Using the ABC method described in Using Artificial Intelligence In the Ancestor Biography Creation (ABC) Process, here is another ancestor biography using the Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.5 AI tool.
Genealogical Sketch of the Herman Schaffner (1851-1921) and Mary Ann Paul (1854-1908) Family of San Francisco.
3) The Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.5 biography (lightly edited for accuracy) is:
Herman Schaffner and Mary Ann Paul: A San Francisco Family Story
Herman Schaffner: From New York to the Golden Gate
Herman Schaffner was born in November 1851 in New York City, the only child of Friedrich Nicholas Schaffner (1829-1899) and Susanna Hoffman (1830-circa 1854), both of German extraction. His early childhood was marked by loss—his mother Susanna likely died when Herman was still a toddler, around 1854. His father Friedrich, an immigrant from what would become Germany, remarried around 1855 to Martha Matilda --?-- (last name unknown), a woman born in Ireland, giving young Herman a stepmother who would help raise him.
The Schaffner family was part of the great wave of mid-19th century immigration that transformed American cities. Friedrich worked to establish himself in the New World, and the family made a momentous decision when Herman was just a young boy: they would join the California Gold Rush era migration westward. By November 1856, before Herman turned five, the Schaffner family had traveled from New York to San Francisco, settling in the booming city by the bay. That same month, Friedrich and his family became naturalized citizens of the United States, cementing their commitment to their new homeland.
A Growing Family in San Francisco
Herman grew up in a bustling household with five half-siblings from his father's second marriage:
Matilda Schaffner (born October 1857), who married Lewellyn Augustus Bradford around 1876 and lived until June 24, 1928
Frederick N. Schaffner (born August 1862), who married Margaret Ann Ryan and died April 5, 1907
Louis Schaffner (born about 1864)
Charles Edwin Schaffner (born March 1867), who moved to Oregon, married Louise A. Webber, and died September 4, 1916 in Portland
Nellie Schaffner (born March 31, 1870), who married Norman Richardson Arter in May 1888 and died November 18, 1933
The 1870 census captured the family during Herman's teenage years. At eighteen, he was living with his father Fred (listed as age 45, born in Canada), his stepmother Matilda (age 35, born in Ireland), and his younger half-siblings. The family lived in San Francisco, where they were building their American dream during the city's remarkable growth following the Gold Rush.
Herman's childhood and adolescence coincided with one of the most dynamic periods in San Francisco's history. The transcontinental railroad had been completed in 1869, just as Herman entered young adulthood, connecting California to the rest of the nation and spurring unprecedented economic growth. The city was transforming from a rough-and-tumble frontier town into a sophisticated metropolis.
Tragedy struck the family again in January 1875 when Herman's stepmother Martha Matilda died in Oakland at the age of 38. His father Friedrich married for a third time to Dora Mossmann on April 20, 1876, though they had no children together.
Mary Ann Paul: A Child of Many Cities
Mary Ann Paul was born in November 1854 in Massachusetts, the eldest daughter of John Charles Paul (1824-1879, of Scottish parents) and Maria T. Beamish (1827-1909, of Irish parents) who married in 1852 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Her father John was a cooper -- a skilled craftsman who made barrels -- and had been born in Newfoundland, while her mother Maria hailed from Ireland. They had married in 1852 in New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, a prosperous whaling port and industrial center.
Mary Ann's childhood was marked by frequent moves, reflecting the restless mobility of 19th-century American life. Her family relocated from Massachusetts to Chicago, Illinois before her second birthday, and she appears in the 1860 census as a six-year-old attending school in Chicago's Ward 8. The household also included a young servant named Julia Taylor, herself from Newfoundland, suggesting the family maintained connections to John's birthplace.
A Family of Seven Children
Mary Ann was the oldest of seven children, bearing the responsibilities and joys of being the eldest:
Rebecca M. Paul (born November 1856 in Chicago), who married Charles Henry Small and died October 21, 1914
Robert Paul (born about 1859 in Chicago), who tragically died before age five, around 1864
Abbie C. Paul (born September 1861 in Chicago), who died at age 33 on November 11, 1894 in San Francisco
Robert Henry Paul (born about 1864 in Chicago), who died at age 38 on September 14, 1902 in Acapulco, Mexico
Thomas E. Paul (born December 1868 in San Francisco)
John Charles Paul (born about December 1868 in San Francisco), who died at age 20 on September 22, 1889
The Paul family made their final move westward before December 1868, joining the thousands of families seeking opportunity in California. The 1870 census found them in San Francisco's Ward 10, where John worked as a car conductor—likely for one of the city's growing streetcar lines. Fifteen-year-old Mary Ann was still attending school, as were her sisters Rebecca and Abbie. The family lived modestly but comfortably, with John reporting $450 in personal property.
Mary Ann's father John passed away in 1879, when she was just 25 years old. Her mother Maria would live for three more decades, becoming a cherished matriarch who would eventually live with Mary Ann's own young family.
A San Francisco Romance
Herman Schaffner and Mary Ann Paul married in about 1875 in San Francisco. Both children of immigrant parents, both transplants to the Golden Gate city, they found each other in the vibrant, diverse community that San Francisco had become. Herman was about 25 years old, Mary Ann about 22.
Herman established himself in the printing trades, working as a bookbinder—a skilled profession that required precision and craftsmanship. The couple settled into married life during a period of rapid growth for San Francisco, which was rebuilding and modernizing after the rough frontier days.
Three Sons and a Growing Household
Herman and Mary Ann welcomed three sons into their family:
Paul Frederick Schaffner (born August 1879), who married Edna Catherine McKnew on June 24, 1906 and had two children, living until May 29, 1934
Herman Schaffner Jr. (born June 1881), who married Henrietta Hollwegs on September 6, 1908 and had one child, passing away September 21, 1931
Frederick W. Schaffner (born March 15, 1889), who married Violet E. Savery around 1911 and had one child, living until October 30, 1952 in San Mateo
The 1880 census provides a touching snapshot of the extended family's closeness. The young Schaffner family—with baby Paul just nine months old—was living at 773 Acheson Street with Mary Ann's widowed mother Maria and several of Mary Ann's siblings. It was a full household of mutual support, with Mary Ann listed under her maiden name "Paul," perhaps because the census taker recorded her alongside her mother's family. Herman, now 28, continued his work as a bookbinder while the multigenerational family helped raise the new baby.
By 1900, the family had moved to 1014 Castro Street. Herman, now 48, had risen significantly in his career. No longer a bookbinder, he was listed as "Grand Secretary"—reflecting his important position with the Knights of Pythias, a prominent fraternal organization. The couple had been married for 25 years, and all three of their sons were living at home. Paul, age 21, and Herman Jr., age 18, were both working as stenographers—skilled office positions that reflected the family's solid middle-class status. Young Freddie, age 12, was still in school.
On April 18, 1906, the great San Francisco earthquake shook every house in San Francisco and caused damage or destruction. On Castro Street, the Schaffner house had internal damage and did not suffer from the fires that burned south to Market Street.
Heartbreak and Community Leadership
The early years of the new century brought both professional success and profound personal loss to the Schaffner family. Mary Ann (Paul) Schaffner died on February 16, 1908, at the age of 53, leaving behind her devoted husband and three sons. Her death notice in the San Francisco Call described her as the "idolized wife of Herman Schaffner" and "loving mother" to Paul, Herman Jr., and Fred.
The funeral took place on February 19, 1908, from the family residence at 1014 Castro Street. In keeping with the customs of the time, mourners gathered at the home before accompanying Mary Ann on her final journey. The funeral party traveled by electric funeral car from Thirtieth Street and San Jose Avenue to Woodlawn Cemetery (now Woodlawn Memorial Park) in Colma, where Mary Ann was laid to rest. The burial in Colma reflected a practical reality of early 20th-century San Francisco -- the city had banned new burials within city limits, leading to the development of the famous "City of the Silent" in nearby Colma.
Herman's Later Years and Fraternal Dedication
By the 1910 census, Herman was living as a widower at 1134 Castro Street with his son Paul, daughter-in-law Edna, unmarried son Frederick, and his one-year-old granddaughter Muriel. At 58, Herman's position had evolved -- he was now listed as a secretary working for a fraternal organization, the Knights of Pythias. He owned his home free and clear of any mortgage, a sign of financial stability and success.
Herman's dedication to the Knights of Pythias defined much of his adult life. He served as Grand Keeper of Records and Seals for the Domain of California for an impressive 35 years, a position he assumed in around 1886. He rose through the ranks to become Past Grand Chancellor and even achieved the position of Past Imperial Prince of the Dramatic Order of Knights of Khorasan, a side degree of the Pythian order known for its theatrical ritual work.
Herman remarried twice after Mary Ann's death. On February 29, 1912—a leap year day—he married Mary Jane McWhirter. Sadly, this marriage was brief; Mary Jane died on December 20, 1912, at age 59, less than ten months after their wedding. Herman married for a third time on August 30, 1916, to Fredericka Hartman, a San Francisco native born around 1858. This marriage brought him companionship in his final years.
A Legacy Remembered
Herman Schaffner died on December 8, 1921, at the age of 71, following a short illness of about four months. His obituaries reflected the high esteem in which he was held by the Pythian community and San Francisco society. The San Francisco Chronicle noted he had been elected to his position with the Knights of Pythias 35 years earlier and described him as "one of the most prominent Knights of Pythias in the United States."
Funeral services were held at the Druids Temple at 44 Page Street under the auspices of the Grand Lodge, Knights of Pythias—a fitting tribute to a man who had devoted so much of his life to fraternal service. Herman was laid to rest beside his beloved first wife Mary Ann in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Colma.
At the time of his death, Herman was survived by his widow Fredericka and his three sons: Fred W. Schaffner, who worked as a teller at the Humboldt Savings Bank, Herman Schaffner Jr. who was a salesman, and Paul F. Schaffner, who had become manager of the Valvoline Company in San Francisco. The sons had built successful careers and established their own families, carrying forward the Schaffner name in California.
Reflections on a San Francisco Family
The story of Herman Schaffner and Mary Ann Paul is, in many ways, the story of San Francisco itself. Both came from immigrant families -- his from Germany via New York, hers with roots in Ireland through Newfoundland, Massachusetts and Chicago. They met and married in a city that was barely a generation removed from the Gold Rush, a place where people from around the world came to reinvent themselves and build new lives.
Herman's journey from bookbinder to one of the most prominent fraternal leaders in California speaks to the opportunities available in this dynamic city. His 35-year tenure as Grand Keeper of Records and Seals demonstrated dedication, trustworthiness, and leadership—qualities that earned him respect throughout the state.
Mary Ann, as the eldest daughter of immigrants, likely carried the weight of family responsibility from a young age, helping to raise her younger siblings and managing the household as they moved from coast to coast. She created a warm, stable home for Herman and their three sons, maintaining close ties with her mother Maria and her siblings. Her death at 53 robbed her of the chance to see her sons marry and to know her grandchildren, but the loving descriptions in her obituary suggest she left an indelible mark on all who knew her.
Their three sons—Paul, Herman Jr., and Frederick—all established themselves as productive citizens of San Francisco, working in business and banking, marrying and having children of their own. The Schaffner family's journey from New York to California, spanning three generations by Herman's death in 1921, exemplifies the American immigrant experience: hard work, community involvement, family devotion, and ultimately, success and respect in their adopted homeland.
Today, Herman and Mary Ann rest together in Colma, the vast necropolis south of San Francisco where so many of the city's early residents found their final resting place. Their legacy lives on in the descendants who followed them—a testament to two lives well-lived in the City by the Bay.
Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page. Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.
Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver
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