Person:William Shafer (6)

Autobiography

"I was born in Perry County, Pa., in 1842, the son of John A. and Anna Murphy Shafer. My parents came to Ohio in 1844, drove through in a one-horse wagon. We located in Austintown, and in six years, we moved to Champion to live in the woods, in a log cabin for several years. My father's name was John Shafer, my grandfather was Jonathan Shafer, my great grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His name was John Shafer. He was also born in Pennsylvania and spelled his name Schaeffer, the spelling has been changed in the last four generations. Originally, we came from Germany, but on my mother's side from Ireland, the name being Murphy. In August 1862, I enlisted in Co. B, 105th Regt. of Infantry. Was under Buell at the beginning and next under Rosecrans. After the Battle of Chickmauga, Rosecrans was superceded by General Sherman. I went with Sherman to the sea. Was on all the hard marches, the regiment made, and fought under Thomas at the Battle of Chickmauga and many other engagements, serving until the end of the war and was discharged June 10, 1865. Returned home and was married July 23, 1865, to Lovina Klingensmith with whom I lived with fifty eight years. She died Jan. 23, 1924. My wife and I were members of the united Brethren Church since 1861. We had seven children, two died in childhood. One of these was Alice, 15 years, died June 11, 1892. The others include Sherman A. Shafer of Champion, Anna Baker of Warren, Clara Thompson of Bristol, Mae Ulrich and Frances Ulrich of Champion."