Passing the Century Mark

Passing the Century Mark

   by Perry Backus

John Shaffner says he doesn't feel like he's about to turn 100, "But I guess those charts don't lie".  The charts says Sept. 18, 1887, in Harrisburg, PA., the fourth child of six children.  His firm handshake, clear blue eyes and immaculate home don't give the visitor any idea this man has witnessed a century of events.  "I really didn't start to slow down until the last two years," he says, with a smile.  "I do tire a little bit easier now."  Shaffner is no stranger to hard work and it's that he claims has added years to his life.....
(I don't know which paper the interview is in--I suspect the Dillon Tribune)

The family hosted an open house for his birthday, at his home on Saturday, September 19th, 1987.

The napkin from the birthday party celebrating 100 years of life!

And then there were family pictures at Don & Helen Shaffner's:

John F. Shaffner

100 years old with sparkling blue eyes!

The oldest & the youngest

Grandpa Shaffner & Megan Shaffner

Sons, spouses and daughter-in law

Dean Shaffner, John F. Shaffner, Don Shaffner

Eloise Shaffner, Stella Shaffner Thomas, Helen Shaffner

Grandchildren

Bob, Geoffrey & John Shaffner

Sydney, Gail & Grandpa Shaffner & Donnee Stibal

The grandchildren & spouses

Leroy Gabel, Rene & Bob Shaffner, Carol & Geoffery Shaffner, Fred Stibal

Sydney Gabel, Gail Kuntz, Grandpa Shaffner, Donnee Stibal

Rick Kuntz, John Shaffner

The Great Grandchildren

Lori Stibal, Megan Shaffner, Greg Gabel, Grandpa Shaffner, Annie Gabel, Lynda Stibal

Josh & Luke Shaffner & Courtney Shaffner

Grand Nephews

Doug Shaffner, Grandpa Shaffner, Barry Sauer

Lynn Sauer, Grandpa Shaffner & Barry Sauer

First Cousins with Grandpa Shaffner

Lester Kurtz, Bob Latimer, Grandpa Shaffner, Bruce Kurtz

George Kurtz, Dean Shaffner, Freda Walker & Don Shaffner

First Cousins with Spouses

George & Thelma Kurtz, Dean & Eloise Shaffner, Don & Helen Shaffner, Stella & Jack Thomas

Bruce Kurtz, Jack & Freda Walker, Grandpa Shaffner, Ruth & Bob Latimer & Lester Kurtz

The Shaffner Family With Grandpa Shaffner

Sons, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren

In Memory of

Donnee Shaffner Stibal

Thank you Donnee for working with Grandpa to preserve our family history!

In Honor of my Grandfather's (John F. Shaffner) 128th birthday on September 18th, a few memories of his younger years.


John F. Shaffner was born 18 September 1887 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  His middle name was Fanoit or Fainot after his great great grandmother, Susanah Catherine Fainot.  John's parents were John Martin Shaffner (1855-1933) and Elizabeth Deborah Fletcher (1858-1899).  John and Elizabeth had 6 children, Willard Fletcher, Ettie Viola, Lida Lorene, John Fanoit, Bert Lawrence and Walter Ruskin.

Copy of Confirmation record

I am not sure if the picture is of Grandpa, but it does resemble him.

He was confirmed on 3 May 1904 at the Augsburg Lutheran Church of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

John F. Shaffner-Boys Brigade

Similar to Boy Scouts

John F. Shaffner 1904

John F. Shaffner--not dated

The wedding was planned before the trip through Yellowstone Park!

Della Kurtz and John F. Shaffner were married on 12 September 1913.

The original invitation (I have the envelope too)

Included in the invitation.

It has always amazed me how Grandpa Shaffner was able to keep all the memorabilia all the years of homesteading as well as moving into town.  

But family history was very important to him.

I have always thought these pictures could have been taken as "engagement pictures".

John & Della's marriage license from Beaverhead County, Montana

I found an article describing the wedding in the The Anaconda Standard paper of 14 September 1913.  (I copied it as it was written in the newspaper.)

A pretty wedding was solemnized this afternoon in the parlors of the manse when Miss Della Kurtz of Munsey, Pa., and John T. Schaffner of Simms, N. D., were united in marriage by the Rev. E. V. Ostrander.  The young couple were attended by Miss Lucy Kurtz and James Kurtz, brother and sister of the bride.  Following the ceremony the wedding party drove to the Oliver Kurtz house on the bench east of town, where a wedding dinner was served.  The young people will leave Tuesday for their home in Simms, N.D.where the groom is engaged as a telegrapher. 

(The Anaconda Standard, Sunday Morning, September 14, 1913, page 7)

John & Della Shaffner several years later

And I found more pictures of Yellowstone!  Between Grandpa's scrapbook & Donnee's scrapbooking; I keep locating more pictures.  It's great because I will finally get them in one file!

The wagons & horses of the Kurtz wagon trip to Yellowstone Park

Della Kurtz on the horse.  (wish I had the chaps)

I posted this picture before, but this one is labeled.

John F. Shaffner at Red Rock Lake, Montana

The stallion at the P & O.  

Grandpa wrote that he didn't get his hand away in time.

I have no idea what that means!

John F. Shaffner at Oliver Kurtz homestead

This maybe the only picture of the house at the homestead.

And they raised 6 boys in this house.

I thought I had ended the Yellowstone Park tour, but alas, thanks to Grandpa Shaffner's method of scrapbooking, I have discovered one last picture.  Or I think I have found the last picture!

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone  1913

Sandy, Jim, Della & Lulu. 

 I think Della is on the left of Lulu

Perhaps the man standing with suspenders is a soldier

Aren Sandy & Jim kneeling?

There were more parade entries over the years!

Bob Shaffner on Pal

I think this was a entry from Estella Shaffner

Lynda Stibal & Lori Stibal 

Looks like Bob again

Sydney & Gail were in the band too.  Who is this??

George Shaffner had  a surrey

Not sure who this is, but the parade went a different way than I remember!  Looks at the cars--vintage!

Bob--again

not sure, from Grandpa Shaffner's album

Bob

I saved the best for last!

Gail & Heidi 

And then...

there was this parade entry

Remember the sitcom "F Troop"?

Sydney & Jann thought they had a great parade entry

Dressed in Army green & combat boots & a mule's 1st trip to town......

We got lots of laughs & were pretty darn cute & clever....

Even had Dr. Don's dog in Army green shorts

who quit us before the parade started and ran home.  Not to fear 

Helen brought us the dog, who refused to ride in the chariot harnessed to a mule..

The parade entry had been kept a secret, the veterinary hospital large animal area was the painting room.

But there was one who disagreed....

Thank heavens for friends in high places....

Reputations were saved!

This year it is Dillon's 100th Year of Rodeo and Fair.  So in honor of the celebration, I looked for pictures! It was common for the Shaffner's to always enter the parade.  On horseback, walking for some other mode of transportation.  I do remember riding my trike in the Parade--what a long way to peddle!

I go fast!

My first parade on a horse was in 1956, aboard, Major, a Morgan stallion of my uncle's.  I don't remember much of the parade, but I do remember my mother being nervous.  I do remember riding him numerous times at my uncle's ranch on Rattlesnake, in order to be "ready".  Perhaps there are pictures, I just could find them!  Many of the pictures came from Grandpa Shaffner's photo album, with no names.  So, enjoy my collection!

Don Shaffner & Helen Lloyd were married on July 14, 1946.  So the 1946 rodeo, was the first for Helen Shaffner.

Helen & Don Shaffner, Rodeo 1946

Don Shaffner & Donnee Rea Shaffner 

Jim Kurtz

Don Shaffner

Estella Melton Shaffner on Pal

George Shaffner on Pal

Estella Shaffner

A clown act.  Look at the crowd.  I wonder if it is the same grandstand?

Not sure, but looks like a Forest Service logo on the pickup truck