From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and  
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902. 
 
Typed by E.J. Heinemann 
 
p. 633 
 
JOHN SCHAFER, a prosperous farmer of Elm Grove, West Virginia, is a  
native of Alsfeld, Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, where he was born May 9,  
1844, and is a son of Heinrich Schafer.  His early educational training  
was obtained in the public schools of his native country, and was  
limited.  When twenty-five years old he came to this country, landing  
in Baltimore, Maryland, May 8, 1869.  He came directly from there to  
Wheeling, West Virginia, where for a period of two years he was  
employed by Adam Stocker, and was then engaged in the manufacture of  
wagons, with William McNab, for five years.  A position was then  
offered him as millwright and carpenter in the Labelle Iron Works, of  
Wheeling, which he accepted and held for two years. 
    Mr. Schafer then moved to Elm Grove where he rented of Samuel  
Patterson a farm of 65 acres, and five years later purchased a farm of  
Mr. Hartlieb, on which, in 1891, he built, and now occupies, a  
substantial and commodious house of six  rooms.  Two years ago he built  
another dwelling house, which he gave to his son William, who assisted  
in conducting the farm. 
    Mr. Schafer was united in matrimony, November 4, 1869, with Juliana  
Schmidt, a daughter of John Schmidt, who was a music teacher in  
Germany, where he lived until his death.  Mrs. Schafer was also born,  
May 10, 1846, at Alsfeld, Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany. To this marriage  
were born six children, namely: John F.; William; Harry; Annie; Henry;  
and Alwin Martin.  John F., who was born November 13, 1870, and who was  
married, but is now a widower, is a prosperous farmer and gardener;  
William, who was born January 15, 1872, is married and assists his  
father on the farm; Harry, born November 21, 1874, died May 26, 1897,  
at the age of twenty-two years; Annie, born March 29, 1881, died April  
18, 1895, at the age of fourteen years; 
Henry, who was born April 6, 1883, resides with his father, together  
with the youngest child, Alwin Martin, who was born February 2, 1890. 
    Mr. Schafer is a man of common sense and good judgment, and is well  
thought of by his acquaintances.  In politics, he is a Republican.  He  
and his family are members of the Protestant Lutheran church of  
Triadelphia.