Rhita married FLOREY, James Robert on 8 Jan 1944 in Denver, Denver County, CO. James (son of Lois) was born on 6 May 1920 in Kilgore, TX; died on 23 Nov 1993 in Denver, Denver County, CO. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 12/9/1943

Mr. and Mrs. William J. Shafer.
of Maple avenue, announce the e n gagement
of their daughter, Rhita,
to Lieutenant James Robert Florey,
of Shreveport, Louisiana. Lieutenant
Shafer is a graduate of the University
of Rochester School of Nursing
and has been serving in the
Army Nurse corps in Denver, Colorado,
for the last year. Lieutenant
Florey is t h e s o n of Mrs. Lois Florey,
of Shreveport, and is a graduate of
Texas A. and M. college in the class
of 1941. He is now a member of the
United States Army Air Forces. T h e
marriage will take place in Denver
in the near future.

Niagara Gazette - 2/25/1944

To Hold "Open House"
Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Shafer will
be hosts at an "open house" at
their home, 1322 Maple avenue,
Sunday from 3 to 6 o'clock. The
honor guests will be their daugnter.
Lieutenant Rhlta Florey. Army
Nurses corps, and her husband.
Lieutenant James Robert Florey, of
the Army Air corps, stationed at
Denver, Col.
Lieutenant Florey and hU bride
are spending a short leave wlt*i
her parents before returning to
Denver, where they will reside.
Their marriage took place January
8 In Denver.
Friends are cordially Invited to
attend the "open house/

1. FLOREY, Barbara Gail
2. FLOREY, James Robert Jr.

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 10/21/1948

Falls Man, 59, Dies
After Brief Illness
. William J. Shafer. 59. of
Maple avenue, died last night at his
home after a brief illness. Born In
the Town of Niagara, he had lived
here all his life. He was employed
by the Certalnteed Products corporation.
Surviving are his wife, Annetta
H. Sharer, and one son, Paul W„
both of this city; two daughters,
Mrs. Alice Peterson. Minneapolis.
Minn., and Mrs. Rhlta Florey, Den-
ver. Colo.; three brothers and one
sister, Roy W., Lawrence R, and
Carl J. Shafer and Mrs. Arthur
Wittcopp. all of this city, and five
grand-children.
Mr. Shafer was a member of the
brotherhood of Zlon Evangelical
Lutheran church.
The body will rest at the Home
until noon Saturday. Funeral services
will be held from Zion Evangelical
Lutheran church. Michigan
avenue and Tenth street, at 2 pm.
Saturday, with the Rev. Arthur H.
Schmoyer, D.D., officiating. Interment
will be In Riverdale cemetery

William married HILDEBRANDT, Annetta on 4 Jun 1913 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. Annetta was born on 17 Apr 1890 in Gowanstown, Ontario, Canada; died on 22 Apr 1986 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; was buried in Riverdale Cemetery, Town of Lewiston, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Born in log cabin on what is now Lafayette Avenue in the city of Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. He was a dairy farmer for 4 decades on Witmer Road and was school trustee, Town welfare officer and helped build the old gorge scenic railroad. He was one of the first wholesale dairy farmers to supply milk to the City of Niagara Falls.

Niagara Gazette

JACOB SHAFER DIES
Retired Farmer Was Lifelong Town of Niagara Resident.
Jacob W. Shafer, 81-year-old retired farmer and lifelong resident of the Town of Niagara, died this morning in the family homestead in the Witmer road, where he had resided for the last 54 years. Born in the Town of Niagara on Nov. 4, 1860, Mr. Shafer attended the old Cleveland avenue school at Suspension Bridge and graduated from the Northwestern Business college at Mapleville, Ill., in 1881. He was married on April 3, 1888, to Kathleen Laur, who died five years ago. He is survived by four sons and a daughter, William J., Roy W., Lawrence R. and J. Carl Shafer, and a daughter, Mrs, Arthur Wittcopp, all of Niagara Falls, and a sister, Mrs. R. J. Brandt, of Lockport. The funeral will be held from the Redanz funeral home at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, with services at the Zion Lutheran church at 2 p.m., Burial will be in Riverdale cemetery.

Jacob married LAUR, Katharine on 3 Apr 1888 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. Katharine (daughter of LAUR, Vitus and RUSS, Catharina) was born in Jul 1869 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; died on 18 May 1936 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; was buried in Riverdale Cemetery, Town of Lewiston, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Falls Gazette

SHAFER-At her home, May 18, 1936, Katherine Shafer, age 66, wife of Jacob W.; mother of William, Roy, Lawrence, Carl, Mrs. Mildred Wittcopp, all of this city; sister of Andrew, John, Henry and Chris Laur and Mrs. William Mess of this city. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren. Funeral from the home on Saunders Settlement Road, Wednesday at 3 and 3:30 from Zion Lutheran church, MI avenue and Tenth street. Rev. Arthur Schmoyer officiating. Interment In Riverdale cemetery. Deceased was a member of Ladies Aid of Zion Lutheran church and Ladies Rural Club.

Notes:

Stone at cemetery says son died 4/5/1869

William married VOGT, Christianna about 1859 in Jefferson County, NY. Christianna (daughter of VOGT, Jacob J and BIEBER, Catherine) was born in Feb 1837 in PA; died in 1906 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; was buried in Riverdale Cemetery, Town of Lewiston, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lived in US 56 years - in Clarksville which was between Suspension
Bridge and Niagara Falls

Vitus married RUSS, Catharina on 1 Jan 1866 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. Catharina (daughter of RUSS, Christian and SCHMID, Anna Maria) was born on 27 Feb 1845 in Feldstetten, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; died on 12 Oct 1925 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 10/12/1925

Mrs Catherine Russ Laur, one of
the best known residents of tho narth
end of the city, widow of Vitus Laur
and mother of Andrew, John Sr., Mrs.
Catherine Shafer, Grace Laur and Mrs.
Annie Mess, died early today at the
age of 80 years. Funeral from No.
1807 Ontario avenue at two o'clock
Wednesday afternoon and following
services In Zion Lutheran church, burial
will be in Oakwood. Mrs. Laur was
born In Wurtemburg Germany Feb.
27, 1845. and came to the U. S. in
1886. For 30 years Mrs. Laur was secretary
of the Ladies Aid of Zion
church. She was noted for her delightful
characteristics both in her
home and away from it.