John W. Shafer
John W. Shafer, son of Watson and Elizabeth Shafer, was born near Redding, Iowa, October 21, 1883 and departed this life January 22, 1919 after a short illness of influenza and pneumonia, age 35 years, three months and one day. He was married March 11, 1908 to Miss Grace Fergerson. To this union two sons were born, Wilbur Ansel age 10 and Cecil Fergerson age 7, Beside wife and children he leaves a father, mother, and one brother, Ray, and four sisters, Mrs. Jerry Glendenning, Mrs. Ray Motsinger, Eunice and Chelsia. He united with the Middle Fork Church under the pastorate of Rev. C.E. Woods. Since that time he has held prominent positions in both church and Sunday school and was trying to raise his boys to be good christian men. John was a man with sterling qualities and strict integrity, always willing to help a neighbor. He tried so as to make the world better for his having lived in it. His friends are numbered by those who knew him best. Funeral services were conducted from the Middle Fork M.E. Church on Friday afternoon, January 24, at 1 o’clock, by his pastor, Rev. V.J. Andrew and the body was laid to rest in the Middle Fork Cemetery.