Reading Grandpa Shaffner's (John Fanoit Shaffner)  autobiography, I learned that when he finished the 7th grade, he took a job as an apprentice in printing shops, grocery stores and a year in the Postal Telegraph office where he learned the telegraphy trade. John wrote that following the turn of the 18th century, the country was in a real panic, the jobs were scarce.  Instead of 10-12 hours employees worked 6 to 7 hours.  Wages for a printer were two dollars ($2.00) a day.  At age 20 he secured a position as a telegrapher with the Pennsylvania Railroad.  His first position was at a tower a few miles out of Muncy, where he made his home for several years.  During this time he made his acquaintance with Della Kurtz.  At the time she was living with her sister Fanny and husband George Latimer.  During the 5 year courtship, John worked several stations for the railroad.  In 1912 John quit and moved to Washington D.C. where he worked for Congressman Lafferty for 5 months.  The pay was poor and he was anxious to go west.  He was hired by the Northern Pacific Railroad when he wrote to the headquarters of the Northern Pacific Railroad and was soon offered a telegraphy job if he would report to St. Paul, Minnesota.  Which he did and was offered a position in any division between St. Paul and the west coast.  He chose the Yellowstone Division and was given a pass to Glendive.  When he reported there he was immediately put on a train returning east to the Norwegian town of  Sims, North Dakota.  In 1913 Della with her mother (Mary Etta Deewall Kurtz)  and sister Lulu made the trip west to visit Della's two uncles (William Henry Deewall and Edward John Deewall) who lived near Coldwater, Kansas, then to travel to Dillon, Montana to visit Della's brother Oliver Kurtz.  The plan was for a trip through Yellowstone Park and for John and Della to marry.  They arrived in Dillon the first of August.  John took a leave of absence from his job in Sims, ND and arrived in Dillon a few days after they did.  I have always wondered if these were engagement pictures.

Della Kurtz

John F. Shaffner