My Genealogy Hound

HENRY SCHAFER, the leading merchant at Gentryville, was born December 22, 1838, and is a son of Christian and Mary (Myer) Schafer, who were natives of Germany. At an early day they immigrated to this country, and in 1852 they settled at New Albany, where they resided many years. Our subject obtained a good common school education in youth, and at the age of sixteen years began life’s battle on his own responsibility as a merchant’s clerk. For twelve years he continued clerking, and by that time had sufficient means to embark in mercantile pursuits for himself, which he did at Haysville, Dubois County, where he remained a period of seven years. He then moved to Loogootee, where he remained nearly two years, then removed to Gentryville, Ind., and established his present business. Mr. Schafer possesses all the requirements that become a successful merchant. He is kind and courteous to all alike; is energetic, enterprising, a first-class salesman, a good buyer and a careful dealer. Mr. Schafer, in politics, is what might be termed a liberal Democrat, is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was married in January, 1867, to Miss Sallie Brace, and by her he is the father of the following named children, all living: Florence, Annie, Maggie and Walter.