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    DAVID C. SHAFFER

    DAVID C. SHAFFER, a prosperous general farmer of Bethel Township, where he lives on a farm of 132 acres of valuable land, of which he owns two-thirds and his sister one-third. He was born September 2, 1834, on his grandfather's farm, in Bethel Township , Miami County, Ohio, his parents being John and Nancy (Reed) Shaffer.

    Simon Shaffer, the grandfather of David C., was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and he came with his wife to Miami County in 1805, locating on a farm of 160 acres, in Bethel Township. He became a man of considerable prominence as well as substance, owning at one time some 400 acres of land at the time of his death he had 137 1/2 acres, building a log house and barn at first, later erecting a frame and still later a brick house, the latter of which still stands but is not tenantable. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and was with General Wayne's forces when the Troy and Dayton Highway was cut through. He was one of the founders of the Lutheran Church in this section. His first wife was a Miss Miller, of Berks County, Pennsylvania, and his second wife was Catherine Grubb, of Baltimore, Maryland. His six children were born to his first marriage, as follows: George, Elizabeth, Peter, Nancy, John and Catherine.

    John Shaffer, father of David C., was born in Bethel Township, Miami County, September 11, 1810, and died December 27, 1888. He made his permanent home in Bethel Township, about the time of his marriage or a few years later, purchasing the home farm from his father, a tract of 137 1/2, acres. He did some clearing and draining and built the house and barn now in use. He acquired also a farm of 160 acres in Indiana and another farm of 115 acres in the vicinity of Phoneton. John Shaffer was one of Bethel Township's most reliable and respected men and on numerous occasions his fellow citizens elected him to township offices. His duties were faithfully performed on all occasions. He served usefully as township trustee and for a number of terms was road supervisor. He was a consistent member of the Reformed Church. In his later years he was affiliated politically with the Republican party. He married Nancy Reed, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Compton) Reed. She died in 1865 and was buried in Bethel Cemetery . They had eight children: Peter, David C., Isaac, H., Mary, Henry, Martha and two that died in infancy.

    David C. Shaffer attended the district schools in Bethel Township in his boyhood and was given the advantage of one term at Heidelberg, after which he assumed farm duties and continued to help his father until his first marriage. He then settled on a farm near Phoneton and remained there until the death of his wife, when he returned to the homestead and has resided here ever since. During the Civil War be served out one term of enlistment as sergeant in Company B, 147th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but with that exception has not been away from his home for any prolonged period. He has not found it necessary to do much improving beyond opening up some ditches and doing a little draining. His land produces well and he is numbered with the township's successful farmers.

    Mr. Shaffer was married (first) March 8, 1860, to Miss Susan Arnold,. a daughter of David and Mary (Detrick) Arnold. Mrs. Shaffer died in April, 1862, and was interred in Bethel Cemetery. She was the mother of two children, William W. and Susan, the former of whom died in middle life and the latter in infancy. William W. married Sarah Houser and is survived by three children, Reynold, Anna Mary and William. Mr. Shaffer was married (second) October 17, 1877, to Miss Sally B. Swain, a daughter of Charles B. and Mary L. (Davis) Swain, and they have three children, namely: Lilla and Anna, twins, and Charles C. Lilla is the wife of W. A. Hatten and they have two children, Lester and Alice. Anna and Charles C. reside at home and the latter is a member of the graduating class of 1910, at the Bethel High School. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer are members of the Reformed Church, in which he is one of the trustees. Formerly he belonged to the Grange in Bethel Township but is no longer identified with that organization. He is a Republican in his political views but has never accepted any office save that of school director, in which he has served one term.

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