Johnny and his older brothers were too young to enlist. Their father, Rev. Israel Shaffer was a farmer and circuit preacher with the United Brethren Church and didn’t see service. Still, the family knew its share of tragedy. Rev. Shaffer’s brother, Ephraim, was killed in Atlanta. Another, Cyrus, lost his life in Nashville. A third, Alfred, was killed at Memphis. His brother Cornelius was wounded and would suffer with health problems for years before his death in 1869.
General Lee surrendered April 9, 1865, and the war was more or less over. The Shaffers and the rest of West Union looked forward to a return to their normal lives. One week after the surrender, Rev. Shaffer and little Johnny were riding into town when a stagecoach came roaring past them. As soon as the coach passed their cart, one of its horses dropped from exhaustion. Rev. Shaffer pulled on his reins, expecting to stop and ask how he could help. Before he could get down from his rig, two men jumped off the coach, cut loose the lame horse, and continued the furious gallop into town.
When the Shaffers arrived in West Union they discovered what had caused the rush. The stagecoach carried news from Washington, D.C. – Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated.
Johnny and his father were among those on the city square as the news was read. As the president’s death was announced, a man cheered. His cheers were not echoed. Instead, the people gave him a choice: Leave town immediately, or suffer an unknown fate. He chose the former.
