History

William F. Shafer was born in rural Waukon, Iowa. He was in Company D of the 139 Infantry AEF and fought in the trenches of France in WWI where he was wounded in the Meuse-Argonne Battle. After the war, he held positions as Auditor and Clerk of Court at the Allamakee County Courthouse. William was a self-taught lawyer, being admitted to the Iowa Bar October 6, 1927.  Throughout his career, he practiced with Herman Haehlen in Waukon and was later joined by his son John. William served as the Allamakee County Attorney from 1935-1936 and 1949-1950.

John W. Shafer was born in Waukon, Iowa. He was a 1947 graduate of Waukon High School and attended the University of Iowa where he graduated from the College of Commerce. His time in Iowa City was disrupted for service in the US Air Force from 1951-1954. After the military, John obtained his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1958. He returned from Iowa City to practice with his father and in later years practiced with Lynn W. Morrow.  From 1961-1974, John served as the Allamakee County Attorney.