After developing the AI-assisted ABC Biography of Elijah Pickrell McKnew (1836-1912) and Jane (Whittle) McKnew (1847-1921) Family of San Francisco, California, I wondered what life was like for Edna Catherine McKnew at age 13 in San Francisco, California.
I asked Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.5 and here is the story about Edna McKnew's life in 1897 at age 13:
Edna McKnew at Age 13: Life in 1897 San Francisco
The Bustling McKnew Household
In 1897, thirteen-year-old Edna Catherine McKnew lived in one of the liveliest households in San Francisco's Castro District. At 4131 19th Street, the McKnew home was filled with constant activity, though the family dynamic was changing as older siblings married and established their own homes.
By 1897, Edna's five oldest siblings had already married and started their own families, all but one living in San Francisco. Allethia Jane (30) had married John William Runnels in 1887 and had been married for ten years. Alfred Rodney (28) had married Alice G. McCann in 1889, and lived in Sonora in Tuolumne County. Henry Lee (27) had married Anna Marie Goff around 1892. Alice Louise (25) had married Phineas Durkee Hayes around 1895. Lilly M. married George Olsen in 1895. These marriages meant that Edna had nieces and nephews to visit and dote upon, and the extended family gatherings were even larger and more festive than before.
Still living at home with Edna were her siblings George Morgan (18), Belle Alberta (15), May Jane (11), Leland Joseph (8), and little Gladys Hazel (5). This meant six children still under the family roof-- still a substantial household, but more manageable than when all eleven children were young.
Her father, Elijah Pickrell McKnew, at 61 years old, was working as an oysterman in San Francisco during these years. This was hard, skilled work that connected the family to San Francisco's thriving waterfront and seafood industry. The city's location on the bay made it a natural center for oyster harvesting and sales, and oystermen supplied the restaurants, markets, and households throughout the city with fresh oysters -- a delicacy enjoyed by both wealthy and working-class San Franciscans alike.
Her mother, Jane Whittle McKnew, at 50, managed the household with help from her older daughters still at home. Jane's own story was remarkable -- born in Australia to English parents, she had immigrated to America as a young child in 1850 and had been a California resident through the Gold Rush era, the Civil War, and the rapid transformation of San Francisco from a frontier town into a major American city. Now she was not only a mother but a grandmother, with her married children bringing their babies to visit at 19th Street. As the wife of an oysterman, she likely knew how to prepare oysters in various ways -- raw, stewed, fried, in chowders -- skills she would have passed on to her daughters.
Education and Learning
At thirteen, Edna would have been attending school in San Francisco, likely at one of the local public schools in the Castro District. The 1900 census confirms that she could read, write, and speak English fluently -- skills that were carefully cultivated in the McKnew household despite its size. Her younger siblings Leland and Gladys are specifically noted as "at school" in the 1900 census, indicating that the McKnew parents prioritized education for all their children.
By 1897, San Francisco had established a solid public school system, and girls like Edna typically attended through the eighth grade. She would have studied reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, history, and penmanship. For young women of her era, education also included domestic skills -- sewing, cooking, and household management -- which were considered essential for their future roles as wives and mothers.
The McKnew children's literacy and education set them apart. In an era when many working-class families kept children home to work, the McKnews ensured all eleven children received schooling even though Elijah's work as an oysterman meant the family had to carefully manage their resources. This investment had already paid off for the older siblings, who had made good marriages, and it would continue for the younger ones. By 1900, just three years later, sixteen-year-old Edna had already entered the skilled trade of millinery (hat-making), a profession that required both artistic ability and manual dexterity.
The success of her older siblings provided Edna with role models and proof that education and hard work led to respectable positions in society. She could see her sisters managing their own households and her brothers establishing careers, giving her a vision of what her own future might hold.
Daily Chores and Responsibilities
In a household of eight people (six children plus two parents), everyone had responsibilities. For Edna, positioned as now the oldest daughter still at home of school age, daily chores would have been substantial and varied. With her five oldest siblings married and gone, Edna, along with her 15-year-old sister Belle, would have taken on more significant household responsibilities.
Morning duties likely included helping prepare breakfast for the family -- a major undertaking that might involve stoking the wood-burning stove, preparing oatmeal or porridge, frying eggs and bacon, making coffee, and setting the family table. She would have helped her mother and Belle with these tasks, learning the routines that kept the household functioning smoothly. When her father brought home oysters, breakfast might occasionally include fresh oysters prepared in various ways -- a treat that connected the family directly to Elijah's work.
Laundry was an all-day affair in the 1890s, typically done on Mondays. Without modern washing machines, clothes were scrubbed by hand on washboards, boiled in large pots, wrung out, hung to dry, and later ironed with heavy flat irons heated on the stove. Even with "only" six children at home, laundry day would have required all available hands. Edna would have been expected to help wash, wring, hang, and iron clothes -- exhausting work that built strong arms and considerable endurance. Her father's work clothes from the oyster beds would have required special attention, as they would carry the smell of the sea and the grit of his labor.
Cleaning was endless. Carpets were beaten outdoors or swept with carpet sweepers. Floors were swept and mopped. Wood furniture was dusted and polished. Windows were washed. Chamber pots were emptied and cleaned (indoor plumbing was still not universal in 1897, though the McKnews likely had it by this time given their stable middle-class status). With so many people tracking in dirt from San Francisco's unpaved or poorly paved streets, keeping the house clean was a constant battle.
Meal preparation happened three times daily. Dinner (the midday meal) and supper (the evening meal) both required extensive preparation. Vegetables needed washing and peeling. Bread was often baked at home. Chickens might need to be plucked and dressed. Edna would have learned to prepare soups, stews, roasts, vegetables, and desserts—skills passed down from her mother and older sisters.
With her father working as an oysterman, the family likely ate oysters more frequently than many San Francisco families, as Elijah could bring home fresh oysters from his work. Edna would have learned the many ways to prepare them: raw on the half shell with lemon, fried in butter, added to stews and chowders, scalloped in the oven with cream and breadcrumbs, or prepared in oyster loaf. These skills were valuable—knowing how to prepare seafood well was an important part of San Francisco cooking, and Edna's familiarity with oysters would have been useful throughout her life.
When her married sisters visited with their families, meals became even more elaborate, and Edna would have helped prepare for these larger gatherings. Fresh oysters might be served as a special treat for visiting family members.
Mending and sewing were essential tasks. Clothes were expensive and worn until they literally fell apart. Edna would have spent hours darning socks, patching knees in boys' trousers, letting down hems as children grew, and taking in or letting out garments to fit different family members. These skills with needle and thread would serve her well when she later became a milliner.
Childcare was another significant responsibility. At thirteen, Edna would have been expected to help supervise and care for her younger siblings—May (11), Leland (8), and Gladys (5). This might include helping them dress, braiding hair, wiping faces, breaking up squabbles, reading stories, and keeping them out of trouble while the adults managed other household tasks.
Life as an Oysterman's Daughter
Elijah McKnew's work as an oysterman connected the family to San Francisco's vibrant waterfront culture. The city's oyster industry was significant in the 1890s, with oyster beds in the bay and oyster houses throughout the city. Oystermen had to know the tides, understand where the best oysters could be harvested, and have the physical strength to work in cold water and handle heavy loads.
The work was seasonal and could be affected by weather, tides, and the health of the oyster beds. This meant that family income might fluctuate, requiring careful household management. Jane McKnew would have been expert at stretching resources, making do, and ensuring the family was fed and clothed even during leaner times. These lessons in frugality and resourcefulness would have been passed on to Edna and her siblings.
Elijah's work likely meant early mornings and long days. He would have left the house before dawn to catch the tides and returned tired from physical labor. The family would have structured their day around his schedule, with hot meals ready when he came home and an understanding that his rest was important. For Edna, seeing her father work hard to support the family would have instilled a strong work ethic and appreciation for the labor that put food on the table.
The waterfront world her father inhabited was rough, male-dominated, and sometimes dangerous. Oystermen worked in cold water, dealt with sharp shells that could cause serious cuts, and faced the risks of working on or near the water. The fact that Elijah was still working this physically demanding job at age 61 speaks to both his physical strength and the economic necessity of continuing to support a large family even in what would have been considered later years for such hard labor.
Entertainment and Leisure
Despite the heavy workload, life wasn't all chores. The McKnews appear to have been a close, loving family, and they would have found time for enjoyment and recreation. With four married siblings living nearby in San Francisco, family gatherings and visits were frequent and joyful occasions.
Family visits were among the greatest pleasures. Edna's married brother and sisters would bring their children to visit grandmother Jane at 19th Street, and these visits filled the house with the sounds of babies crying, toddlers playing, and women sharing stories about marriage, housekeeping, and childrearing. For Edna, these visits were both entertaining and educational -- she could hold her nieces and nephews, learn from her sisters' experiences, and see what married life looked like. The married siblings might also host family gatherings at their own homes, giving Edna opportunities to see different neighborhoods of San Francisco and experience different households.
Sunday gatherings were particularly special. After church, the extended McKnew family might gather at one home or another for Sunday dinner. Imagine the scene: four married couples with their children, plus the six siblings still at home, plus the parents -- easily twenty or more people around a table or spread throughout a house. These gatherings would have been filled with conversation, laughter, children playing, and the sharing of news and gossip. Sunday dinner might feature a special oyster dish prepared by Jane or one of the daughters, showcasing Elijah's catch and his contribution to the family feast. For Edna, these occasions meant time with sisters she might have missed since they married, as well as the fun of being an aunt to her nieces and nephews.
Family time at home was precious and built around the rhythm of daily life. Meals brought everyone together to share food, stories, and news. Elijah might share stories from the waterfront -- tales of other oystermen, unusual catches, changes in the bay, or incidents from his workday. Evenings might find the family gathered in the parlor, with older siblings reading aloud, younger children playing with simple toys or games, and parents relaxing after long days. The family might sing together -- many households had someone who could play piano or another instrument, and singing was a popular form of home entertainment.
Sundays remained special even beyond the family gatherings. The family likely attended church together, dressed in their best clothes. Sunday was Elijah's day of rest from the physically demanding work of oystering, and he could spend the day with his family. Sunday afternoons might be spent visiting friends and relatives, taking walks, or simply resting. Sunday dinner was typically the finest meal of the week.
Parks and outdoors: San Francisco in the 1890s was developing its park system. Golden Gate Park, though still being developed, offered walking paths, meadows, and gardens. Mission Dolores Park was closer to the Castro District. On nice days, the family might pack a picnic and spend an afternoon outdoors. Edna might accompany her married sisters and help mind the children while they played. Young people would play games -- girls might play jump rope, jacks, or hopscotch, while boys played marbles or baseball.
Living in a family connected to the waterfront, the McKnews might also have spent time near the bay, watching ships come and go, observing the maritime life of the city, and enjoying the constant activity of San Francisco's working harbor.
Reading was a major source of entertainment. Public libraries were expanding, and many middle-class homes subscribed to magazines and newspapers. Edna might have read popular girls' magazines of the era, serialized stories in newspapers, or books borrowed from friends or the library. Popular literature for young people included adventure stories, moral tales, and serialized romances. Her older, married sisters might pass along magazines and books they had finished, creating a lending library within the family.
Needlework and crafts: When her hands weren't busy with chores, Edna might have worked on decorative needlework -- embroidery, tatting, or crocheting. Young women often created items for their "hope chests" -- collections of linens, quilts, and household items they would use when they married. This work was both practical and creative, allowing for artistic expression within acceptable feminine pursuits. Edna's married sisters could show her what items had proven most useful in their own homes, guiding her preparations for her own future household.
Social activities: As she grew into her teenage years, Edna would have begun participating in social activities with friends and neighbors. This might include attending church socials, ice cream socials, or community gatherings. Proper young ladies of the era were carefully chaperoned, but there were approved ways to socialize -- group outings, church events, and visits between families. Sometimes her married sisters might include her in their own social circles, introducing her to other young married women and their families.
Holidays and celebrations were major events, now celebrated across multiple households. Christmas would have brought the entire extended family together, with decorations, special meals, homemade gifts, and church services. The children of Edna's married siblings would have made Christmas even more magical, with their excitement over simple toys and treats. The Fourth of July brought fireworks and patriotic celebrations. Birthdays were acknowledged, and with the addition of nieces and nephews, there were now even more birthdays to celebrate throughout the year.
The city itself provided entertainment. San Francisco in 1897 was a vibrant, growing city. Cable cars had been running since the 1870s, and riding them was an adventure—perhaps Edna rode them to visit her married siblings in other neighborhoods. The waterfront bustled with ships from around the world—a world her father knew well from his work. Downtown shopping districts displayed wonders in store windows. Street performers, parades, and public events provided free entertainment. The Midwinter International Exposition had been held in Golden Gate Park just a few years earlier (1894), and the city still had an air of excitement and possibility.
Siblings as companions: Even with five siblings married and gone, Edna still had plenty of companions at home. Her sisters Belle (15) and May (11) would have been natural companions for games, confidences, and adventures. Her 21-year-old sister Lilly, recently married and close by, might have served as something of a mentor, teaching Edna more advanced skills and sharing what she had learned about navigating young womanhood. Her brother George (18) and younger brother Leland (8) rounded out the household. The sibling relationships formed in childhood would last lifetimes; several McKnew siblings lived near each other as adults and maintained close ties.
Growing Skills and Independence
At thirteen, Edna was at a transitional age -- no longer a small child but not yet an adult. Within just a few years, by age sixteen, she would be working as a milliner, a skilled trade that required training, artistic sensibility, and business acumen. The years around thirteen were likely when she began learning this craft, perhaps apprenticing with an established milliner or learning from a family connection.
Her married sisters' experiences with hats, fashion, and the social expectations of married women would have given Edna insight into what styles were popular and practical. She may have even practiced her millinery skills by creating or modifying hats for her sisters and their children, getting feedback and encouragement from family members.
Millinery was considered an appropriate and even desirable profession for young women—it was creative, required skill, allowed for some independence, and wasn't as physically demanding as factory work or domestic service. The fact that Edna entered this profession suggests both family support for her development and her own aptitude and interest in the work. For a family where the father worked with his hands as an oysterman, having a daughter in a skilled, artistic trade like millinery represented upward mobility and opportunity.
The success of her older siblings in establishing themselves through good marriages and solid work would have encouraged the family to support Edna's professional training as well. Her father's hard work as an oysterman provided the foundation that allowed his children to pursue education and skilled trades, moving the next generation forward.
A World on the Cusp of Change
Edna's thirteenth year took place in a San Francisco and an America that were rapidly changing. The Victorian era was winding down. The twentieth century was just a few years away. Electricity was beginning to transform cities. Telephones were becoming more common. Women were beginning to push for greater rights and opportunities, though full suffrage was still decades away.
Yet much of life remained traditional and unchanged from earlier generations. Horses still provided most transportation. Most people worked six days a week. Social roles were rigidly defined by gender and class. Young women like Edna were expected to be modest, dutiful, skilled in domestic arts, and prepared for marriage and motherhood—just as her four older sisters had been.
The pattern established by her married siblings showed Edna what her own future likely held: marriage to a respectable man, establishing a household of her own somewhere in San Francisco, raising children, and maintaining close ties with the extended McKnew family. She had living examples of how to navigate courtship, marriage, and family life, and she could observe what made marriages successful and households happy.
The Extended McKnew Family Network
Having four married siblings living in San Francisco meant that Edna was part of an extensive family network that provided support, companionship, and connection throughout the city. If she needed help, advice, or simply a friendly face, she had married sisters to turn to. If her parents needed assistance -- particularly as Elijah aged while still doing physically demanding work -- the married children could help. When celebrations occurred, the family could pool resources to make them special. When tragedies struck, the family could rally together.
This network would prove invaluable in the years to come. Within less than a decade, Edna would experience the 1906 earthquake -- one of the defining moments of San Francisco history. Having family scattered throughout the city meant they could check on each other, share resources, and help each other rebuild.
But in 1897, at thirteen, Edna was simply the daughter of an oysterman, a middle child in a large, loving family, learning the skills she would need for life, helping her mother manage a busy household, attending school, visiting her married siblings and their growing families, perhaps bringing fresh oysters from her father's catch to share with relatives, finding moments of fun and friendship amidst the work, and growing into the capable, resilient woman who would one day marry Paul Schaffner just two months after the world shook apart.
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3) The Google NotebookLM Video Overview of this story is below.
4) I have no easy way to double-check these responses from Claude. I don't have many book resources for these subjects and this locality, but there are published books available for this time period and general location. The families mentioned are my wife's ancestral families and I have significant information about their lives from the available records, but know nothing about their daily lives.
5) After I read these types of social history summaries, I wish that I could be a time traveler for one day to visit the McKnew family in San Francisco and witness their daily lives. I'm glad that the general lifestyles and occupations are known from historical records and eyewitness accounts.
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