John W. Shafer

Mustered into service as a Private on July 29th, 1861

Born 15 July 1835

Died 30 June 1880

Buried Old Shelbina Cemetery, Shelby County Missouri

Private Shafer was rapidly promoted during his time with the 19th Indiana until he achieved the rank of Major when he mustered out in July of 1865. He received a gunshot wound to the right forearm in the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1st, 1863. In the fall of 1864 he was transferred to the 20th Indiana Infantry and was the commander of the regiment during the Appomattox campaign in the spring of 1865. He mustered out of the service in July of 1865.

John was a lawyer and after the war he moved to Missouri to continue his profession. In July of 1869 he filed for a pension and collected on that pension until his death from a tumor of the jaw.

John W. Shafer served a 2 year term in the Missouri House of Representatives from 1870 - 1872.

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