at the Morgantown High School; Mildred 
Carlotta, born December 20, 1907; Mary Zoe, born March 22, 1910; John Vernon, born 
January 29, 1912; and James Clement, born December 4, 1917.

While his time has been fully taken up with the practical side of business and 
industry, Mr. Schafer has also contrived to develop his artistic talents, and his 
favorite hobby is pastel work, much of which has been accorded recognition by 
competent critics. He has a fine collection of paintings. The son, Benton, has 
shown marked ability as a cartoon artist, and is improving his talents with a view 
to making a profession of cartoon work. A more detailed information of the paternal 
family may be found in the sketch of E. Wayne Henry and of the maternal family in 
that of Clement C. Hildebrand elsewhere in this work.