Benjamin Franklin Shaffer (I40265)
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Personal Facts and Details
  Events of close relatives | |
| Birth | 30 August 1830 Madisonburg, Pa. |
| Marriage | 13 January 1853 (Age 22) Sophia Cordie Barner - [View Family (F17469)]
Salona, Pa. |
| Death | 9 November 1915 (Age 85) Nittany, Pa. |
| Universal Identifier | 5A061529F2BFE94FB0FB2DD5034718A339EB |
| Burial | Lutheran Cemetery, Snydertown, Walker Twp., Centre Co., Pa |
| Last Change | 10 July 2006 - 11:37:14 |
Notes
 Note |
Benjamin was Sherrif of Clinton County, PA. He was appointed Postmaster on April 10, 1886. Notes from "History of The Nittany Area Centre County, PA. by JoyceAdgate (1985-1986): The following sketch was taken from "My Life-Story For Young andOld" by Thomas Franklin Dornblaser: The third son, Benjamin F. Shaffer, a six-footer, reared a fine family on the old Shaffer farm near Nittany Hall. He had acquired thefarm from his father March 29, 1867. Ben served as Sheriff of Centre County from 1872-1875, being elected by the Democratic Party of which he was a member. In fact his term in office is frequently recalled by men ofthat time as a model worthy of others to pattern after. He served as school director prior to his election as Sheriff and held other topoffices. He was a pillar in the Snydertown Lutheran Church, holdingoffices of deacon, elder, and trustee. He was one of the organizers ofthe "Ex-Sheriff's Association" of Centre County and also of theShaffer-Hazel Reunion. After Ben Shaffer retired from the sheriff's office he opened a general store in Nittany and served as postmaster fromabout 2890 to 1897. "As a husband, father, neighbor, and citizen BenShaffer was all that could be desired. He was a man who loved thecompanionship of his fellowmen and was always prone to condone theirfaults and enlarge upon their good qualities". (Quoted from Ben Shaffer'sobituary). Around 1870 Ben Shaffer added another farm to the original homestead. This was the farm that he lived on in later years known by most people as the Bobb farm. He rented the homestead farm. Ben married Sophia Barner on Jan. 13, 1853. From The Clinton County Times dated 1/16/`903: Golden Wedding At their home at Nittany, Jan. 13, 1903, Mr. and mrs. B. F. Shaffercelebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding day. The thermometer was playing around zero, but a golden wedding is such a rare occasion that every body invited wished to be there. About 50 guests were present including all the children. There were Mrs. Will Knecht, Parvin; L. A. Shaffer, Bellefonte; W. E. Shaffer, Mifflinburg;Mrs. H. Kate Allison, Nittany, and Mrs. L. E. Swartz, Hublersburg. Twosons, John and Frank, died when quite young. The members of the immediatefamilies, including one great-grandchild, Falph Robb, of Altoona, were all present, except Mrs. L. A. Shaffer and Charlie and Eleanor Shaffer. Charlie and Eleanor furnished the bride cake. Mr. Shaffer has one sister living, Mrs. William Harter, or Aunt Elvina as all know her best. She was there in her usual happy mood. One brother, Captain I. B. Shaffer, lives in Kansas. Mrs. Shaffer has three sisters, Mrs. Annie Rauch, Ill., Mrs. Margaret Wagner and Mrs. Mary A.Meixell, of this state, who could not be present. Rev. Stoner expressed the gratitude of parents and children for the three score and ten years of their lives and the blessed privilege of 50 golden years wedded in peace, love and happiness. Refreshments were then served and a social time followed. They received very useful presents,and not withstanding the fact that Mr. Shaffer has never been and never will be a speculator, his nephew, Henry Best, sent both Mr. and Mrs.Shaffer a little taste of mining stock in Arizona gold. Obituary notice from The Centre Democrat Thursday, 11,11,1915 Bellefonte,PA.: Benj. F. Schaeffer Dead Was Sheriff of Centre County from 1872-1875. Benjamin Franklin Shaffer, Centre County's oldest ex-sheriff, a life-long resident of Nittany, and one of the land-marks, as it were, of that community, died at his residence in that village at six o'clock Tuesday morning. He had been in failing health very noticeably for the past two years, his decline and death being due to general debility as a result of old age. Thus the cold hand of death has removed from Centre County one of its most highly respected and widely known citizens. Benjamin F. Shaffer was a son of the late Michael and Margaret Shaffer and was born at Madisonburg, August 30, 1830. His age at time of death being 85 years, 2 months, and 10 days. His parents were among the early settlers in Penns Valley. When Benjamin was only 6 months old, the parents moved to Nittany and engaged in farming. Here Benjamin was reared as a farmer boy. He attended the public schools in that community and by applying himself diligently acquired a pretty thorough education. Upon the death of his parents he bought the old family homestead and engaged in agriculture. He possessed great mechanical skill, and could turn his hand to various trades without special instruction. He soon proved to be a very progressive farmer. From the time his parents moved to Nittany until his death he spent his entire life on the farm with the exception of three years which was spent in Bellefone. This was from 1872-1875 when he served as Sheriff of Centre County being elected by the Democratic party of which he was a leading member. He also held several township offices. At the expiration of his term of office as Sheriff, he returned to his farm in Nittany Valley where he resumed his agriculture pursuits. For the past fifteen or twenty years he has been living retired. On January 13, 1853, he was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Barner, who died six years ago to the very day upon which Mr. Shaffer died. Surviving are the following children: Lewis A. of Bellefonte; William of Mifflinburg, Mrs. W. T.Knecht of Lock Haven; Mrs. Catharine Allison who lived with her father;and Mrs. l. E. Swartz of Hublersburg. One sister, Mrs. William Harter of Tylersville also survives. There are fourteen grandchildren and nine great-grand children surviving. Funeral services will be held Friday morning at 1:30 o'clock in the Lutheran Church at Snydertown. Rev. W. K.Shultz will officiate. Interment will be made at Snydertown. Mr. Shaffer has been for more than sixty years a "pillar" in the Snydertown Lutheran church, and has held the offices of deacon, elder,and trustee, being the latter at the time of his death. He was one of the organizers of the "Ex-Sheriff's Association of Centre County." and also of the "Shaffer-Hazel Family Reunion." He acted as president of their union for nine years. Up until his death he was the oldest ex-sheriff living in the county. Mr. Shaffer was a man of remarkable judgment in business matters, his keen, shrewd foresight having much to do with the success of every interest with which he was connected. Socially he was a friendly, genial, companionable gentleman whom it was a pleasure to know and meet. His death will be sincerely regretted by a larger circle of friends than is allotted to most men. He made no pretense at desiring to shine in the limelight of publicity, but rather preferred the associations of his intimate friends and his own home in particular,where he was loved most and known best. It is here that the hand of death will leave its deepest scar and where the familiar presence of a love done will be mostly missed. |
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Family with Parents - [View Family (F17480)] |
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Family with Sophia Cordie Barner - [View Family (F17469)] |
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