(8-Aug-1855 -- 9-Jun-1920)

Colby, Clark County, Wisconsin

WHAT TRADE PAPER SAYS OF J. J. SHAFER

The following write-up, with Joel’s Physog in the middle of it, appeared in the Publisher’s Auxiliary Nov. 4^th, 1916.  The Auxiliary is a paper devoted strictly to the newspaper craft, and is perhaps the most thoroughly read newspaper in America.  The article shows the high esteem to which Joel is held by the newspaper fraternity.  We are pleased to reprint the article and the first one that says that the picture doesn’t look like him will have to settle with us.  Now read it.

Joel J. Shafer, publisher of the Colby Phonograph for more than 38 years, has sold that newspaper to Robert O. and Harry V. Harvey, and retired from active service on the editorial "firing line."

Las month Mr. Shafer rounded out 45 full years of service in the printing business, as he had been an employee of the Argus office at Beaver Dam for seven years previous to 1878, when he went to Colby with his brother, Sam J. Shafer, and established the Phonograph under the firm name of Shafer brothers.  In May 1902, Sam Shafer passed from this life, and since that time Joel had been sole proprietor and editor.

Mr. Shafer always injected into the columns of the Phonograph that spirit of kindness and good-humored wit characteristic of his nature, which has made the paper an unfailing delight to its readers.  It has stood for the highest principles of newspaper-making, bringing marked success in a business way as well as an enviable standing among the fraternity.

The new publishers, Harvey brothers, are both graduates of the Phonograph office.  With such training, it goes without saying that they are able newspaper men.  They propose numerous improvements and an expansion of the business.