Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1906-01-22
DEATH OF GEORGE h. SHAFER
CHIEF CLERK IN LAND OFFICE
PASSES AWAY.
A Man of Inestimable Value to
The State Well Informed
on Matters of Histo-
ric Interest.
THE REMAINS ARE TAKEN TO
HAGERSTOWN.

fer, chief clerk in the Land Office, had
died during the hour before midnight
Saturday came as a shock to his many
friends yesterday morning. Mr. Sha-
fer has been in failing health for
some months, but never gave up until
a few weeks ago. Indeed about Christ
mas time he had visitors and received
them cordially and cheerfully. AL
though confined to his room he attend
ed to his office business up to a week
ago, when at last he was forced to
succumb. The spirit was still willing
but the flesh was weak. Mr.. Shafer
had been afflicted with Bright's dis
ease, which resulted in cirrhosis of
the liver, which caused his death.
George Ii. Shafer was born near
Hagerstown. Washington county, Md. +,
and was educated in ST. James Col
lege, that county. He came to An
napolis in 1867 as clerk in the office of
the Commissioners of the Land Office,
and has retained his position in that
office ever since, under the various
commissioners of the Land Office and
under both political parties. The
Land Office is the depository of almost
all the old colonial records of the
State, also the Chaueery Records, ab.
stracts of deeds and mortgages, etc. !,
since the original settlems INT of Mary
land. Mr.. Skaters long continued
familiarity With these voluminous rec
ords, documents. surveys, maps, land
patents, ETC., was invaluble to the
State and to the members of the bar
in tracing up titles aud settling con-
troversies as to land boundaries, aud
he was frequently called upon to as
sist as an expert in such controversies
and to testify as to what the records
disclosed on the subject. These calls
came from all parts of the State, for
all land titles in Maryland go back to
the records contained in that office.
aud many of them can only be traced
through the proceedings CT the old
Chancery Court, which are preserved
and recorded there.
Mr.. Shafer found the old records in
great confusion when he first entered
the office. By his care, system and
skill in arranging them the office and
its contents have been for many years
a model of neatness and accessibility.
Many of the old records he found in a
state of dilapidation, some of them
falling to pieces and crumbling away.
These he reoopied with great care
ana much patience, being obliged to
use microscope to deoipher the writ
ing, which time had dimmed. He had
boxes and drawers made for the old
records to avoid much handling. ii is
services TO the State have been inval-
liable in this as In other ways.
Mr.. Shafer was an excellent musi-
clan and fine performer upon the
flute. He took interest also in vocal
music and was at one time in charge
as choirmaster of st. Anne's choir,
in the early days of the boys choir
there. He also was leader of the male
chorus class at one time in Annapolis
and leader of the Choral Society an i
a member of other musical societies
the music at the unveiling of the
deKalb statue OH State House Hill,
and led the chorus on that occasion.
The "Glory to God" sung at Christ
mas at st. Anne's Church was written
by personal friend of Mr.. Shafer's,
who took his theme from Kreutzer' S
Sonata of Beethoven.
Years ago when Pinafore was given
at the Naval Academy. Mr.. Shafer
was the musical director, and the
great success CT that occasion was at
tributed largely to his efforts At
one time he conducted an amateur
orchestra in Annapolis. He was q
member of the Maryland Historical
Society. When Governor Warfield
selected the commission To- restore the
old Senate Chamber at the State
House to the exact condition in
which it was when Congress met
there during the Revolution, he ap-
pointed Mr.. Shafer as one of the
commissioners in recognition of his
knowledge of the subject and his
skill as an antiquarian. Mr.. Shafer S
name appears on the bronze tablet re-
lating to that restoration, and recent
ly placed in the Senate Chamber.
No man was better informed in
facts pertaining to State history than
Mr.. Shafer. When the des ign for the
silver service to be presented by the
State of Maryland to the cruiser
Maryland was made by Kirk in Bal
timore, an accurate copy of the coat
of arms of Maryland was wan ted.
The Baltimore siIversmith sent his
representative for the purpo Sc to the
Secretary of State who, in turn, took
the gentleman to Mr.. Shafer, where
an exact copy of the Maryland coat
of arms in all details was found and
reproduced in the silver to be present.
ed the Maryland. Mr.. Shafer also
had preserved a. .pi zee of the original
cornice in the old Senate Chamber,
and from his relic a copy for the new
cornice was made in the recent res
toration. He had a genial, kindly
nature, and large number of friends
throughout sthe State, by whom mis-
loss will be deeply felt and sincerely
depIored. He was generous and charit.
able to fault and there never was q
kinder heart or more willing hand tc
help friend than his. People seem
ed to turn to him naturally when in
distress, even those who were not init.
mate with him, for they seemed tC
feel instinctively that it gave him
satisfaction TO help others, and they
would always meet with a kind re-
sponse from him.
When death came to the families OF
his friends he was the one sent foI
always. His very presence was coM.
fort and consolation in those times
and it threw a strong light on hil
cL aracter His death is a calamity
to the State, which be served 81
faithfully for almost two score years
and his loss is deeply deplored by q
host of friends who regar led him
most highly.