Charles Shaffer 1866-1953

SHAFFER, TOMPKINS, ELWOOD, STEELE, BATES

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 8/22/2022 at 10:34:19

30 November 1953 - The Anamosa Journal

WYOMING - Funeral service for Charles Barnhart Shaffer, 87, was held Saturday, Nov. 21, at 1 p.m. at the Wallace funeral home in Wyoming. Officiating clergymen were Kenneth J. Harden, pastor of the Methodist church, assisted by the Rev. F. E. Somerville, Anamosa.

Soloist was Walter Sullivan, accompanied by Mrs. Sullivan at the piano. Burial was in the Wyoming cemetery. Casket bearers were: John Bramer, Orlie Dawes, Reggie Morse, Paul Levsen, Harvey Manual and Lyle Tompkins.

Charles B. Shaffer was born in Canton Feb. 24, 1866. His father, Rev. Nathan Shaffer, was a pioneer Methodist circuit rider, who, together with his wife, Mary Ann Durst Shaffer, and their two children, Harriet and William Olin, had come to Iowa from Pennsylvania three years previously.

Family soon moved to Madison township, near Wyoming, where two other children were born: Margaret, (Mrs. Albert Tompkins) and Arthur, who died in infancy.

With the exception of four years spent in Missouri in his early manhood, Charles Shaffer spent his entire 87 years in this community. He died early Thursday morning Nov. 19, at his home on East Green St., where he had lived for 53 years. He was the last of his pioneer family.

With another early business man, R. Fishwild, he once operated a telephone exchange and a creamery. He was engaged with Mr. Fishwild in the clothing business. He operated a coal, grain and feed business and was representative and adjustor for the Castle Grove Insurance Co., Monticello. For many years he engaged in farming and was a prominent livestock feeder.

Dec. 8, 1892, he was married to Miss Harriet S. Elwood, Wyoming. Four children were born to their union; Charles Orlyn, Cedar Rapids; Marian L. Steele, Ames; H. Pauline Bates, Wyoming, and a son who died in infancy. Mrs. Shaffer died Nov. 22, 1903. April 6, 1905, he was married to M. Amelia Bates, Wyoming, who died June 7, 1946.

He is survived by his son and two daughters, nine grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

He was a life-long member of the Methodist church and was active in civic, as well as the business life of the town. He was mayor of Wyoming at the time of it's 75th anniversary celebration.