My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE SCHAFFER. When the reliable farmers of Johnson County are being mentioned, the subject of this sketch is invariably remembered. Although he has been an invalid for some time, he possesses all the sturdy qualities of his substantial German ancestors, those qualities that are most needful in an agricultural community, and has discharged his duties, both as a citizen and a tiller of the soil, in such a manner as to win the friendship of the people. He rents a good farm in township 46, range 25.

Mr. Schaffer was born in Bavaria, Germany, April 1, 1827. He is a son of George and Catherine (Rummel) Schaffer, also natives of the Fatherland. There the father was a tiller of the soil, but the inducements held out to him to remain in his native land were not very enticing, and thinking to better his condition in a financial way he set out with his wife and family for the New World in 1837. Their voyage across the Atlantic was a very tedious and stormy one, and after fifty-three days they were safely landed in New York Harbor. Their destination being further West, they journeyed on to Pike County, Ohio, locating in what is now Waverly. There the father bought a small farm of sixty acres, and with the aid of his sons cleared and improved the tract, making it his home for the succeeding eight or ten years. He then moved further Westward, to Fayette County, that state, but finding the price of land in that locality to be $100 per acre, he decided not to purchase just then, and as he was getting quite aged, abandoned farm work and made his home with our subject until his decease, which occurred in 1856. His wife preceded him to the better land one year.

The parental family included eight children. George Peter, the eldest son, married Elizabeth Fogle, and was in the cigar and insurance business at Chillicothe, Ohio, until the time of his decease, in 1875; his wife is also dead. Our subject was the next-born. Mary married John Fellesstein, and both departed this life while residing on their farm in Madison County, Ohio. Christina died at the age of sixteen years. Alexander married Mary Peters, of Madison, and both are now living on a good farm in Texas. Clara and Mathias are deceased, and the two youngest members of the family died unnamed in infancy. George Peter Schaffer was during his lifetime a very prominent man in Ohio politics, and in 1863 was elected Mayor of the city of Chillicothe. He was known throughout the county as “Squire” Schaffer.

George, of this sketch, remained at home until twenty-three years of age, when he was married, April 24, 1850, to Miss Sarah Rickenbaugh, who was born in Holmes County, Ohio, January 26, 1831. She was the daughter of David and Elizabeth (Plank) Rickenbaugh, natives of Berks County, Pa., whence they later removed to Ohio, and lived on a farm in Pike County until their decease.

Soon after his marriage our subject moved to Fayette County, Ohio, for five years renting a farm located within one mile of Bloomingburg. Changing his place of residence at the end of that time, we find him living in Ross County, and later in Pepin County, Wis., where he was employed by a lawyer whose home was located on the banks of Lake Pepin. After remaining with him for two years, he came to Missouri, and for a twelve-month lived in Independence. His next change brought him to Pettis County, and for two years he worked out on a place five miles west of where Sedalia now stands.

Not being satisfied with his ventures in the West, Mr. Schaffer returned to Midway, Madison County, Ohio, staying with his brother-in-law for a few months, when he moved to Fayette County, where he bought an acre of land, built thereon a house, and made it his home until the spring of 1863. That year he moved upon a farm belonging to George Stewart, in the same county, but his stay there was short, and a year later he moved back to the old farm. This tract of land he rented and worked for three years, and then became a resident of Greenfield, Ohio. Six months thereafter he again returned to Madison County, living this time on the Joe Mitchell Place, which he farmed for six months. His next removal found him at Washington Court House, where he resided for one summer, and then, going to the country, lived on the Martin Grove Farm. Six months later he returned to Bloomingburg, Fayette County, and purchasing thirty acres of land, occupied himself in its cultivation for two years.

In 1870 our subject with his household came to Warrensburg, this state, but only remained one week, when they moved to Kansas City, where they stayed just two months. During this time Mr. Schaffer worked out, but the outlook not being what he desired, he then moved to Pettis County, where he was employed by the man for whom he worked when there some years previous to this time. He soon, however, engaged in farming on his own account on forty acres of land which he purchased from David Ewart. For four years he cultivated this place, and then, disposing of it, came to Johnson County, and for one year rented the Jacob Fetterling Farm. Again changing his location, we find him living near the town of Montserrat on rented property, on which he remained one year, when he returned to the Armstrong Farm, near Sedalia, and lived for eighteen months. He then moved to the farm belonging to Archibald Mayes in this county, and a short tune thereafter took up his abode on the estate belonging to a man by the name of Sellars. He rented this for one summer and then rented the Cutler Farm.

The sons of our subject were now able to carry on the farm work, and after living there for seven years, he retired from active labor. The next location of the family was on the Jim Robinson Place, and in 1890 they came to their present farm, which includes four hundred and eighty-five acres, three hundred of which are under admirable tillage.

To Mr. and Mrs. Schaffer there have been born eight children. Of these, George W. was born May 13, 1851. He is well educated, and with the exception of five years, when he operated a farm for himself, has always lived with his father. David was born in 1854. He married Marinda Stockton, and now lives in Warrensburg. Mary became the wife of D. W. Jackson, and makes her home on a farm west of the old home. Katie still resides at home. Maggie married M. M. Ridgway, and is a resident of Hot Springs, Ark. John is a noted horseman, and is living in New Orleans, La. Charles P. is unmarried, and still resides under the parental roof. Jacob R. also lives at home.

For the past five years our subject has been unable to engage in any active work, and is very much broken down in health. Prior to this time he enjoyed perfect health, and never knew a day’s sickness. In politics he is a Democrat. With his good wife, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Warrensburg, to which denomination some of his children also belong, while others worship with the Cumberland Presbyterian and Baptist congregations.