BENJAMIN F. SCHAFFER
Benjamin F. Schaffer (deceased) settled on section 17, of Benton township, in January 1868. He was born in Utica, Knox county, Ohio, August 13, 1831. June 1, 1861, he enlisted in company B, of the Fourth Ohio Infantry, and served till June 21, 1864. He was one of five brothers, all of whom served over three years in the army during the rebellion, and all returned safely home. Mr. Shaffer was in active service during the whole time. He was in the battles of Antietam, Gettysburg, the second battle of Bull Run, and others. He returned to Ohio, and in 1866, was married to his present widow, Eliza (Reed) Shaffer, who was born in Hartford, Licking county, Ohio, in 1846. They came to Iowa in 1866, and lived two years in Jasper county, before coming to Cass county. Their land here was wholly unimproved at the time of their settlement upon it. Mr. Shaffer was an energetic and enterprising man and one of the successful farmers of this township. He died June 22, 1884 after an illness of one year. He left a widow (before mentioned) and three sons -- John F., Frederick R. and Charles M., all of whom are living at the homestead.
Transcribed by Gloria Goltiani from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pp. 641.
