Morris Schaff
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Morris Schaff (1840 - 1929), a native of Etna Township, Ohio, authored several historical books relating to U.S. Civil War history and the history of Etna / Kirkersville, Ohio in Licking County, Ohio.[1]
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[edit] Early life
Schaff was born on December 28th, 1840 to John Schaff and Charlotte Hartzell Schaff on a farm in Etna Township, Ohio. Schaff resided in Kirkersville, Ohio between 1849 and 1858 when he was appointed by Congressman Samuel S. Cox to attend West Point Military Academy. He graduated from West Point in June 1862 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Ordinance. Schaff excelled in academics and developed excellent military skills while at West Point.[1]
[edit] Military career
Schaff served in multiple battles / campaigns during the U.S. Civil War, including the Rappahannock Campaign and the Richmond Campaign. He served under several well-known U.S. generals during the Civil War; Major General Warren, General Hooker, General Meade, and General Grant. His war time experiences greatly influenced the authorship of his 20th century books and articles. Schaff resigned from the Army on December 31st, 1871. He later became known as General Schaff because he was appointed Brigadier General of the Massachusetts Militia in 1880.
[edit] Books and Publications
Schaff embarked on a writing career late in his life, staring with this publication of his first book in 1905. Schaff's books include the following: Etna and Kirkersville (Boston : Houghton, Mifflin and Co. ; Cambridge, MA : Riverside Press, 1905); The Spirit of Old West Point 1858-1862 (Boston, New York, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1907); Sunset of the Confederacy (Boston, J.W. Luce and Company 1912); Battle of the Wilderness (Boston, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1910); and Jefferson Davis: His Life and Personality (Boston, J.W. Luce and Company, 1922).
[edit] Later life
After marrying Alice Page Schaff in 1868 and moving to MA, he became Superintendent of the Berkshire Glass Works for 11 years. Another 26 years was spent as a public service with the State Gas and Electric Light Commission of Massachusetts. Morris Schaff died in Southboro, MA, on October 19, 1929.1
