John J. Shaffer
Our present county auditor, Mr. John J. Shaffer, is a native of Washington county, but removed to Madison when only 12, and has been here ever since. He lived in Spring Hill, Fairfield township, a number of years. The death of his father when he was only 14, threw him upon his own resources and he was also required to assist his mother and the younger members of the family. He was, however, not afraid of work, and manfully engaged in arduous toil, following tile making and other hard labor. Notwithstanding his material situation in life, he found a way to gratify his ambition to obtain an education. He attended the London high school; spent three years at the Ohio Wesleyan University and one year in Kenyon College. He began teaching, and for ten years followed this avocation with signal success, becoming principal of the Newport schools. Interested always in politics, an ardent Republican, his party in 1905, saw in him the material for the county auditorship. He was nominated, and duly elected to the office that year. So satisfactory has been his administration of the duties of this responsible position, that he was the unanimous choice of his party for renomination.
All parties unite in the opinion that he is the right man for the place, and his re-election by an increased majority is certain.
Mr. Shaffer's characteristics are a refined manner, courteous response to all inquiries and a suggestion of those qualities that inspire all to regard him as a high type of man, as well as a most competent public officer.
From Madison Democrat 50th Anniversary - Published by the Madison Democrat, 1908