George Shafer of Texas County, Missouri

George Shafer (deceased) was born in Berks County, Penn., November 28, 1816. His father, when a boy, was brought to America, and sold to pay his passage to this country. The man to whom he was sold, dressed him in a negro’s clothes, worked him hard and abused him in many ways. When he had worked his time out he repaid all this kindness (?) by giving his master a good thrashing. George Shafer was reared on a farm, and educated in both the German and English languages, and was quite a good scholar. When young he and his parents moved to Mahoning County, Ohio, where he met and married Miss Christina Gilbert, who was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, and her parents were from Pennsylvania. The family farther back came from Germany. Grandfather Gilbert was a colonel in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Shafer never attended school more than three months, and that in a German school. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Shafer located in Mahoning County, Ohio, were Mr. Shafer carried on farming until he moved to Trumbull County, where for some years he speculated in oil lands and became quite wealthy. In 1869 he moved to Texas County, Mo., locating on a farm where Mrs. Shafer now resides, which consists of 960 acres. When they first settled in Mahoning County, Ohio, Mr. Shafer was in very poor circumstances financially. He purchased a rough piece of land in the woods, but he and his faithful companion worked almost day and night to pay for it. This they at last did, and he became quite wealthy before his death, which occurred April 12, 1887. He was a good man, and was beloved and respected by all who knew him. He was a Whig previous to the war, and afterward a Republican. His wife is still living, and is seventy-six years of age. Their family consisted of nine children: Catherine, Margaret, Mary, Sarah, Hosea, George, David, Amanda and John. Only three are now living. David is the only one single and the only living son. He owns 629 acres of land, has a fine farm, and is a successful farmer and dealer in stock. He is a Republican in his political opinion, and is a member of the Methodist Church.