Jacob Schaeffer (1812–1876) was a pioneering craftsman, businessman, and early undertaker in Henderson, whose work helped shape the town’s commercial and civic life in the mid-19th century.
Born in 1812, Schaeffer emigrated from Europe and settled in Henderson by the late 1840s. In 1848, he and his brother Theobald (Thiebant) Schaeffer established a cabinetmaking and furniture business. Their shop produced finely made household furniture and woodwork at a time when Henderson was rapidly growing. As was common in the era, the Schaeffers’ woodworking skills naturally extended into coffin making. By the early 1850’s, Jacob and Theobald were among Henderson’s first professional undertakers providing funeral furnishings and services long before the modern funeral home existed.
Jacob Schaeffer was also a respected property owner and businessman, contributing to Henderson’s early commercial development. He died in 1876 and is buried in St Louis Cemetery in Henderson.
