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William Herbert Shafer

Birth	:	15 Mar 1861 Stockton, San Joaquin County, California, USA
Death	:	14 Sep 1946 Selma, Fresno County, California, USA
Burial	:	Americus Cemetery, Americus, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate	:	38.5154686, -96.2420425
Description	:	W. H. SHAFER Among the men who have been instrumental in the development of the county's irrigation projects, W. H. Shafer is known as a man who has ever had the best interests of the community at heart. Born at Stockton, San Joaquin County, Cal., March 15, 1861, he is a son of John Shafer, who was born in Bedford County, Pa. His grandfather, Abram Shafer, was a contractor on the old Government Pike, the military road from New York to Chicago, Ill., before the advent of the railway, and was identified with the development of the... Read More	W. H. SHAFER Among the men who have been instrumental in the development of the county's irrigation projects, W. H. Shafer is known as a man who has ever had the best interests of the community at heart. Born at Stockton, San Joaquin County, Cal., March 15, 1861, he is a son of John Shafer, who was born in Bedford County, Pa. His grandfather, Abram Shafer, was a contractor on the old Government Pike, the military road from New York to Chicago, Ill., before the advent of the railway, and was identified with the development of the country west of the Alleghanies. He was a Pennsylvanian, as was also his great-grandfather. The Shafer family were German Lutherans who sought refuge in America from persecution under the benign wing of "William Penn. because of their religious views and love of political freedom. Mr. Shafer's father, John Shafer, was among the influx to California in 1850, journeying down the Ohio River and up the Missouri River to St. Joseph. Mo., where he and four or five other sturdy young men outfitted and crossed the plains to California with ox teams; all the available mules and horses had been purchased by earlier argonauts. Arriving in California Mr. Shafer sought his fortune in the placer gold fields. Owing to ill health and failure to make a stake in mining he abandoned that business and became a wood contractor, taking contracts to furnish fuel for the steamers on the Sacramento River. He cleared the land, sold the wood and planted the cleared land to vegetables and orchard and soon established a good trade for his products. He built up a commercial business, established a fresh vegetable market at Stockton and continued to raise vegetables on his cleared land, selling his own produce and that of others. Mr. Shafer was married at Stockton to Mrs. Matilda Fish, a native of Michigan, of English and Scotch ancestry. Her mother's maternal grandfather, Samuel Roundy, was born in Scotland; the Roundys were pioneers and saw-mill men in the East. In a family of four children Matilda was the oldest daughter. Mr. Shafer's father was a leader in establishing some of the early schools in California. He built the first school house near Isleton, Sacramento County, before the school district was organized; going down into his own pocket for the money, he purchased the lumber, worked himself and hired others, doing this to fill a much needed want, which was demonstrated at that period in California. He became a well-to-do business man of Stockton, and later resided in Sacramento County. In 1869 he removed with his family to Fresno County, Cal., and the family came to Selma in the fall of 1881. In May. 1894, Mrs." Shafer died and Mr. Shafer did not long survive her. for he died in December of that same year. W. H. Shafer was one of the first schoolboys in Sacramento County: his mother, who had a college education, gave her son his first lessons in reading and writing, and imparted to him a love for scientific knowledge. He was particularly fond of mathematics, civil engineering and surveying. While vet a boy he obtained a practical knowledge of the latter, as chain-boy under J. W. Prentice, surveyor of Sacramento County. He also caught inspiration and enthusiasm from the late Will S. Green, surveyor general of California. Learning from his mother's instructions, attending the public schools, surveying, helping in and around his father's business, he shared the common experiences of the first generation of California youth and grew up and developed a great liking for the work of the irrigationist and surveyor. He entered Van der'Nailen School of Engineering, 24 Post Street, San Francisco, pursued a special course in civil engineering and at twenty was a civil engineer, and early established the old levee grades on the Sacramento River. Locating at Selma, Mr. Shafer was employed by the directors of the Centerville and Kingsburg Canal. Becoming interested in irrigation here he was soon chosen to superintend the water distribution and the maintenance of the Centerville and Kingsburg Irrigation canal. The first ditch built in Fresno County was the Sweem Ditch; the Fresno Canal was the second ditch, and the Centerville and Kingsburg Irrigation Canal the third ditch. Work on this ditch commenced in the fall of 1877, and water was run as far as Selma in 1878. Mr. Shafer has been connected with some phase of irrigation since a young man, most of the time on the Centerville and Kingsburg Canal. The water right for this canal was obtained January 12, 1876; articles of incorporation were filed May 11, 1877; there were fifty original shares, five of them were paid for in cash and the others were worked out by their holders. This canal is now a part of the vast irrigation system known as the Consolidated Canal Company. Mr. Shafer is resident engineer and has charge of the ditches for Selma and vicinity, his work extending to the laying out, surveying and maintenance of canals, with a supervising oversight and management of the actual work of irrigating the adjacent land. He personally superintends 150 miles of the 220 miles comprised in the Consolidated Canal Company's system. The water for irrigation costs not over seventy-five cents per acre per annum, and is the cheapest irrigation water in the San Joaquin Valley. Mr. Shafer has made this his life work, has attended most of the important irrigation conventions, has appeared before the Legislature and done much committee work in regard to the improvement of irrigation facilities for this section of California. He is an earnest advocate of the Pine Flat project. It is due largely to Mr. Shafer's efforts that Selma has an excellent high school with artistically grouped buildings and ample playgrounds. He was chairman of the board of High School Trustees during the erection of the Selma high school building. He is the owner of a well-improved seventy-eight acre ranch adjoining Selma on the northwest, upon which he has built substantial buildings including a commodious residence. In his political sentiments Mr. Shafer is a Progressive. He attended the first meeting at Sacramento, September, 1907, of California Progressives and assisted in organizing the Lincoln Roosevelt League. He is a firm friend and stanch

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William Herbert Shafer's memorial?
William Herbert Shafer's memorial is located at: Americus Cemetery, Americus, Lyon County, USA.
When did William Herbert Shafer death?
William Herbert Shafer death on 14 Sep 1946 in Selma, Fresno County, California, USA
Where are the coordinates of the William Herbert Shafer's memorial?
Latitude: 38.5154686
Longitude: -96.2420425

Family Members:

Parent

John Shafer

(1824 - 1893)

Matilda Thankful Humphrey Shafer

(1825 - 1893)

Spouse

Kate Cole Shafer

(1866 - 1946)

Siblings

Frank E Shafer

(1866 - 1933)

John A Shafer

(1868 - 1889)

Children

William John Shafer Jr.

(1892 - 1977)

Ruth Shafer

(1894 - 1991)

Mary Shafer Glenn

(1899 - 1987)

Helen Shafer

(1902 - 1990)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Frost Cemetery
Americus, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5573900, -96.2022300

2. Fruitland Cemetery
Americus, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5078011, -96.3308029

3. Rosean Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5344009, -96.1464005

4. Sunnyside Cemetery
Bushong, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6083900, -96.2853700

5. Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4202995, -96.2055969

6. Cottonwood Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4130096, -96.2725525

7. Dunlap Cemetery
Dunlap, Morris County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5792007, -96.3538971

8. Dunlap Colored Cemetery
Dunlap, Morris County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5875015, -96.3538971

9. Saint Andrews Episcopal Church Columbarium
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4084053, -96.1796799

10. Bushong Cemetery
Bushong, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6366997, -96.2431030

11. Hillside Cemetery
Toledo, Chase County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4305992, -96.3741989

12. Soden Family Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3872190, -96.1813510

13. Old Quaker Cemetery
Toledo, Chase County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4208100, -96.3693200

14. Camp Alexander Grounds
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4177210, -96.1072080

15. Sacred Heart Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3932991, -96.1418991

16. Haworth Cemetery
Plymouth, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3804207, -96.3178024

17. Allen Cemetery
Allen, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6521988, -96.1611023

18. Phillips Cemetery
Reading, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5578003, -96.0513992

19. Grandview Cemetery
Plymouth, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3838997, -96.3542023

20. Wilhite Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3830500, -96.1240900

21. Comiskey Cemetery
Morris County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6521988, -96.3535995

22. Greenwood Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3546982, -96.2082977

23. Fowler Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3897018, -96.1091995

24. Evergreen Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3572006, -96.1791992