BURIAL: Both John and Lydia are buried in the new Lawrence Hill Cemetery, Lawrence, MI where a large monument was set with their names and a verse inscribed; Nopompous marble to their name we raise this stone, Bespeake their praise, Potential fondness did their life attend, a tender mother and a faithful friend. Two grand-children are also buried there of their youngest son John Wyman.

BIOGRAPHY: Little is known of his early years. It was said he had worked on the Erie Canal.

BIOGRAPHY: Children by his first wife were born in New York state. The 1860 census of Lawrence Twp., MI showed that he moved to Ohio in about 1836 or 37, as the records show children born in Carlisle Twp., Lorain Co., OH between the years 1841 and 1850 and his eldest son in OH.

BIOGRAPHY: They removed to MI, believed to have been to Ingham Co. between March 1849 and Febuary 1851, where the last of the cheldren were born.

BIOGRAPHY: In 1855 they moved to Lawrence Twp., Van Buren Co., MI, one of the first white men to settle in that area west of a lake on the township line next to Hartford Twp. This lake was named Shafer Lake after him. He aquired considerable land, in Lawrence and Hartford townships. He donated a piece of land for a school in Lawrence Twp. on the northeast corner of the crossroad which runs to the south of Shafer Lake, also called Shafer School, Hartford and Lawrence Twp's. Fractional District NO. 7.

BIOGRAPHY: He first lived in a log cabin (as others did in those days) located near the school. Years later it burned down and he and his youngest son, who was a carpenter, built a new home just north of the school, where he lived until his death. Some of his children as well as many of his descendants attended the Shafer School. This school house twice burned down, never rebuilt. The home place and school ground is now owned by a descendant.

BIOGRAPHY: He was a prosperous farmer, and loved nice horses. One day he hitched a colt to a sulky to break him to drive. They headed east on the road to the lake where the colt ran away with him going off the road and throwing him against a tree. The injury he received caused his death.

BIOGRAPHY: Some time before his death he had deeded to each of his heirs a parcel of land in the a amount of about 28 acres to each. After his death his youngest son, John W., petitioned for an administrator of his personl property (estimated value of about $900) on Feb. 20, 1895. The Administrator to be an older brother Elijah. And listed the heirs to receive their share as a will was not probated.

BIOGRAPHY: The living heirs were as follows:

BIOGRAPHY: Hanna M. Finley, daughter, Oceana Co, MI
Martin J. Shafer, son, Hartford, MI
Jefferson D. Shafer, son, Lawrence, MI
Elijah M. Shafer, son, Hartford, MI
Lydia L. Finley, daughter, Perkins Co., NE
John W. Shafer, son, Lawrence, MI
And children of Harriet B. Pinney, deceased,
Albert Pinney, grandson
Eddie Pinney, grandson
Harvey Pinney, grandson
Alice Pinney, grand-daughter
Alma Pinney, grand-daughter

• Note: _STATMARRIED

1. Martin Jackson SHAFER b: 16 Oct 1837 in Ohio Or New York
2. Jefferson Derin SHAFER b: 16 Mar 1842 in Carlisle Township,Lorain County,OH
3. Elijah Milton SHAFER b: 1846 in Carlisle Township,Lorain County,OH
4. Lydia Lavena SHAFER b: 17 Feb 1849 in Carlisle Township,Lorain County,OH
5. John Wyman SHAFER b: 9 Feb 1851 in Ingham County,MI
6. Lodema SHAFER b: 1853 in Ingham County,MI

• Married: in New York State
• Note: _STATMARRIED

1. Hanna Maria SHAFER b: 1829 in New York State
2. Harriet B. SHAFER b: Bef 1837 in New York State