John Wilson Shaffer (July 5, 1827 – October 31, 1870) was an American politician and businessman who served as the 7th Governor of Utah Territory.
Biography
Born in
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, Shaffer was active in Republican politics in
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
. In 1849, Shaffer settled in
Freeport, Illinois and was involved in the mercantile business. Then, in 1856, he was elected sheriff of
Stephenson County, Illinois. He was elected clerk and recorder for the Illinois Circuit Court for Stephenson County. Shaffer served in the
15th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 15th Illinois Infantry Regimenty was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Service
The 15th Illinois Infantry Volunteer Regiment was raised under the 10 Regiment Act. The 15th Illinois Infantry was ...
during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
and later served as quartermaster; being
brevetted brigadier general when the war ended. He was appointed governor of the territory of
Utah
Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...
by President
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant ; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was an American military officer and politician who served as the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877. As Commanding General, he led the Union Ar ...
. He was known for his strict opposition of any hint of rebellion against the federal government, which led to concerns with the Mormon population. He died suddenly during his first year as governor.
[Thomas Mears Eddy, ed. ''The Patriotism of Illinois. A Record of the Civil and Military History of the State in the War for the Union'', vol. 2 (Chicago: Clark & Company Publishers, 1866), 353-56, "Colonel John Wilson Shaffer."]
Notes
Further reading
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shaffer, John Wilson
1827 births
1870 deaths
People from Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
People from Freeport, Illinois
Businesspeople from Illinois
People of Illinois in the American Civil War
Illinois Republicans
Illinois sheriffs
Governors of Utah Territory
Utah Republicans
19th-century American politicians
Union Army colonels
19th-century American businesspeople
Military personnel from Pennsylvania