William H. Shaffer

WILLIAM H. SHAFFER, county clerk of Cherokee County, was born in Cherokee County, July 16, 1870, and is a son of David and Margaret (Helms) Shaffer.

David Shaffer was born in Germany in 1846, and was six years old when he accompanied his parents to America. They located in Wayne County, and later in Randolph County, Indiana, where David grew to manhood and married Margaret Helms, of Wayne County. She died in Crawford County, Kansas, in 1894 at the age of 42 years. They had seven sons and one daughter, all of whom still survive except one, George, who was accidentally killed by a street car in Pittsburg, Kansas. All were born in Cherokee County, and those living are: William H.; Robert R., who lives on the old homestead in Ross township, Cherokee County; Nelson, who is a farmer near Monmouth, Kansas; Charles and Carl, who are farmers in Crawford County; Jesse, who is a resident of Crawford County; and Eva, who is the wife of Burt Gordon, also of Crawford County.

David Shaffer and his wife came to Cherokee County May 10, 1870, locating in Ross township, where the former filed a claim on 160 acres of land. It was subsequently contested, but he finally acquired his title and made the place his home until March, 1892. Then he removed from Cherokee to Crawford County, where he bought a farm, and is now engaged in raising Percheron horses.

William H. Shaffer was reared in Cherokee County and attended the district schools. His early training made him a good farmer and judicious stock-raiser, and for about four years he raised Percheron horses very successfully.

In December, 1891, in Cherokee County, Mr. Shaffer married Anna Heinrichsmeier, who was born in Illinois, and is a daughter of Frederick Heinrichsmeier, who came to Cherokee County in 1871 and located in Ross township with his family. Mrs. Shaffer's father died in 1885, and her mother, in March, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer have four children: Elsie, Ralph, Dee and an infant daughter. Their pleasant home is in Ross township, within four miles of Columbus.

Politically, Mr. Shaffer is an active member of the Populist party, and was elected to his present office on the Fusion ticket. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic Blue Lodge at Columbus, the Anti-Horse Thief Association and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Columbus. His religious views are liberal, although his and his wife's people have been leaders in the Lutheran Church for generations.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by Mathew Clark, student from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 12/2/1996.