From the "History of Huntington County, Indiana 1914"

  PHILIP H. SHAFER

  Since he was sixteen years of age Philip H Shafer has been a resident of Huntington county, and at that date began to
  assist his father in the clearing of a portion of the wilderness, and some of the land which his boyhood labors helped to
  develop is still in his possession. Having lived in Huntington county for half a century, Mr. Shafer bears an unusual
  relation to the soil in this locality, and presents in his history elements of unusual interest. The difference in the
  condition of the land now from what it was when the Shafer family first settled here represents not only the
  achievements of its occupants in cultivating and improving it, but also the general progress of this region since
  civilization was first planted in it. Personally Mr. Shafer is regarded as one of Huntington county's ablest and most
  prosperous farmer citizens, and a man who has used his own success not selfishly, but to promote the welfare and
  progress of his community and has always taken a helpful part in bearing the burdens of his neighbors.

  Butler county, Ohio, is the native home of Philip H. Shafer, and be was born three miles northwest of Middletown March
  6, 1846. His parents were George E. and Margaret (Wolf) Shafer, who moved to Huntington county in 1863, locating in
  Salamonie township, where the father bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. That Iand was covered practically as
  to every acre by heavy wood, and the original price paid for it was one thousand dollars, The father with the aid of his
  boys, of whom Philip was the oldest, started in to hew down the trees, to grub the stumps, and clear off a space for
  cultivation of field crops. That was a tremendous undertaking, and would be yet today, and it is with a natural pride that
  Mr. Shafer now regards his possession of one hundred acres of the original quarter section, his own toil having assisted
  materially in the, improvement of that place. The parents continued their residence on the old homestead until their
  death. The father was a devout member of the United Brethren church and one of the leaders in that denomination in
  Huntington county, There were six children in the family, five of whom are still living: Philip H.; Emily M., deceased; John
  W. Shafer, of Bluffton, Indiana; Mary A., wife of Jasper Jones of Warren; Sarah, who is unmarried and lives at Decatur,
  Indiana; and Jacob E. Shafer, of Salamonie township.

  Philip H. Shafer when the family moved to Huntington county in 1863 was already at an age where he was ready to take
  up the serious responsibilities of life. His education had been acquired by attendance at the district schools of Butler
  county, Ohio, and the intervals had been filled in by practical training in the work of farm and household. However, he
  continued his education by one term in Huntington county. When he was twenty years of age he started out to win his
  fortune, having no capital, and after working for two years was given a small piece of land by his father. His subsequent
  prosperity has been the result of his steady labor, economy, good business judgment, and from the generous reward
  which Indiana agriculture has paid to all its devotees during the last half century.

  Mr. Shafer first married Mary J. Thompson, daughter of Ebenezer and Pamelia (Ware) Thompson, who were early
  settlers of Salamonie township. Mrs. Shafer lived as wife and mother for sixteen years, and in that time six children were
  born, three of whom are yet living, namely: George E. Shafer; Jennie A., wife of Charles F. Bonewitz, of Michigan; and
  Fannie A., wife of Perry Keller of Huntington. After the death of his first wife Mr. Shafer was married on June 23, 1884,
  to Sarah L. E. Ruble, who was born in Salamonie township August 29, 1862, a daughter of Jonathan and Ruth (Ruse)
  Ruble. To this marriage were born eight children, six of whom are living in 1914, namely: Mildred L., who graduated from
  the common schools and is now the wife of Webster J. Thompson; Ruth E., wife of Ernest Poling; Harry P., a graduate of
  the common schools and who married Dalta Garretson; Howard M., who finished a common school course and lives at
  home Frances E. W., who has also finished her work in the common schools and is now at home; Weir L., who is
  thirteen years old and completed the grade school work in 1913.

  The family attend worship in the Christian church at Buckeye, Indiana, and Mr. Shafer is very much interested in church
  affairs. Politically he was always a straight republican up to the campaign of 1912, when he accepted the principles and
  platform of the new party and voted as a progressive. His many years as a practical farmer has brought ample
  possessions, comprising four hundred and seventy acres of fine farm lands in Sections 14, 15, 22 and 23 in Salamonie
  township, situated three miles northeast of Warren on the Marion and Bluffton Pike. At the same time he has employed
  his prosperity to give his family all needed comforts and luxuries, and the children have all been, well trained both at
  home and in school.