George A. Schaeffer
Squire George A. Schaeffer, of Marion Avenue (Mansfield), is probably the only person in the city who had the pleasure of listening to Abraham Lincoln when he delivered his famous Gettysburg address. Mr. Schaeffer stood within twenty feet of Lincoln at the time and distinctly heard every word of that famous speech. Mr. Schaeffer at that time was employed at Hanover, a little town 15 miles from Gettysburg. in company with thousands of others, he traveled to Gettysburg on that famous day. The train was stopped a mile from the city, being unable to proceed farther because of the press of trains and people. The people first visited the cemetery and then listened while Lincoln delivered his famous speech. Lincoln had a manuscript copy of his speech in his hand, he having written it while enroute on the train from Washington. After the address Lincoln and Gov. Curtin held a public reception, Mr. Schaeffer being one of the thousands who shook hands with Lincoln at that time. Mr. Schaeffer remembers of Lincoln kissing every baby which was brought to him and saying "God bless the children". Lincoln rode on an old plug horse while Gen. Meade, who commanded the Union forces at the battle of Gettysburg was seated on a magnificent charger. Despite the disparity in the size of the horses, Lincoln towered above Meade. Mr. Schaeffer himself had a narrow escape from death, only a few days before the battle of Gettysburg. In the preliminary skirmishes, at Hanover, several wounded men were brought into his store. he started out to secure a doctor and just as he opened the door of the store, on returning, three bullets buried themselves in the wood at his side.
From The Mansfield Daily Shield, February 13, 1909