Edward C. Shafer

From History of Frederick County. p. 1144-1145:

Edward C. Shafer, editor and proprietor of the Brunswick Herald, one of the best weekly papers published in Frederick County, Md., was born on a farm in Burkittsville district, March 3, 1863. He is a son of Martin T. and Mary C. (Rice) Shafer, both deceased.

Henry Shafer, the grandfather of Edward C. Shafer, was a native of Burkittsville district, Frederick county, as was his wife, Mary Catharine Grove. Their parents were natives of Germany and emigrated to this country, settling in Middletown Valley, Frederick County, about 150 years ago, being among the early settlers of that section. In politics, Mr. Shafer was a supporter of the Republican party. In religion, he and his wife were members of the Reformed Church. They were the parents of eleven children, nine of whom grew to maturity: Ann Rebecca, who married Samuel Grove; John W., was a student at Mercersburg College, prepared for the ministry of the Reformed Church; Caroline, married to Daniel Gaver; Peter H., residing on a farm near Burkittsville, Frederick County, at the age of eighty-one years; Hamilton J., a farmer near Burkittsville; Martin T., deceased, the father of Edward C. Shafer; Albenia, the widow of Daniel G. Biser; Elias Talbot, died unmarried: and Henrietta, the widow of Thomas G. Biser.

Martin T. Shafer, son of Henry and Mary Catharine (Grove) Shafer, was born in Burkittsville district, Frederick County, in March, 1826, and died September 3, 1897. By trade he was a wagon-builder, and during much of his life he followed agricultural pursuits. He was married in 1858 to Mary Catharine Rice, now deceased. They were the parents of three children, only one of whom, Edward C., grew to manhood. His second wife was Miss Julia Hersperger of a well known valley family.

Edward C. Shafer, son of Martin T. and Mary Catharine (Rice) Shafer, was reared on the old homestead, near Burkittsville, Frederick County, and while a lad attended the public schools of the neighborhood and the Burkittsville High School. In 1882, he entered Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pa., from which institution he was graduated in 1886, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Two years later he received the degree of Master of Arts. After leaving college, he pursued studies preparatory to entering upon journalistic work. On March 1, 1891, he formed a partnership with E. C. Unger, who had been connected with the Frederick Daily News, and they founded the Brunswick Weekly Herald, This partnership continued until the fall of 1894, when Mr. Shafer purchased the interest of Mr. Unger, and became sole editor and proprietor. Since that time he has continued in the sole management of the paper, meeting with marked success as a journalist. The Herald is one of the county’s leading newspapers, and has been very successful under Mr. Shafer’s very able management. In the spring of 1907, the Herald moved to its present new building, which is thoroughly modem in every respect and finely equipped for all manner of printing.

Mr. Shafer for the past eighteen years has been extensively engaged in the real estate and fire insurance business and at present is an extensive property owner of the town. He it was who incorporated the proposed Brunswick and Middletown Electric Railroad, and he, with others, now holds a charter for the line. He is also owner of part of the old Shafer homestead, near Burkittsville, Frederick county. This farm contains 100 acres of fine land, and has been in the possession of the Shafer family for over a century. Mr. Shafer is one of Brunswick’s most prominent and highly esteemed citizens. He is public spirited, and has always through the columns of the Herald advocated every thing that tended to promote the welfare of the town and the surrounding section. As editor of the Herald, he has shown himself to be possessed of marked journalistic attainments, and as the proprietor of the paper, he has indicated that he is a business man of much ability. He has been a witness to the wonderful growth of Brunswick. When the Herald was founded the place was but a small village, whereas now it has a population of about 4,500.

Politically, Mr. Shafer is an active supporter and stanch adherent of the Democratic party. In 1895, he was elected mayor of Brunswick, and served for a term of six months. While in this office, he discharged his duties with zeal and fidelity. In 1896, he was nominated by his party for the Maryland House of Delegates, but as the county is largely Republican, he, with the rest of his ticket, were defeated. For a period of twelve years he was a member of the County Central Democratic Committee and for four years he served as chairman of the Brunswick District Committee. He acted as city clerk for four years and for two years was a notary public.

Fraternally, Mr. Shafer is a member of the Greek letter society, Phi Kappa Psi, of Gettysburg College; of the Philomatheon Literary Society, also of Gettysburg College; of Loyalty Lodge, No. 122, Knights of Pythias, Brunswick; and of Ben Hadad Temple, No. 93, D. O. K. K. For two years, he was chief fire marshal of the first fire company of Branswick. In religion, he is a consistent member of the Reformed Church and was chairman of the Building Committee of the new Brunswick Reformed church. Mr. Shafer was married to Miss Eva S. E. Nicodemus, daughter of Peter and Sarah A. E. Nicodemus, of Brunswick, Md. on May 1, 1909.