Bio-Miller, MaryAdalineShaffer

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Mary "Adaline" (Miller) Shaffer
(1850- ? )

Mary "Adaline" ( Miller) Shaffer was born in 1850 in or near Kingwood, Preston County, WV, the daughter of Hezekiah and Keziah Ellen (Fawcett) Shaffer.

Adaline married Harvey Shaffer (1849- ? ) in 1880. They resided in Preston County in 1891-1920.

The Shaffers had at least five children, four of whom survived childhood -- John H. Shaffer, Isa Mae "Icy" Shaffer, Perry Shaffer, Carrie Shaffer and Hezekiah Shaffer.

When the U.S. census was enumerated in 1900, the family made their home in Kingwood, with Harvey employed as a farmer and 27-year-old son John as a coal miner. In 1900, the census shows Harvey, age 61, working as a farmer and 21-year-old son Hezekiah as a coal miner. When the 1910 and 1920 censuses were taken, the Shaffers lived in Kingwood, with Harvey continuing his lifelong labor as a farmer. Their son Perry lived next door during that time.

Their fates after that are unknown, and a search of Janice Cale Sisler's In Remembrance cemetery listings for Preston County proved unsuccessful.

~ Son Perry Shaffer Sr. ~

Son Perry Shaffer Sr. (1886-1955) married Nettie Cook (1885-1946), the daughter of German immigrant Herman Cook. The federal censuses of 1910 and 1920 show the family living in Kingwood, next to Perry's parents.

They had 10 children -- J. Ward Shaffer, Ellis B. Shaffer, Walter F. Shaffer, Perry Shaffer Jr., Charles Shaffer, Mary Morris, Helen Morris, Clark Shaffer, Jessie Dean and Herman H. Shaffer.

Perry was a saw mill laborer. They later moved to Grassey Run, near Fairmont, Marion County, WV, where Perry was a farmer.

Unfortunately, Nette suffered from diabetes, and one of her feet became infected with gangrene. After surgery, to amputate her right leg, she went into shock, and died at Fairmont General Hospital on Feb. 25, 1946, at the age of 60.

Perry outlived her by nine years. He died in Fairmont General Hospital at the age of 70 on June 22, 1955, caused by uremia. He is buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery, with an obituary published in the Fairmont Times.

~ Son Hezekiah Shaffer ~

Son Hezekiah Shaffer (1879- ? ) was named after his maternal grandfather, Hezekiah Miller. Hez was a coal miner in Preston County in 1900.

When the census was taken in 1920, he was married at age 46 and living alone in his home on Church road. That year, he continued his employment as a miner. His fate seems lost to history.

~ Daughter Icy (Shaffer) Britton ~

Daughter Icy Shaffer (1879-1948) married Waitman W. Britton (1873-1948). She and her husband apparently made their home in Howesville, Preston County.

Sadly, while digging out of a deep snow in the winter of 1948, the exhausted Waitman froze to death on Feb. 8, 1948. Burial was in Campground Cemetery near Tunnelton, Preston County.

Icy only outlived him by only eight days, and died at the age of 68, on Feb. 20, 1948.

View of Fairmont, looking east, circa 1920s

~ Daughter Carrie (Shaffer) Martin ~

Daughter Carrie Shaffer (1889- ? ) married Frank Martin (1892- ? ) in 1910. They resided in Fairmont circa 1930-1955. Frank was a truck driver for a transfer company in Fairmont.

They had at least five children -- Thomas Martin, Max Martin, Oliver Martin, Wanetta Martin and Richard Martin. The federal census of 1930 shows them living on Grafton Road.