A SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF

WILLIAM SCHAFER





Written during a personal interview with William Schafer by Lewis A.
Schafer at Creal Springs, Illinois, September 1909.


Place of birth - Munden, Germany, within 3 miles of Maderbach and 100 miles north east of Elberfeldt. Two creeks united near his home.

Date of birth - February 12, 1831
He died at Creal Springs, Illinois, March23, 1921

He worked as an apprentice tailor in Germany until he was 21 years of age. Then he came to America in 1852.

He worked at tailoring in New York City until he was 24 years old. Panic caused him to leave New Your City and go west to Illinois. He bought a lot of land at 12 ½ cents per acre in Illinois in Williamson County. He married a German woman in New York. One child was born ( a girl) who lived to be nearly grown. He divorced this German woman and married another woman 10 years his senior. She had a family of seven children by her first husband. William Schafer divorced her on the 4th of October 1869. He then married Caroline McGowen at Creal Springs, Illinois. Fourteen children were born to William Schafer and Caroline McGowen Schafer, two dying in infancy. William Schafer served in the Union Army. He was in the battles of Vicksburg, Fort Donelson, Fort Henry, marched to the sea with Sherman, passed in review at Washington, returned to Louisville, Kentucky, then to Springfield, Illinois, where he was mustered out.

His father was a miller, died at age of 75. His mother died at 72 ½ years. His mother's mother died at age of 65. His father John Schafer, served under Napoleon. His mother, Catherine Schafer, and his brother Lewis, came to America. William Schafer came first, then he sent them money to come on. Lewis Schafer came first and his mother came later. Lewis died in the Army of typhoid fever and was buried in the National Cemetry, Memphis, Tennessee. Another brother, Frederick, died young.

William Schafer's mother's father was a farmer. He died young with a stroke of paralysis. William Schafer had no sisters. His mother's maiden name was Catherine Vesper. He had one uncle named William Vesper, also an aunt named Minnie Vesper and another aunt, Fredrica Vesper.

Caroline McGowen Schafer was born July 23, 1852 near Creal Springs, Illinois. She died October 12, 1924 at Marion, Illinois. She was 72 years old at her death.

William Schafer and Mr. Creal bought a plot of land which in now Creal Springs, Illinois. It is just a few miles out of Marion. He was naturalized in Marion, August 27, 1857.

A SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF

WILLIAM SCHAFER





Written during a personal interview with William Schafer by Lewis A.
Schafer at Creal Springs, Illinois, September 1909.


Place of birth - Munden, Germany, within 3 miles of Maderbach and 100 miles north east of Elberfeldt. Two creeks united near his home.

Date of birth - February 12, 1831
He died at Creal Springs, Illinois, March23, 1921

He worked as an apprentice tailor in Germany until he was 21 years of age. Then he came to America in 1852.

He worked at tailoring in New York City until he was 24 years old. Panic caused him to leave New Your City and go west to Illinois. He bought a lot of land at 12 ½ cents per acre in Illinois in Williamson County. He married a German woman in New York. One child was born ( a girl) who lived to be nearly grown. He divorced this German woman and married another woman 10 years his senior. She had a family of seven children by her first husband. William Schafer divorced her on the 4th of October 1869. He then married Caroline McGowen at Creal Springs, Illinois. Fourteen children were born to William Schafer and Caroline McGowen Schafer, two dying in infancy. William Schafer served in the Union Army. He was in the battles of Vicksburg, Fort Donelson, Fort Henry, marched to the sea with Sherman, passed in review at Washington, returned to Louisville, Kentucky, then to Springfield, Illinois, where he was mustered out.

His father was a miller, died at age of 75. His mother died at 72 ½ years. His mother's mother died at age of 65. His father John Schafer, served under Napoleon. His mother, Catherine Schafer, and his brother Lewis, came to America. William Schafer came first, then he sent them money to come on. Lewis Schafer came first and his mother came later. Lewis died in the Army of typhoid fever and was buried in the National Cemetry, Memphis, Tennessee. Another brother, Frederick, died young.

William Schafer's mother's father was a farmer. He died young with a stroke of paralysis. William Schafer had no sisters. His mother's maiden name was Catherine Vesper. He had one uncle named William Vesper, also an aunt named Minnie Vesper and another aunt, Fredrica Vesper.

Caroline McGowen Schafer was born July 23, 1852 near Creal Springs, Illinois. She died October 12, 1924 at Marion, Illinois. She was 72 years old at her death.

William Schafer and Mr. Creal bought a plot of land which in now Creal Springs, Illinois. It is just a few miles out of Marion. He was naturalized in Marion, August 27, 1857.