"Charles H. Shafer, who is numbered among the early settlers of Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, having for many years made his home within the borders, now owns and operates a finely improved farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres on Section 35, Lyndon Township. His land is all under a high state of cultivation and upon the farm are a pleasant home and good outbuildings, together with other modern improvements and conveniences which add to the value and attractive appearance of the place.

Mr Shafer was born April 13, 1820, in Guernsey County, Ohio, and is the son of Daniel and Margaret Shafer, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, while their parents were of German birth. They were agriculturists and when Charles was a boy of four summers they moved to Trumbull County, Ohio, there locating on a farm. The mother died when our subject was only twelve years old and buried in Trumbull County. In 1848, the father came with his family to Wisconsin. They had nine children, five sons and four daughters, but Charles and Samuel are now the only survivors.

In the usual manner of farmer lads, Mr Shafer of this sketch grew to manhood. On the 11th of December, 1846, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Templeton, who was the sixth in a family of eight children [sic] born into William and Elizabeth (Hampsen) Templeton. Three are now living: Michael, a farmer of Trumbull County, Ohio, Olive, wife of Jake Harding, a farmer of the same county, and Rachel, wife of James Rayne, [sic] a farmer of Trumbull County. The parents were farming people of that county and were numbered among its earliest settlers. When they came to Wisconsin they located in West Bend, Washington County, where Mr Shafer purchased eighty-five acres of land. His family lived under an Oak tree until they could build a house. Putting up four poles, they covered these with brush and blankets, until the log cabin was completed. The county was very wild and times were hard. Mr Shafer performed the arduous task of clearing away the timber, and a year-and-a-half later he traded his his first property for a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Trent Township. Of this, about six acres had been cleared, and on the tract a log cabin had been built. Mr Shafer soon erected a large frame house. There the family resided until 1886, when selling the farm for $3,500, they came to Lyndon Township, Sheboygan County. Mr Shafer then purchased two hundred acres of improved land for $6,000, and began farming in earnest. He afterward deeded eighty acres of the property to his sons, who have since sold it.

Of the nine children born unto our subject and his wife, all are yet living. Norman is married and follows farming in Clark County; Arlow aids in the operation of the home farm, Austin is married, and is a farmer and stock-dealer in Mondovi, Buffalo County; Belle is the wife of Frank Potter, and they reside near Neillsville, Clark County; Ida resides at home and follows dress-making; Rhoda is engaged in the millinery business; Lois who was educated in the Plymouth High School, is a cultured young lady, who has for five years has successfully engaged in teaching. Della and Maud remain at home. The family circle yet remains unbroken and its members have been held in high regard.

Mr Shafer cast his first Presidential vote for James K. Polk. Since coming to Wisconsin he's been a stalwart Republican, but never sought or desired official preferment. He is a man of liberal and progressive ideas, and the motto of his is the Golden Rule. The community finds in him a valued citizen, who is alive to the best interests of the community, and has ever borne his part in the work of public improvement and advancement.

He has been familiar with the history of this community for many long years, and well deserves mention as one of the honored pioneer settlers."

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The above is transcribed from Portrait and Biographical Record, Excelsior Publishing Co., Chicago, January 1894.

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