| 1839 | Born, August 16, in Braunschweig, Germany. |
| c. 1860 | Married Sophia Braun (1838-1924). |
| 1867 | Son Otto M. Schafer (1867-1911) born. |
| 1876 | Moved to U.S. and settled in California. First San Francisco auction of paintings (October). |
| 1877 | First (known) Yosemite Valley painting by the artist. |
| 1879 | Exhibited 4 paintings at 14th San Francisco Mechanics fair (August). There is a legend of an overland trip to the east coast, probably to meet his wife and son, who arrived in the U.S. that year, and escort them to San Francisco. A painting of Donner Lake, dated 1879, supports the legend. The first time he is listed as a resident in a local directory is in 1880 in Oakland, which is consistent with this legend. |
| 1880 | Exhibited 1 painting at San Francisco Art Association Spring exhibition(March). Exhibited 4 paintings at 15th San Francisco Mechanics fair (August). |
| 1881 | Auction of paintings in San Francisco (October). |
| 1882 | Exhibited 2 paintings at 17th San Francisco Mechanics fair (August). Auctions of paintings in San Francisco (July, August, September). Daughter Eda Schafer Hughes Freitas (1882-1935) born. |
| 1883 | Exhibited 11 paintings at 18th San Francisco Mechanics Fair (August). Auction of paintings in San Francisco (November). From titles of paintings, probably traveled to Washington state sometime before. |
| 1884 | Naturalized as a U.S. citizen. Probably traveled by railroad from San Francisco to Portland and then along the Columbia River during the summer, and may also have visited Salt Lake City. Exhibited 30 paintings at 19th San Francisco Mechanics Fair (September). Auctions of paintings in San Francisco (September and November). |
| 1885 | Travel to Portland, Oregon, exhibited one painting at Mechanics Fair, Portland (October). An (1891) newspaper account suggests he also visited Victoria, British Columbia sometime this year. Auction of paintings in San Francisco (November/December). |
| 1886 | Travel to Los Angeles (late January) to paint and sell paintings at auction. Travel to Salt Lake City (May). Travel to Portland, Oregon, exhibited one painting at Mechanics Fair, Portland (October). |
| 1887 | Date on painting implies travel to Victoria, British Columbia. Auction of paintings in San Francisco (November). |
| 1889 | Dates on paintings imply travel to Idaho, Alaska, and Colorado. |
| 1890 | Travel to Portland, Oregon (September) and exhibit at Mechanics Exhibition. Travel to Ogden, Utah (November). |
| 1891 | Travel to Vancouver, British Columbia, with auction of paintings there (September). Travel to Salt Lake City with sale of paintings (December). |
| 1894 | Exhibited two paintings at California State Agricultural Fair, Sacramento. |
| 1896 | Completion of murals in Masonic Temple, Alameda, California (April). |
| 1906 | Grandson Frederick O. Hughes, born, Oakland, California. |
| 1911 | Last verified dated painting. |
| 1924 | Wife Sophia Braun Schafer died, June 30, at age 85 years, in Oakland, California, June 30. |
| 1927 | Died, July 18, at age of 87 years, in Oakland, California. |