My Genealogy Hound

DAVID SHAFFER, deceased, whose name and memory will ever be held in reverence as that of a prominent pioneer of Clark County, and an honored resident of Springfield, was for many years intimately connected with the business interests of this section of Ohio. His sturdy enterprise, devotion to business, and clear discernment in regard to money matters were important agents in enlarging the industrial resources of this region, and his work in that direction will never be forgotten.

He was a Virginian by birth, born in Berkeley County, February, 10, 1810. He was four years old when he was deprived of a father’s care by his premature death while yet in the vigor of manhood. His mother continued to reside in Virginia many years after her husband’s demise, but finally came to the State of Ohio, and passed her last days with her children, dying at the home of a daughter in Auglaize County, at the remarkably advanced age of ninety-one years. She reared ten children, and trained them to habits of frugality and industry. Her son, of whom we write, remained with her in Virginia till he was seventeen years old, when he came to Ohio, and at that youthful age became a pioneer, locating in Clark County. He worked on a farm, and prudently saved his money till he had enough to buy a four-horse team, with which he proposed to engage in teaming from Columbus to Cincinnati, as that was a very profitable occupation in those days when there were no railways or canals. He soon had all that he could do, and a part of his business was to carry specie between the banks of the two places, and he was often entrusted with large amounts of money, the bankers placing the most implicit confidence in his honesty, and courage to defend his precious freight if he were attacked by highwaymen. He used to place the money in kegs, marked nails, to deceive thieves and robbers. By his energetic management of his affairs he was soon enabled to buy other teams, and did a very large carrying business before he left the road, and made a great deal of money. The introduction of railways put an end to his work in that line, and he then bought a quarry and turned his attention to getting out building stone, which was of a fine quality, and commanded a large sale, and he also burnt lime, doing a big business in both branches. In 1850 Mr. Shaffer built a large brick house on West Main Street, which his family occupied till 1884, when Mrs. Shaffer purchased their present fine residence on the corner of Factory and North Streets. November 9, 1867, the life-record of our subject was brought to a close, and a valued citizen, a devoted husband, a kind father, and an obliging neighbor was thus removed from amongst us while yet in the full possession of the ripened faculties of mature manhood, and while still in the midst of his usefulness. Possessing a large share of roundabout common sense, honoring industry and integrity in thought and in example, he was a wise and safe counselor, and his ready sympathy, unselfish kindness, and generous bounty gained him a warm place in the hearts of his fellow-citizens, and made him popular with all classes. He was a prominent Mason, and was very active in establishing the order here.

Mr. Shaffer, while in manhood’s prime, took unto himself a wife in the person of Miss Catherine Landis, their marriage taking place September 19, 1839, and this biography would lack finish without some mention of her who was so much to him, and without whom his life would have been incomplete, so it is with pleasure that we introduce a brief outline of her family history into this sketch. She is of French descent, her ancestors on both sides of the house coming to this country from France many years ago. Both of her parents, Henry and Anna Maria (Wolfe) Landis, were natives of Pennsylvania, her father being of French parentage. He was reared and married in Pennsylvania, and finally emigrated from there to Ohio, in 1821, with his wife and ten children, making the entire journey by land. He located in Montgomery County for awhile, and in the meantime looked around over the country to find a suitable situation in which to build a home. He came to Clark County about two years thereafter, and bought quite a large tract of land in Springfield Township, and immediately placed himself among the most prominent pioneers of the place. There was a log house on his land at the time of purchase, and a saw-mill and a distillery located on Mill Creek, and he operated both, and at the same time superintended the improvement of his farm. He also had a flourmill in operation, which was the only one in all the country around, and people came from a long distance to patronize it. A man of more than ordinary energy, foresight and business capacity, he made money fast, and accumulated a valuable property, but after residing on his homestead for many years he lost it by going security for others. In 1846 he returned to the East to settle the estate of his brother, going and coming by stage, and on the return trip died on the stage. This community was thus deprived or an honorable citizen, who in the management of the various industries in which he engaged greatly extended the interests of the county, and added to its riches. His estimable wife survived him some years, her death finally occurring in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Shaffer, at the venerable age of eighty-two.

Mrs. Shaffer was born in Lancaster County, Pa., March 20, 1818, and as she was but three years of age when her parents brought her to Clark County, she was reared and educated here, and here has passed the most of her life. She was reared under the influences of the pioneer life that obtained here in her younger days, grew up with the growth of the county, and has been an interested witness of the most of its development from the wilderness. She was carefully trained by a wise mother in all the labors of a good housewife, so that when she married and was placed at the head of a household, she understood well how to manage its affairs to advantage, and so as to secure the greatest comfort to the inmates of the home. She is a good and true woman, with an honorable record as a loving wife and faithful mother, and her children may well rise up and called her blessed. Of her happy wedded life with our subject nine children were born, of whom the following six have grown to manhood and womanhood — Martha, Elizabeth, Elmina, Margaret, Allen and David Nelson.