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Below is a family biography included in History of Lee County, Iowa published by Western Historical Company in 1879. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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SCHAFFER, JOHN D., was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, April 22, 1817; he emigrated to America in July, 1838; he worked as a journeyman baker successively in Philadelphia; Cincinnati and Detroit, until he settled in Cairo, Ill., in 1840, where he started in business for himself, with William Bender, now a prominent merchant in Memphis, Tenn.; in 1843, he removed to Iowa; settled in Fort Madison. On the 2d of June, 1846, he married Louisa Peters, daughter of Matthias Peters; they have six children. He is still living in the residence part of the old homestead, which, with two store rooms, constitutes what is known as Schaffer’s Corner, built by him in 1844, and where he carried on the general mercantile business, until the hard times, bad debts, Eads’ securities, and other reverses, compelled him to sell off his stock at cost, pay all of his debts, one hundred cents on the dollar, and seek to recover his fortunes as sutler in the army; for most of the time since the war, he has been and is still engaged as Guard at the Iowa State Penitentiary. He is a quiet man, of unassuming manners, kind to his family, and loved by all who really know him.
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This family biography is one of 668 biographies included in The History of Lee County, Iowa published in 1879. For the complete description, click here: Lee County, Iowa History and Genealogy
View additional Lee County, Iowa family biographies: Lee County, Iowa Biographies
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