On a recent trip to the National Archives at Washington to research my own genealogy I wound up obtaining quite a bit of information on a Civil War veteran who proved _NOT_ to be the relative I was looking for. Arghhh! : -( However, the information would certainly be of interest to anyone that _IS_ related to this individual, so I’m taking the liberty of posting it here and a few other places where it might be stumbled on by someone who can use it. The name Joseph Shaffer turns out to be rather common in Civil War records from Ohio volunteers in service to the Union. There were some 14 Joseph Shaffers listed in Service Records and 6 in Pension Records! The particulars of one of these are given below. I do hope this is useful to someone! Joseph Shaefer (Schaefer/Shaffer) was born in Prussia in about 1839. After immigration to the United States (unknown date, port, etc.) Joseph married Margaret Hacket (Hackit?) October 1, 1861 in Delaware County, Ohio. They were married by G. H. Purdy, J.P., and ultimately had 7 children. Joseph volunteered for service in the Civil War and was mustered in for three years service on October 12, 1861 at Delaware, Ohio. He joined Company D (Captain C. H. McElroy’s Company) of the 20th Regiment, Ohio Volunteers. He was described on his discharge as “5 feet, 9 inches high, fair complexion, black eyes, brown hair, and by occupation, when enrolled, a hotel steward.” Joseph was injured erecting barricades at Shiloh on April 12, 1862, sent to hospital in Ohio in May of 1862 and was subsequently discharged due to his injury on August 23rd, 1862 at Columbus, Ohio. He died (of “chronic diarrhea” contracted while in the service of his country) on January 4th, 1877 at the age of approximately 38 years leaving his widow and children as pensioners (Pension Certificate No. 187,036). Margaret died on March 6, 1894. The children’s names, given on a transcript of the Record of Births and Baptisms of St. Mary’s Church, Delaware, Ohio, by the Rector of St. Mary’s were as follows: Nicholas Schaefer born March 31, 1859; Joseph Schaefer born June 11, 1861; Mathew Schaefer born December 11, 1865; Margarett Schaefer born November 30, 1866; John Schaefer born March 9, 1868; Emma Schaefer born September 28, 1872; and Charles Schaefer born March 25, 1874. Submitted by Stephen A. Shaffer [email protected] [email protected]