From "History of Fayette County, Iowa" (1910)
Typed and contributed by Richard Smith
"This sketch deals with one of Fayette county's well-to-do farmers and a man of exemplary habits, who is looked upon as one of the substantial men of the county. William P. Shaffer, of Auburn township, is Hoosier-born, having first seen the light of day in Grant county, Indiana, June 14, 1853, but for more than fifty years he has claimed this county as his home. He was educated in the public schools here and did himself honor in the class of chirography, being a prize winner. He has ever shown an interest in educational matters, for a number of years holding the office of school director. Mr. Shaffer grew to manhood on his father's farm and assisted with the work about the place until he was twenty-two years old. His father being a carpenter by trade, he formed a liking for the work and became an apprentice, and later, for a period of four years, he assisted Nate SHANK, a carpenter of West Union. For twenty-four years the subject followed this industry, making his home in West Union, where he was considered the leading contractor and builder. Some of the best homes in the city are now monuments to his excellent skill. So much in demand was he that it was no unusual thing for him to have as many as seven to ten contracts at one time, ranging anywhere from two thousand dollars to seven thousand dollars each. In the country adjacent to West Union may be seen many fine barns and commodious residences which he built. Having a desire to again take up the tilling of the soil, he abandoned his trade in 1901 and for three years lived on a rented farm near West Union. In 1904 he moved to his present location, a farm of three hundred and seventy-five acres located in Auburn township, sections 31 and 32, the property of Mr. Charles WOODARD, of West Union. He also rents eighty acres at Donnan, Iowa, in connection with the farm he lives on. Mr. Shaffer may be termed a progressive farmer. He has made a specialty of raising Poland China hogs for several years, usually raising one hundred head or more a year.
In 1857, when modes of travel were vastly less numerous than in this generation, David and Jane (PEMBERTON) Shaffer, the subject's parents, left Grant county, Indiana, and wended their way westward, by the overland route, in a couple of covered wagons, each drawn by two teams. They stopped in Fayette county and Mr. Shaffer being acquainted with the carpenter trade, he soon secured employment by assisting in the erection of the old Seminary building, which was then under the course of construction. Those were the days when dwellings were scarce in this locality and it was not long until Mr. Shaffer took up contracting and built many of the best homes in and around the town of Fayette. In 1873 he retired from carpenter work. Having. By his industry and economy, accumulated a sufficient amount of means, he purchased a farm three miles north of Fayette, where he lived until 1891, when he rented it and moved to Fayette and for the past ten years has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Minnie CULLINS. He sold his farm about 1895. He was born in Knitney, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1830. He was the son of German parents and was reared on a farm in the Keystone state. He went to Grant county, Indiana, when a young man and served an apprenticeship at the carpenter trade there. In 1852 he married Jane Pemberton, born in 1830 in the state of Ohio, and the daughter of Quaker parents. Mr. And Mrs. Shaffer were the parents of seven children. The third in order of birth died in infancy. Those living are: William P., the subject; Willis F., born December, 1854, resides on a farm in Jewell county, Kansas; Robert B. is a contractor and builder in Albion, Iowa; Mrs. Tacie J., wife of Charles ASH, of Fayette, Iowa; Minnie, wife of Martin CULLINS, of Fayette, where Mr. Shaffer makes his home; Lincoln D. lives on a farm east of Fayette. Mrs. Shaffer died in July, 1890. Mr. Shaffer is a Republican. During his wife's lifetime they were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he still accepts this doctrine. He has been an advocate of education and was long a member of the school board.
On December 24, 1884, William P. Shaffer married Agnes TODD. She was born in Chemung, McHenry county, Illinois, October 19, 1861, and is the daughter of Rev. Daniel and Agnes M. (CAMERON) Todd, both natives of Scotland. Her father was born in Glasgow in 1827, her mother in Edinburgh in 1831. They came to Toronto, Canada, in 1858, with Mrs. Todd's mother and were married there in 1859. Soon after their marriage they moved to McHenry, Illinois. Mr. Todd was a minister of the Presbyterian faith and for five years held the pastorate of that church in Chemung. In 1865 the family moved to Clayton county, Iowa, and located on an eighty-acre farm near Volga City. He preached in the Presbyterian churches in Volga and Highland, Iowa, until he retired from the ministry about 1884. About 1886 the family moved to West Union, where they remained until Rev. Todd's death. In 1902 Mrs. Todd went to Portland, Oregon, to live with her son. They were the parents of nine children, namely: Dr. Anna Todd, who lives at Lewiston, Idaho; Mrs. Shaffer: Rev. William M. Todd, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church in Hastings, Michigan; Esther C., wife of Frank BECHT, of Spokane, Washington; Euphemia H. Todd died at the age of seventeen years; Frances, wife of Ira J. MERRITT, resides at Portland, Oregon; Henry C. Todd, of Portland, Oregon; John C. Todd died aged twenty-seven years; James A. Todd, of Lewiston, Idaho. Rev. David Todd was a graduate of a college at Glasgow, Scotland. He died on October 31, 1900, and was interred at West Union.
Mr. Shaffer and wife have reared eight children, as follows: Bessie A., who was born April 24, 1886, was united in marriage with Homer C. CARMICHAEL in February, 1905, and passed away June 6, 1909; Ethel E., born October 19, 1887, was married to Maxwell SALTSGIVER on February 2, 1910, and they reside in Union township; Edith A., born February 19, 1889, and Anna F., born May 11, 1893, both at home; Clarence D. Shaffer, born June 26, 1895; William H., born October 24, 1898; Grace M., born July 23, 1902; Leslie E., born December 4, 1904. In politics, Mr. Shaffer is a Republican. He is an honor to his party, his county and his home."