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Subject: [IOWA] 1903 Bio of Charles A. Schaffer
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2003 09:08:10 EST
CHARLES A. SCHAFFER, late president of the State University, was born August
14, 1843, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His early education was thorough and
he was fitted for college at the Germantown Academy. His progress was so rapid
that he was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1861, at the age
of eighteen. He then began the study of medicine, entering a pharmacy and
beginning a laboratory course in Philadelphia which was continued at Cambridge,
Massachusetts. In 1862 he became private secretary to his uncle, General
Herman Haupt, then stationed in Virginia. The following year he enlisted in
Landis' Philadelphia Light Brigade and in a skirmish at Carlisle distinguished
himself for gallant conduct. In 1863 he entered the Lawrence Scientific School at
Harvard, remaining two years. From there Mr. Schaffer went to Union College
at Schenectady, New York, as instructor in chemistry. In 1867 he went abroad
for advanced study in chemistry and for two years was a student at Gottingen,
where in 1868 he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. During the
following year he studied metallurgy at the Berlin School of Mines and completed
his foreign studies by a course of six months in Paris. While studying there
he was elected to the chair of analytical chemistry and mineralogy at Cornell
University, at the time being but twenty-six years of age. There he remained
nineteen years, and during the absence of the president, Andrew D. White, was
usually called to act in his absence. During his last year at Cornell Dr.
Schaffer was dean of the faculty. He was inaugurated president of the Iowa State
University, in June, 1887, and entering upon the work he voluntarily took upon
himself instruction in chemistry of the medical and dental students with
lectures on medical jurisprudence. Dr. Schaffer worked untiringly for a large
endowment for the University throughout the State and before the Legislature. He
was not a brilliant public speaker and "his strongest point was his
remarkable executive ability," says Henry Sabin. During his residence in the State he
was an earnest worker for the upbuilding of Iowa City, the home of the
University. He stood high in the councils of the Episcopal Church and was a trustee
of Griswold College and St. Katherine's Hall, Davenport. President Schaffer
died in the midst of his great usefulness at Iowa City, September 13, 1898.
Debbie Clough Gerischer
Iowa Gen Web, Assistant CC, Scott County
http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/
IAGENWEB: Special History Project:
http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm
Gerischer Family Web Site:
http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/
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