Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-10-04

him most admirably for the Office. AS
matter of fact. il has often been as
serted. especially since the failure of
County Treasurer Cox to competently
discharge the duties. that the county
treasurer should be a man of some eX-
perience in the handling of values.
This. in fact. is the rule in many coun-
ties of the state. as it is in most cities,
including Rock Island and Moline.
4 Farmer boy.
Mr. Schafer is farmer boy, at that.
He was born on a farm in Zuma town
ship 55 years ago, and his early years
were spent upon the farm. From youth,
however, he suffered disability affect
ing the use Of one of his limbs. the consc-
quence of which was that by the time
he was IS his father. the elder John
Schafer. sent him to Port Byron to
learn mercantile life He entered a
store and worked hard, being employed
most of the time by the same man. w.
H. Devore, who in 1874 had formed
such an attachment for him and felt so
much confidence in him that he estab-
lished him in the business which he
had conducted. forming the firm of ST
monson & Schafer-the senior member
being Hon. J. w. Simonson-dealers in
general merchandise.
The two men who then linked their
fortunes are still associated in bust
ness in Port Byron today, the only
break in their commercial union occur
ring during the years that Mr.. Schafer
formerly served as county treasurer.
when he withdrew in order to devote
his entire time to his Office. He then
sold his interest TO Walter Barrett. 3
As County Treasurer.
This was in 1886, just 20 years ago.
and being elected county treasurer on
the democratic ticket that year he came
to Rock Island, feeling that while he
had secured the exceptional services of
H. e. Casteel as his deputy, and was in
every way one of the best men who
could be found in all the county for
the post, the people nevertheless had
elected him and were depending upon
him to give his personal attention to
the trust. This he did His record
speaks for itself Indeed. when the
time came for his retirement under the
law that prevents successive admins
tratiOns of the Office of county treas
uerer by the same incumbent, there
was much regret that his continuation
in the Office was not possible.
Returning TO Port Byron in 1890, Mr..
Schafer reentered mercantile life, the
firm of Simonson & Schafer being again
formed, and in 1898 the business was
disposed of to L. S. Pearsoll, and the
firm of Si:nonson & Schafer became en-
gagged in the banking business. Out of
this grew the Port Byron State bank.
of which Mr. Simonson is president and
Mr.. Schafer cashier.
Fine Field of Experience.
The country bank has given Mr.. Scha-H
fer an opportunity to enlarge his knowl-
edge of values and to develop his judy
ment and ability as a financier. with the
result that today he is the man exactly
the people would naturally pick for the
office of county treasurer if they were
going out to select the incumbent, poll
tics aside. and with the same spirit
that would apply if it were their private
affair. with considerations of fitness
and competency alone before them.
AS citizen, there is no man in the
upper end of the county. or in the coun-
ty generally, for that matter, more pop
ular than John Schafer He has served
his township as town clerk on many
occasions, and has been five times SUI
pervisor from Port Byron. being over
elected each time. despite
the fact that the township is republic
can.
Has Helped Many.
In personal as well as in business
way he has had an opportunity to do
many acts of kindness and friendship.
and he has never neglected the oppor-