Surnames: SCHAFER SHAFER

----Sources: DORCHESTER REPORTER (Dorchester, Clark Co., WI) 05/09/1902

Shafer, Sam (6 JUN 1850 - 6 May 1902)

It is with utmost regret that we chronicle the death of Sam J. Shafer of Colby, senior editor of the Phonograph and one of the veteran journalists of Northern Wisconsin. He was taken sick last Wednesday with inflammatory rheumatism and grew rapidly worse, becoming delirious Sunday and passing away at his home in Colby Tuesday afternoon a few minutes past five o’clock. For some years he has been afflicted with heart trouble and the rheumatism settling there quickly completed the dread work.

Mr. Shafer was one of the early settlers of Colby and was one of the most prominent men of northern Wisconsin. He was chief clerk of the state senate during Peck’s first administration; and was elected mayor of his home city several times. Throughout the great part of his life in Wisconsin he has been one of the leading men in the Democratic party; and by his sterling honesty and never failing good nature won the respect and esteem of all. For years he has been identified with the leading workers in the I. O. O. F. Lodge at one time holding the next to the highest office in that order in Wisconsin.

With his passing away Colby and Wisconsin loses one of their best citizens, an honest, whole-souled generous man, the equal of whom is very seldom to be met with . His place will be hard to fill and his familiar figure will be missed not only in his home city but in the state at large. The heartfelt sympathies of the Reporter are extended to the bereaved family in their great affliction.

Sam J. Schafer was born near Hamilton, Canada, June 6th, 1850. Here he passed the first four years of his life, his parents removing to Beaver Dam, Wis. In 1854. From there he came to Colby in August 1878, starting the Phonograph and has been its editor ever since. Last week he was taken ill with inflammatory rheumatism which, settling in his heart, led to his death on Tuesday afternoon. The funeral will be held at Colby Friday at 2 p.m.