SHAFER, Francis P. - 1914

SHAFER, FIKE, BEAR

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/8/2009 at 17:42:56

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

FRANCIS P. SHAFER.

Francis P. Shafer, who owns and operates a fine farm of eighty acres on section 21, Amherst township, was born in Pennsylvania, March 18, 1854. He is a son of Daniel and Mary Shafer, natives of the Keystone state, who moved afterward to Illinois, where the father engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1864. His wife survived him only a short time, dying in 1866.

Francis P. Shafer was reared and educated in Wisconsin and Illinois and afterward began working as a farm hand. In 1879 he moved to Benton county, Iowa, and there engaged in farming for two years, after which he moved to Cherokee county, where he rented land. At the end of one year he bought a farm in Tilden township, and operated and improved this for some time, finally selling his holdings and buying land in Amherst township. This he later sold, purchasing eighty acres on section 21 in the same township, and he has since operated this property, which under his able management has become productive and valuable. He has equipped it with an excellent set of buildings and has. installed laborsaving machinery, neglecting nothing which would add to the appearance or value of the place.

On the 4th of March, 1879, Mr Shafer was united in marriage to Miss Judith Fike, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Bear) Fike, natives of Pennsylvania, the former being a pioneer in Benton county, Iowa, where he farmed until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Shafer have become the parents of three children: Daniel, who is engaged in farming in Canada; Chelsea, who lives at home; and Mae, attending school.

Mr. Shafer is a Methodist in his religious views and he gives his political allegiance to the prohibition party. He is a progressive and able agriculturist and recognized as a prominent factor in farming circles of this locality.