Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 535.

JOHN J. SCHAEFFER

     a member of the Eastern Oregon Trading Company, at Kent, Sherman county,
was born in Milan township, Erie county, Ohio, June 16, 1845. His father,
Michael Schaeffer, was a native of Pennsylvania, as were his parents. In Milan
township, Michael Schaeffer was, for a period of fifty years, a well-to-do and
highly respected farmer. He passed away on his homestead in Erie county in 1884.
The mother of our subject, Mary E. (Ganby) Schaeffer, was a native of Seneca
county, New York, a descendant of an old and distinguished American family. She
died on the old, Ohio homestead.
     It was in the Buckeye State that our subject was reared until 1887, where
he attended the public schools and assisted his parents on the farm. He then
came to Sherman county, Oregon, and purchased a timber claim right one-half mile
south of Moro, and also a Quarter section of land of Samuel L. Brooks, of The
Dalles, mentioned elsewhere, which adjoined his timber culture claim. This
property he cultivated for about fourteen years, and disposing of it, engaged in
the mercantile business in Moro. This he continued one year, sold out and
removed to Kent, where he opened another store in a new building which he
erected. At the same period he was proprietor of another mercantile
establishment at Moro, having at the time a partner in both these enterprises,
P. G. Hickenbotham. These gentlemen disposed of their business to the commercial
company, at Kent, and also the Moro business. This was in 1901. The following
year Mr. Schaeffer built another edifice and commenced business alone. At the
organization of the Eastern Oregon Trading Company he turned in his mercantile
stock for shares in the new company, and also purchased the building which has
since been enlarged.
     At the residence of the bride's parents, in Crook county, Oregon, five
miles from Prineville, our subject was united in marriage to Mary E. Snoderley,
born in Linn county, Oregon. Her father, James H. Snoderley, a native of
Tennessee, was an early Oregon pioneer, crossing the plains in 1852 with an ox
train, and settling in Linn county. He died in May, 1898, on the old homestead,
near Prineville. Her mother, Eliza (Curl) Snoderley, a native of Missouri, with
ox teams, crossed the plains in 1853, and located in Linn county. At present she
resides at Prineville.
     Mrs. Schaeffer, the wife of our subject, has four brothers and one sister ;
Walter and William, at Prineville ; Joseph, in California ; and Fred, residing
in Crook county, Oregon. The sister is America, wife of Jacob Boone, of
Prineville, the latter a member of the old distinguished Boone family, of which
Daniel Boone was a prominent character. Another sister, Ellen, is dead. Mr. and
Mrs. Schaeffer have one child, Lois E. aged eight years.
     Our subject has six brothers living and three sisters ; Jacob, a
millwright, at Decatur, Illinois ; George, of Milan, Ohio ; William, a farmer,
near Milan, Ohio ; Benjamin, a farmer near Moro, Oregon ; Reuben, Frank, in the
insurance business at Bellevue, Ohio. Joseph, another brother, is dead. The
sisters are : Elizabeth, wife of Orlando Bassett, a retired farmer of Milan,
Ohio; Rebecca, wife of James McLean, a farmer in Huron county, Ohio ; Susannah,
single, living with her brother, William. Sarah, wife of Peter Williams, and
Mandana, wife of Charles Mixter are dead. Mary C., died in infancy, aged two and
one-half years.
     The political principles of our subject are in line with those of the
Democratic party. He has frequently been a delegate to county conventions, and
at present is school director in his district. He and wife are members of the
Baptist church. Socially and in a business sense Mr. Schaeffer, is a popular and
influential citizen.
     In March, 1864, Mr. Schaeffer enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and
Forty-fifth Ohio Infantry, together with his brothers, George William and,
Benjamin, all being in the same company. They served until honorably discharged
at camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, having been in much active, contest.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2010 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.