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JOHN M. SHAFFER, who combines the occupation of a manufacturer of drain tile, building blocks and pressed brick with that of a farmer, is residing at Sedalia. He was born in Jefferson County, this State, November 10, 1837, and is the son of Jacob and Christina (Coffman) Shaffer, the former of whom was born in Shenandoah County, Va., April 7, 1790, grew to manhood in that county, and attended school with Zachary Taylor.
Soon after his marriage, the father of our subject enlisted in the State milita and participated in the War of 1812. He moved to Pennsylvania in 1827, locating in what is now Braddock Fields, where he followed his occupation of a blacksmith. His eldest child, Maria, was born in Shenandoah County, in 1814, and the remainder of the family were Barbara, Anna H., Susan; Noah N., who was Lieutenant-Colonel in the secret service during the Civil War, Martin C., who was born in 1825; Ambrose B., in 1827; Margaret J., in 1830, Sarah Catherine, in 1832; Alex C., in 1834 and our subject in 1837. He of whom we write lived in Jefferson County until 1853, when he removed with his parents to Wheeling , Va. His father, in the meantime, had abandoned blacksmithing and operated a gristmill on Short Creek, in which line of work our subject was employed till he went to the Old Dominion. In Wheeling, he began clerking in a general store, which he followed for three years, and then removed with hsi parents to Marion County, Mo., which was their home until the fall of 1859. while residing in the West, John M. worked in a woolen mill until the above date, when, the slavery question being agitated warmly, the family came to Marietta, this State, and he began working on the Cleona Fruit Farm, owned by E. J. Plumbley, a good old Quaker gentleman.
In 1860, after casting their vote for Abraham Lincoln, our subject and his brother, Alex C., loaded a vessel with produce, which they marketed at New Orleans for Mr. Plumbley, receiving $45 per month for the trip. It was a very dangerous proceeding, as many men were shot down on all sides, and their lives were only safe when hiding in the bottom of the boat. They returned in the spring, and that summer Mr. Shaffer operated a drill, boring for oil in the vicinity of Marietta.
September 7, 1861, he of whom we write enlisted in Company L, Ohio Cavalry, under Capt. T. J. Patton, and was mustered in at Camp Chase. There he remained until, with his regiment, he was sent to Kentucky, and near Lexington waited until they received their arms. He participated in many skirmishes and at the battle of Pittsburg Landing came up with the reserve on the day after the battle. He was wounded on the road between that city and Corinth, an artery being severed in his right leg just above the knee. In addition to that misfortune, he was taken with the fever, and being sent to the field hospital, remained there seven or eight days, when he was taken to St. Louis, and ten days later to Camp Chase, thence home to Marietta. In December, he was ordered to Columbus, where he received his honorable discharge on the 10th of that month. He was at that time given a pass to travel wherever he pleased in the army, and fitting himself with a stock of goods, peddled his wares among the boys, thus furnishing them with many necessary articles which they could not have otherwise obtained.
John M. Shaffer and Miss Almeda Sims were united in marriage August 6, 1863. He had first met the lady when a cavalryman, when she was so frightened at the sight of the soldiers that, on being asked for a drink of water, she replied that she would go to the spring to get some, but the moment she was out of sight ran as if for her life. Mrs. Shaffer was born in Franklin County seven miles from Columbus, August 24, 1845, and was the daughter of Edward J. and Sarah (Rose) Sims.
Our subject amassed quite a little fortune in peddling among the soldiers but he later lost it by investing in a panorama of Lincoln's death. In 1865, he removed from Columbus to Spring Hill, Madison County, and operated a sawmill for three years, at the end of which time he began the manufacture of tile. in 1881, he moved to Midway and established in that line of business, manufacturing pressed brick, building blocks, etc., having an income of about $3,500 per year.
Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer have become the parents of ten children: Rhodolp S. is engaged as a printer in Midway, and also is employed with his father in the manufacture of tile; Ellen M., Mrs. J. T. Crabb, lives in Columbus; Ora A. married M. J. Busick and resides in Chenowith, Madison County; Eva J. became the wife of E. J. Clawson and makes her home in Clarke County; Arthur died October 15, 1876; Leona, Walter H., Bessie P., Carl A. and Newell B. are at home with their parents.
Our subject supported the Republican party from 1860 until of recent years, when he joined the Prohibitionists. He has been Justice of the Peace six years, in Fairfield Township, Madison County, and Constable two years. With his wife, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which body he has been Trustee. Socially, he is a Mason and has been Chaplain in the Blue Lodge. He is also an Odd Fellow, and has been through the encampment, holding membership at Lilly Chapel and London. He is a charter member of Vincent Allen Post No. 678, G. A. R., and has attended the State National Encampment of that order. He is also a member of the Sons of Temperance and belongs to the Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio, of which he has been Chaplain.
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