Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 440

GEORGE F. SHAFNIT, residing on section 5, Moscow Township, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, on the 7th day of May,1837, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Funk ) Shafnit. On the 18th day of October, 1851. the family sailed from Havre, France, and on December 1 landed at New Orleans. From thence by steamer they proceeded up the Mississippi until within a few miles of St. Louis, when the vessel was frozen in the ice. Mr. Shafnit, procuring a wagon from a farmer, took his family to the city, where they were forced to remain for three months, though their intention had been to go to Muscatine, where they had relatives living. After spending the remainder of the winter in St. Louis, early in April they were enabled to resume their journey, and at length they arrived at their destination, after which they made their home on the farm of Mr. Funk, three miles from Muscatine, for about three years. At the expiration of that time they removed to Moscow Township, again living upon a farm which belonged to Mr. Funk, and there the father departed this life at the age of fifty-two years. The mother died in Muscatine several years later.

They were the parents of eight children, six of whom were born in Germany, the seventh was born at sea on the passage of the family to America, and the eighth and youngest was born in Muscatine County. There were four sons in the family, all of whom are living, but two of the daughters are deceased. The surviving members are: George F.; Jacob J., who resides at Muscatine, and is the present conductor on the train running between that city and Wilton; William Abraham is engaged in farming in Washington, County, Iowa; Henry is yardmaster for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad at Muscatine; Sophia is the wife of John G. Will, of Moscow Township; Mary is the wife of John Apple, a carriage-maker of Muscatine. Catherine died at the age of twenty-two years, and Cornelia departed this life in childhood.

Our subject was the eldest of his father's family, and with his parents emgrated to America in 1851, continuing to reside with them until after the death of his father. The same year he was united in marriage, and continued to reside upon the farm of Mr. Funk for several years. His union was with Barbara Will, who was born in Moscow Township, Oct.8, 1840, and died March 12, 1885. By their union three children were born: George and Fred, who are yet at home; and Cornelia, who died in infancy. After the death of his first wife Mr. Shafnit was united in marriage with Miss Matilda Marolf, a daughter of Embert Marolf. Of this union one child has been born, Harry, born Dec.7, 1888.

In 1865 our subject abandoned agricultural pursuits and removed to Muscatine, where, in connection with his brother Jacob he engaged in the grocery trade, but one year proved to sufficient to satisfy his taste in this direction, and he sold out. Buying a farm in Rochester Township, Cedar County, he continued its cultivation for for ten years, when he purchased his present farm on section 5, Moscow Township. It comprises 750 acres of fine land under a high state of cultivation, and many beautiful and useful improvements have been made. In 1882 he erected a fine residence, and his barns and out-buildings are of a like substantial character. He has now retired from the more active duties of farm life, but gives much attention to stock-raising, making a specialty of several breeds of fine horses, in which he has attained to much success. A poor boy on beginning his struggles with the world, he has made his own way in life, accumulating a comfortable competence, which enables him and his estimable wife to live in comparative quiet and ease in their pleasant home. Since attaining his majority Mr. Shafnit has spent almost his entire life in Muscatine County. Socially, he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., having joined that organizationon Dec.18, 1880, becoming a member of Wilton Lodge No. 167. He cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, since which time he has been a supporter of the Republican party. Mr. Shafnit is at present, in connection with his stock-raising, engaged in buying grain at Moscow. He has reared two of his sister-in-law's children, John and Emma Kurz. John is now married and resides at West Liberty, and is in the employ of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company.


Back to 1889 History of Muscatine Co. Index Page

Back to the Muscatine Co. IAGenWeb Index Page