Elmer Elsworth Shafer (1863 - 1939)

Elmer Elsworth Shafer was born 05 Sep 1863 in Lorain County, Ohio, USA.  He was the son of George W. Shafer and Antoinette Bronson.  He died 05 Jun 1939 in Monroe Twp., Benton County, Iowa, USA.  He invented a product called 'Copperene', a liquid which was based on Copper Sulfate, and had it marketed out of Chicago. It would deposit copper onto any iron or steel to make it solderable. It was successful enough that he was able to buy a Franklin car in the early 1900's with the proceeds.  He also owned and ran a threshing machine, and would travel around the county threshing the other farmers grain. He started the tradition of sending sons to medical school, with his son Lee.  He married three times, and had children from all three marriages.

    He married first on 14 Mar 1888 in Monroe Twp., Benton County, Iowa, USA Anna Mabel Backer.  She was born 02 Jan 1868 in Pekin Township, Tazewell County, Illinois, USA.  She was the daughter of Johannes J. Backer (21 Mar 1828, Arle, Ostfriesland, Germany - 1872, Benton County, Iowa, USA) and Etje Catherine Folkers (03 Aug 1834, Nessmersiel, Ostfriesland, Germany - Abt. 1872,  Benton County, Iowa, USA).  She died 03 Feb 1893 in Garrison, Benton County, Iowa, USA.  They had three children:

+      Lee Earl Shafer (1889 - ?)
+      Clarence Ray Shafer (1891 - 1968)
+      Anna Mabel Shafer (1893 - 1973)

    He married second on 07 Mar 1894 in Garrison, Benton County, Iowa, USA Ann Elizabeth Gorden.  She was born 23 Oct 1872 in Illinois, USA.  She was the daughter of James W. Gordon (16 Nov 1824, Canada - 1908, Garrison, Benton County, Iowa, USA) and Susan -- (abt. 1846, Pennsylvania, USA - ?).  She died on 11 Apr 1900 in Benton County, Iowa, USA.  They had two children:

        Bessie Mae Shafer (1894 - 1970)
        George E. Shafer (1898 - 1962)

    He married third on 02 Jul 1902 in Benton County, Iowa, USA Nellie A. Hatch.  She was born 20 Feb 1868 in Wisconsin, USA.  She was the daughter of Ebenezer Welton Hatch (03 Dec 1830, Ohio, USA - 04 Apr 1928, Black Hawk County, Iowa, USA) and Elizabeth Tuthill (22 Nov 1830, Ohio, USA - 30 Aug 1898, Black Hawk County, Iowa, USA).  She died 14 Sep 1951 in Benton County, Iowa, USA.  They had two children:

        Elsie Evangeline Shafer (1905 - 1999)
        Floyd Welton Shafer (1907 - 1988)

Notes for Elmer Shafer:

DOB/DOD/Burial: Death Certificate 6-96, Iowa

Elmer Shafer invented a product called 'Copperene', and had it marketed out of Chicago. It a copper-containing liquid that would deposit copper onto any iron or steel to make it solderable. It was successful enough that he was able to buy a Franklin car in the early 1900's with the proceeds. See also 11-page doc and .pdf of documents from Robert Leslie Moore. The also owned and ran a threshing machine, and would travel around the county threshing the other farmers grain. He started the tradition of sending sons to medical school, with his son Lee.

Benton Co., IA Register of Marriages, 1 p. 304: #110, married 3-14-1888, license 3-5-88; E.E. Shafer (originally two f's but one scratched out), Dysart, farmer, 25 yrs old b. OH, faGeo. W. Shafer, moAntonette Bronson; and Anna M. Baker of Monroe Twp, Benton Co., IA, 21 yrs old, (no birthplace listed); fa: J.J. Baker, mo: Ellie Folkers; 1st marriage married in Monroe Twp.; Wit: N.S. Taylor & wife, G.W. Shafer; by Chas. M. H[our].

1895 Iowa census: E.E. Shafer, 31 OH methodist; Lizzie 22 IL; Lee 5; Ray 3; Alta N. 0.

1900 soundex, film 1,243,858: Shafer, Elmer Sep 1863 36 Ohio fa: OH, mo. OH; Lee (son) Jan 1889 11 IA,OH,IA; Clarence R. Feb 1891 9 IA,OH,IA; Bessie Dec 1894 5 IA,OH,IL, & two servants.

1900 census, Monroe, Benton, Iowa: Shafer, Elmer head Sept 1863 36 Wd OH OH OH farmer; Lee E. son Jan 1889 11 S IA OH IA; Clarence R. son Feb 1891 9 S IA OH IA; Bessie dau Dec 1894 5 S IA OH IL; Smith, Joseph Servant Jul 1871 18 S NY NY CT; Hibbard, May Servant May 1871 29 M 9y IA OH OH. Same page as John Kilmer (Mar 1867).

1910 census, Monroe, Benton, IA ancestry.com p. 11 or 12: Shaffer, Elmer E. 46 OH OH OH, Nellie 42 WI OH OH, Lee E. 21 IA, C. Ray 19 IA, Mabel A. 17 IA, Bessie M. 15, Elsie E. 4, Floyd W. 2, James--- 22 hired man. [all children reported as IA OH WI even though they aren;t]

1920 census, Monroe, Benton, IA Ancestry.com p. 7 of 13: Shafer, Elmer E. 56; Nellie A. 51, Ellie E. 14, Floyd W. 12. Nellie born in WI

1925 IA census, Benton Co.:

E E Shafer Male White 1925 Benton abt 1864 Head fa: G W Shafer, mo:Nette Bronson, sp:Nellie Shafer

Nellie Shafer Female White 1925 Benton abt 1868 Wife E W Hatch, Elibeth Inthill, E E Shafer

1930 census, Monroe, Benton, IA: Shafer, E.E. head 66 1st M when 23 OH OH OH farmer; Nellie wife 62 1st M when 34 WI OH OH; Floyd W. son 22 IA.

Garrison Cem., Jackson Tnshp, Benton Co., IA, lot 174: Shafer, Elmer E., son of Geo. & Annett Bronson Shafer, b. Sep. 5, 1863 - Penn. d. June 5, 1939 - Monroe twp.

Notes for Anna Mabel Backer:

1870 census, Homer TN, Benton Co., IA Taylor, Nathan S. 30, NY, Martha M. 27 NY (her foster family before she was orphaned)

Anna (and her brothers and sisters) was orphaned in 1872, at the age of 5. She went to live with Nathan S. and Martha Taylor. Nathan's brother, Solon, had married Agnes Backer, Anna's sister. The Taylors mentioned her in their wills.

1880 census, Benton Co., IA, film 1. 254.326: Homer twp, 2/30/12/35: Taylor, Nathan S. 41 NY faNY moNY (the T looks like a V, so he is probably in the soundex as Vaylor); Martha M. 36 NY faNY moNY; Backer, Anna 12 servant, helps keep house b. IA faHanover moHanover. Solon Taylor has a wife Mary b. at same time Anna's sister Maggie was born.

1885 census, Tama Co., IA Dysart Bulls Addition Main St.: Taylor, Nathan S. lot 2 blk 1 46 farmer NY; Marthy M. 42 NY; Backer (indexed as Backer, but looks like Basker), Anna 17.

Benton Co., IA Register of Marriages (film 0,987,634), p. 304: 3-5-88 H.E. Starbird (minister). Husband: E.E. Shafer, Dysart, Farmer, 25 years, white, b. OH, fa: Geo. W. Shafer mo: Antoinette Bronson, first marriage; bride: Anna M. Baker, Monroe Tnsp, Benton Co., 21 years, white, b. IA, fa: J.J. Baker mo: Ellie Folkers, first marriage; at Monroe Tnsp; witnesses: N.S. Taylor & wife, G.W. Shafer, Chas. M. H------.

Vinton Eagle (newspaper), Vinton, IA: "Obituary. Died - Four miles northwest of Garrison, Iowa, Feb. 3, 1893, Mrs. Anna Baker Shafer, aged 25 years, one month and one day. The deceased was born Jan. 2, 1868, in Illinois, was left, at the age of five years, without a father. After that was brought up by foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. N. S. Taylor. She was converted at the age of 12 years, and remained true to her religious vows until called up higher. She was married to her now bereaved husband, Elmer Shafer, March 14, 1888; unto them were born three children, the youngest not one month old at the time of the mother's death. A large concourse of friends and neighbors gathered at the home for the funeral, which was held Sunday, Feb. 5, at 11 a.m., the writer officiating. Many were the tears that were shed. May the wife and mother's God be the guardian comfort and support of the bereaved friends, and especially of the husband and motherless children. J. Haymond."

Benton Co., IA Return of Deaths: #31; 2-3-93, Anna B. Shaffer 25 housewife b. ILL; return dated October 1st 1893.

Garrison Cem., Jackson Tnshp, Benton Co., IA, lot 174: Shafer, Annie M. b. Apr. 3, 1867, d. Feb. 3, 1893 - 25 yrs, 10 mo.

Sept term 1901: Last will & Testament of Nathan S. Taylor of Vinton, Benton Co., IA: $1000 to foster child Anna Shafer (must have been written before her death).

2 Sept. 1902: Last will & Testament of Martha M. Taylor, decd. of Vinton, Benton Co., IA: Lee Earle Shaffer, Clarence Ray Shaffer and Mabel Ann Shaffer $200 each. Also to Mabel Ann Shaffer her mother's enlarged picture, keepsakes and clothing.

1895 Iowa census, Benton Co.: Taylor Nathan 56 NY; Martha M. 51 NY. Right below is: Elsworth, W.O. 74 NY; Sally M. 65 NY; Martha M. 51; Smith, Hyram 74.

Notes for Ann Elizabeth Gordon:

Garrison Cem., Jackson Tnshp, Benton Co., IA, lot 174: Shafer, Annie Lizzie wf. of E.E., b. Oct. 23, 1872, d. Apr. 11, 1900 - age 27 yr. 5 mo. 18 da.

Notes for Nellie A. Hatch:

Garrison Cem., Jackson Tnshp, Benton Co., IA, lot 174: Shafer, Nellie nee Hatch - wf. of Elmer E., b. Feb. 20, 1868 - Wisc., d. Sept. 14, 1951 - Vinton, IA

Photographs


Left to Right: 1) Elmer E. Shafer, c. 1880 tintype; 2) Detail of Elmer from a photo of five men.  They may be the grandsons of David Shafer in the Benton Co., IA area.  The only clear identification is Elmer e. Shafer (seated on the right).  Highly probable is that the man seated on the left is Elmer's brother, Clayton Shafer.  There are other grandsons of David Shafer in the area. Among them are: Myron Linton (b. 1879, son of Alice Shafer), Horace K. Bates (b. 1854, son of Sarah Shafer). Work needs to be done to determine if any of these are above.  3) an engraving of Elmer Shafer that he used on his letterhead for Copperene. This particular copy comes from the 1901 Atlas of Benton Co., IA, in which he has a biographical sketch.

Nellie Hatch, c. 1900, detail from a cabinet card of the three sisters, Mary, Nellie and Amy Hatch.

Three photographs of Elmer Shafer's threshing machine, c. early 1900s.

Elmer Shafer immediate family at a gathering c. 1930.  Front row: Nellie (Hatch) Shafer, Elmer Shafer, Elsie Shafer, Mabel (Shafer) Vaubel.  Back row: Ray Shafer, Bessie (Shafer) Blakely, Floyd Shafer, George Shafer.

Descendents of Elmer E. Shafer and their spouses, taken at a gathering c.1930.  Front row: Gordon Blakely, Rex Vaubel (b.1922), Helene Vaubel (b.1919), Elsie (Shafer) Moore holding Shirley Moore, Grandma Nellie (Hatch) Shafer, Leonard Blakely, Delphia Shafer.  Back row: Herbert Blakely, Dean Vaubel, Ellis Vaubel, Mabel (Shafer) Vaubel, Ollie Vaubel, George Shafer, Elmer Shafer, Bessie (Shafer) Blakely holding Darlene, Mabel (Peterson) Shafer, Pat Blakely, Ray Shafer, Floyd Shafer, Leslie Moore.  Carrie Shafer, wife of George, is apparently taking the photo.

Elmer Shafer children and grandchildren: Left to Right: 1) c. 1897 Ray, Lee, Bessie and Mabel Shafer; 2) c. 1933 Front: Rex Vaubel, Leonard "Dutch" Blakely, Helene Vaubel holding Darlene Blakely, Delphia Shafer holding Shirley Moore.  Back: Ellis Vaubel, Herbert Blakely, Dean Vaubel, Gordon Blakely.
 

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