Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 189-190.

HENRY SCHAFFTER.

Notwithstanding the fact that the republic of Switzerland is one of the smallest countries of the world, it has sent a large number of emigrants to the United States during the years that have elapsed since independence was secured. The people of that country, appreciating the blessings of liberty, of which they had a strong example in their own land, were not slow to recognize the possibilities that opened out in splendid perspective before all who ventured across the Atlantic and settled down to the pursuit of happiness and a competence. They have here become among the most intelligent, patriotic, industrious and upright of our great and wonderful cosmopolitan population.

Henry Schaffter was born in Switzerland May 12, 1818, and is the son of John H. Schaffter, also a native of that country. The father was an expert watchmaker and had a splendid reputation as a competent workman. He engaged in military service and was about to come to America to help fight for liberty and independence with General Lafayette, in which war two of his brothers died. When the war closed he was sent to Spain and served twenty-four years under the French republic and the first empire, until the battle of Eiloo. He held rank as a commissioned officer, winning a high reputation as an able and gallant officer and was three times wounded. He was the father of four children, of whom the subject is the only one now living.

Henry Schaffter remained under the parental roof until he was sixteen years old, in the meantime attending the common schools and acquiring a fair education. Upon leaving school he was apprenticed to learn the trade of cabinetmaker, at which he served two years. Upon the completion of his apprenticeship he worked for a time as a machinist, but afterward went to Germany and France and worked at the trade of cabinetmaking. In 1850, realizing that in America lay larger opportunities for a man of energy and ambition, he came to the United States. Upon landing in this county he came at once to Vera Cruz, Wells county, but shortly after his arrival he was taken sick and all his savings were soon used up in the payment of doctor's bills. Upon recovering his health he purchased a farm consisting most of timber land, and at once went to work to clear the land and put the soil in a condition for cultivation. By persistent and indefatigable industry he brought the tract to a high state of excellence and in time possessed one of the choice farms of Wells county. He remained upon this place until 1902, when he removed to Bluffton and has since made his home there with his daughter.

In 1847 Mr. Shaffter [sic] was united in marriage with Miss Marianne Boivin, whose death occurred in 1880. To them were born twelve children of whom six are still living. There are also twenty-one grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Mr. Shaffter [sic] is a member of the Reformed church. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and in his younger days took a very active and prominent part in local politics.

In many respects the career of Mr. Schaffter is peculiarly instructive and commendable. It is a complete triumph over apparently insurmountable obstacles by a young man with almost no means at his command but a determination to make the best of his opportunities, and how well he has succeeded in this laudable endeavor is demonstrated by the fact that he has accumulated in material things enough to make him independent for the rest of his days. He is one of the most popular men of his community, genial, companionable, ever ready to do a favor or make a sacrifice whereby his fellow men may be benefited or the country profited.