James M. Shaffner (1850-1890) was born in Clark county, Illinois, and died in Dallas City, Illinois. He worked as a harnessmaker and married Irena E. Shaffner (b. Rice) in Clark, Missouri, in 1869. They lived in Dallas City before moving to Glenwood, Iowa, around 1878, and Shaffner joined the Masonic lodge there in 1882. He wrote to Mary Baker Eddy in 1886, asking for information about Christian Science and whether or not teachers and healers advertising in the area were legitimate. He moved back to Dallas City in 1890. Shaffner was a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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