GEORGE D. SCHAFFER, one of the substantial farmers living in Sullivan county, was born near Edwardsport, Knox county, Indiana, March 22, 1860. He is the son of William and Angeline (Neal) Schaffer. The father was a native of Germany, born July 27, 1829, and the mother of Knox county, born about 1837. William Schaffer came to America in 1844, with an older brother, and first located at Washington, Davis county, Indiana, near which place he was employed as a farm hand a few years. His next employment was in the packing house of A. Simonson, Edwardsport, Indiana, where he remained a few years more and then went into a dry goods store as a clerk and later became a partner in the business, thus proving his ability to accomplish something in the busy world. He continued in trade for twenty years, at the end of which time he embarked in the real estate business. He also owned a large flat-boat, which he employed in transporting pork and corn to the far-away city of New Orleans. He only resided in Washington a short time, but lived at Edwardsport up to 1869, when he purchased a good farm in Jefferson township, Sullivan county, Indiana, where he resided for twenty years and then removed to Carlisle. The later portion of his life he spent with his children, his death occurring December 29, 1906. His first wife passed away about 1870, and he married again, and the last companion died May 1, 1882. She was born in Delaware county, and this was also her second marriage, her former husband being a Mr. Hadden, who died several years prior to her second marriage. The children by the first union of William Schaffer were as follows: Five are long since deceased and the surviving ones are: J. W., residing in Bicknell; George D., of this memoir; W. E., of Dayton, Texas; Nora, wife of Anson Hildebrand, of Sandborn, Knox county, Indiana.
George D. Schaffer attended the common schools of Jefferson township, where he was compelled, in the absence of anything better, to sit upon split log benches, as the school building was of the most rude and primitive style. He was a dutiful son and remained under the parental roof until he reached his majority, when he bought eighty acres of land in Jefferson township and began to farm for himself. He did not move to this place, but continued to reside at the old homestead and helped care for the father until the other children were old enough to take care of the place. At this time the father moved to Carlisle, and George D. purchased the old home, disposing of his first farm. He remained on the old place until 1891, then sold it and moved to Bloomfield, Greene county, Indiana, where he engaged in the butcher business, but only for a short time. He then moved to Carlisle and remained until the death of his wife in 1892, when he broke up housekeeping and followed no special vocation until he came to his present place in the autumn of 1893. He has made many fine and attractive improvements upon his place, which contains ninety-eight acres. At the present time (1908) Mr. Schaffer has his land rented, but resides on the same.
In his church connection Mr. Schaffer affiliates with the Baptist church, while in political choice he favors the Democratic party. He has never sought, or held public office. He was united in marriage, first, May 24, 1882, to Mary E. Corbin, born in Sullivan county, August 20, 1860, a daughter of John and Angeline (Douthit) Corbin. Her people were substantial farmers and the parents were both natives of Sullivan county, Indiana, and both are now deceased. Mary E. (Corbin) Schaffer died September 13, 1892. The issue by this union was three children: Ira D., now of Knox county, is the assistant cashier of a bank at Sanborn; Charles W., who died at the age of twenty-one years; and another child who died in infancy. For his second wife Mr. Schaffer married, February 28, 1894, Miss Kate C. Brentlinger, born at Carlisle, November 20, 1866, daughter of A. J. and Mary L. (Collins) Brentlinger, who were residents of Carlisle and farmers by occupation. The father died and the mother still lives at Carlisle, on the old farm. To this union there were born the following children: Clyde E. Schaffer, Ward E., Rush L., Wayne A., Fern M., all at home. The mother of this family died April 30, 1902, and June 15, 1904, Mr. Schaffer married for his third wife, Margaret E. Wampler, born near Bicknell, September 8, 1860, a daughter of Daniel and Susan (Slinkard) Wampler, residents of Knox county. Her father was a farmer, but both he and his wife are now dead. There is no issue by the last marriage of Mr. Schaffer.