April 1898 Ogle County Republican:

Death of a Prominent German American Settler
The death of Andrew Schafer, one of the most prominent of Ogle County's German-American citizens, occurred at his home in Rockvale Township Thursday, of the grip, after an illness of but ten days, at the age of nearly eighty one years. Mr. Schafer left his native land and with his wife and children came to this country in 1855. By honest industry he amassed a comfortable fortune and leaves an estate valued at $25,000. He was a good man and prominently identified with religious and educational interests. The splendid property of the Ebenezer German Church is located on a part of his farm, which he donated to that society. He sent his three sons, Frederick A., Daniel A. and John A. Schafer, through college and the theological seminary, and they are all prominent ministers and pastors of churches, the former at Aplington, Ia., Daniel at Parkersburg, Ia., and John at White Rock, Ogle County, Ill. His three daughters ,Mrs. G.F. Reeverts, Mrs. John Reeverts and Mrs. P.M. Hayenga, live in this township and their husbands are among our most prominent and well-to-do citizens. Mrs. Schafer died on Thursday of last week and her funeral was held last Sunday at 2 o'clock. The death of Mr. Schafer will be deeply felt in the community, where more than forty years(line is illegible) and removes an old landmark that has always stood firmly and inflexibly for the truth and those principles that tend to the uplifting of humanity.

(I believe the year of immigration was 1857 not 1855 as stated. They traveled with the Andrew Roos family (the wives were sisters) and the girls' mother Hilke Wienbocke. Elizabeth Schafer passed away March 23, 1898 and Andrew Schafer passed away on March 31, 1898.)

Contributed by Beverly (Brass) Beauford

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