I am writing genealogical sketches, and then will write AI-assisted biographies, of my wife's ancestors by ancestral couple, not by individual ancestor.
Here is the genealogical sketch for my wife Linda's maternal great-grandparents Herman Schaffner (1851-1921) and Mary Ann Paul (1854-1908) who married in about 1875 in San Francisco, California.
1) Herman Schaffner -- Early Life:
Friedrich Schaffner married, secondly, Martha Matilda --?-- (1837-1875) in about 1855, probably in New York. They had five children, half-siblings to Herman:
- Matilda Schaffner, born October 1857, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; married Lewellyn Augustus Bradford, about 1876, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; died 24 June 1928, Alameda, Alameda, California.
- Frederick N. Schaffner, born August 1862, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, married Margaret Ann Ryan, before 1889, San Francisco, San Francisco, California died 5 April 1907, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
- Louis Schaffner was born about 1864 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
- Charles Edwin Schaffner, born March 1867, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; married Louise A. Webber, before 1891, probably Oregon; died 4 September 1916, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.
- Nellie Schaffner, born 31 March 1870, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; married Norman Richardson Arter, May 1888, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; died 18 November 1933, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
In the 1870 United States Census, this family resided in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California.[2] The household included:
- Fred Schaffner - age 45, male, born Canada
- Matilda Schaffner - age 35, female, born Ireland
- Hermann Schaffner - age 18, male, born New York
- Matilda Schaffner - age 14, female, born California
- Frederick Schaffner - age 9, male, born California
- Louis Schaffner - age 5, male, born California
- Charles Schaffner - age 3, male, born California
- Nellie Schaffner - age 1, female, born California
2) Mary Ann Paul – Early Life
Mary Ann Paul was born in November 1854 in Massachusetts,[1] the oldest child and first daughter of John Charles Paul (1824-1879) and Maria T. Beamish (1827-1909), both of Irish extraction, who married in 1852 in New Bedford, Bristol, Massachusetts.
John Charles Paul and Maria T. Beamish had the following children:
- Mary Ann Paul, born November 1854, Massachusetts; married Herman Schaffner, before 1876, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; died 16 February 1908, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
- Rebecca M. Paul, born November 1856, Chicago, Cook, Illinois; married Charles Henry Small; died 21 October 1914, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
- Robert Paul was born about 1859 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. He died before 1864 at the age of 5 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.
- Abbie C. Paul was born in September 1861 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. She died on 11 November 1894 at the age of 33 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- Robert Henry Paul was born about 1864 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. He died on 14 September 1902 at the age of 38 in Acapulco, Mexico.
- Thomas E. Paul was born in December 1868 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
- John Charles Paul was born about December 1868 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California. He died on 22 September 1889 at the age of 20 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
In the 1860 United States Census, the John C. Paul household resided in Chicago Ward 8, Cook County, Illinois. The household included:
- Jno C. Paul - age 36, male, a cooper, born in Newfoundland
- Maria Paul - age 35, female, born in Ireland
- Mary A. Paul - age 6, female, $100 in personal property, born in Mass., attends school.
- Rebecca M. Paul - age 3, female, born Illinois
- Robert Paul - age 1, male, born Illinois
- Julia Taylor - age 16, female, servant, born in Newfoundland
- John C. Paul - age 43, male, white, a car conductor, $450 in personal property, born in England
- Maria Paul - age 41, female, white, keeping house, born in Ireland
- Mary Paul - age 15, female, white, attending school, born in Massachusetts
- Rebecca Paul - age 13, female, white, attending school, born in Massachusetts
- Abbie C. Paul - age 9, female, white, attending school, born in Illinois
- Robert Paul - age 5, male, at home, born in Illinois
- John Paul - age 3, male, white, at home, born California
- Thomas Paul - age 2, male, white, at home, born California
3) Herman and Mary Ann (Paul) Schaffner Married Life
Herman Schaffner and Mary Ann Paul were married in about 1875 in San Francisco, California. Herman Schaffner and Mary Ann Paul had the following children:
- Paul Frederick Schaffner, born August 1879, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; married Edna Catherine McKnew, 24 June 1906, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, two children; died 29 May 1934, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
- Herman Schaffner, born June 1881, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; married Henrietta Hollwegs, 6 September 1908, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, one child; died 21 September 1931, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
- Frederick W. Schaffner, born 15 March 1889, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; married Violet E. Savery, about 1911, California, one child; died 30 October 1952, San Mateo, California.
- Maria Paul - white, female, age 51, widowed, keeping house, born Ireland, parents born Ireland/Ireland
- Mary Ann Paul - white, female, age 25, daughter, married, without occupation, born Massachusetts, parents born NewFound/Ireland
- Rebecca Paul - white, female, age 23, daughter, married, without occupation, born Illinois, parents born NewFound/Ireland
- Abby Paul - white, female, age 19, daughter, single, without occupation, born Illinois, parents born NewFound/Ireland
- Robert Paul - white, male, age 14, son, single, telegraph boy, born California, parents born NewFound/Ireland
- John C. Paul - white, male, age 12, son, single, at school, born California, parents born NewFound/Ireland
- Thos. E. Paul - white, male, age 12, son, single, at school, born California, parents born NewFound/Ireland
- Paul F. Schaffner - white, male, age 9/12, Aug, grandson, single, at home, born California, parents born New York/Massachusetts
- Herman Schaffner - white, male, age 28, son-in-law, married, book binder, born New York, parents born Austria.
- H. Shaftner - head, white, male, born Nov 1851, age 48, married, for 25 years, born New York, parents born Germany/Germany, Grand Secretary
- Mary Shaftner - wife, white, female, born Nov 1854, age 45, married, for 25 years, 3 children born, 3 living, born Massachusetts, parents born Canada/Ireland
- Paul Shaftner - son, white, male, born Aug 1878, age 21, single, born California, parents born New York/Ireland, stenographer
- Herman Shaftner - son, white, male, born June 1881, age 18, single, born California, parents born New York/Ireland, stenographer
- Fredie Shaftner - son, white, male, born Mar 1888, age 12, single, born California, parents born New York/Ireland, at school
- Herman Schaffner - head, male, white, age 58, widowed, born New York, parents born Germany/Germany, a secretary, works for Fraternal Knights of Pythias, owns home free of mortgage
- Paul F. Schaffner - son, male, white, age 31, first marriage, married 4 years, born California, parents born New York/Massachusetts, a clerk, works for oil company
- Edna Schaffner - daughter-in-law, female, white, age 26, first marriage, married 4 years, 1 child born, 1 living, born California, parents born Maryland/Australia
- Frederick Schaffner - son, male, white, age 21, single, born California, parents born New York/Massachusetts, a clerk, works for dried fruit company
- Muriel E. Schaffner - granddaughter, female, white, age 1-1/12, single, born California, parents born California/California
The obituary published in the San Francisco Call newspaper dated 19 February 1908 says:[8]
"SCHAFFNER -- Entered into rest, in this city, February 18, 1908, Mary Ann (Paul) Schaffner, idolized wife of Herman Schaffner, loving mother of Paul F. Schaffner, Herman Schaffner Jr., and Fred Schaffner, and beloved sister of Mrs. R.M. Small, a native of New Bedford, Mass.
"The funeral will take place today (Wednesday), February 19, at 1 o'clock p.m., from her late residence, 1014 Castro street between Twenty-third and Elizabeth. Interment Woodlawn cemetery, by electric funeral car from Thirtieth street and San Jose avenue."
4) Herman’s Later Life
Herman Schaffner married, secondly, to Mary Jane McWhirter on 29 February 1912 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.[9]. Mary Jane McWhirter was born about 1853 in United States. She died on 20 December 1912 at the age of 59 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
Herman Schaffner married thirdly, to Fredericka Hartman on 30 August 1916 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.[10] Fredericka Hartman was born about 1858 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California. She died after 1921, probably in San Francisco.
Herman died on 8 December 1921 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.[11] He was inurned in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Colma, San Mateo County, California.[12]
An obituary for Herman Schaffner was published on Page 7 of the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper dated 9 December 1921 (accessed on www.genealogybank.com).[13] The obituary reads:
"PROMINENT PYTHIAN DIES AT AGE 71
"Herman Schaffner Was 35 Years Sealkeeper
"Herman Schaffner, for the past thirty-five years grand keeper, of the records and seals of the domain of California, Knights of Pythias, died here yesterday following a short illness. He was a native of New York and 71 years of age.
"Schaffner came to San Francisco thirty-five years ago and was elected to his position shortly after his arrival. He was past imperial prince of the dramatic order of the Knights of Khorasan, and past grand chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. He resided at 1134 Castro Street and is survived by his widow and two sons, Fred W. Schaffner, teller at the Humboldt Savings Bank and Paul F. Schaffner, manager of the Valvoline Company in San Francisco.Another obituary was published in The Hanford Sentinel (of San Francisco) newspaper dated Friday, December 9, 1921:
"Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at the Druids Temple, 44 Page Street, under the auspices of the grand lodge, Knights of Pythias."
"Herman Schaffner, for the past thirty-five years grand keeper of records and seals of the Domain of California, Knights of Pythias, died Thursday of an illness of four months in San Francisco.
"Judge M. L. Short, a past grand chancellor of the Pythian order, received a telegram last night from Grand Chancellor Stanley Brown, announcing the death of the grand keeper of records and seals with whom the jurist had enjoyed a long and intimate acquaintance. Mr. Schaffner was a member of Golden West Lodge, No. 145, K. of P. He was well known to all who attended grand lodge sessions from Hanford lodge.
"Schaffner was 71 years old and one of the most prominent Knights of Pythias in the United States. He was past imperial prince of the Dramatic Order of Knights of Khorasan, and past grand master of the Knights of Pythias, says the San Francisco Chronicle.
"Born in New York, November 11, 1851, Schaffner came to San Francisco with his parents when he was 11 years old.
"During the early years of his life he worked as a book ruler in the printers' craft and was ruler in the National Guard affairs. He served in various ranks of that organization until he raised himself to adjutant.
"Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon under the auspices of the Grand Lodge, Knights of Pythias.
"Schaffner lived with his wife and two sons at 1134 Castro Street, San Francisco. The sons are Paul and Fred Schaffner."
5) Sources
1. 1900 United States Federal Census, San Francisco County, California, San Francisco city; ED 132, Sheet 13B, Lines 57-61, H. Shaftner household; online database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T623, Roll 103.
2. 1870 United States Federal Census, San Francisco County, California, Ward 2, Page 197 (stamped), dwelling #1024, family #1024, Frederick Schaffner household, digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M593, Roll 79.
3. 1880 United States Federal Census, San Francisco County, California, San Francisco, ED 99, Page 458A, dwelling #79, family #88, Maria Paul household; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T9, Roll 75.
4. 1870 United States Federal Census, San Francisco County, California, population schedule, San Francisco Ward 10, Page 247B, dwelling #624, family #911, John C. Paul household; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 June 2017); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M593, Roll 83.
5. 1910 United States Federal Census, San Francisco County, California, population schedule, 34th Assembly District, Enumeration District 107, Page 2B, Dwelling #34, Family #37, Herman Schaffner household, online database and digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T624, Roll 98.
6. "California Death Index, 1905-1939," Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), San Francisco County, Mary A. Schaffner entry, 16 February1908.
7. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/252173219/mary_ann-schaffner : accessed December 11, 2025), memorial page for Mary Ann Paul Schaffner (1855–16 Feb 1908), Find a Grave Memorial ID 252173219, citing Woodlawn Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo County, California, USA; Maintained by ColmaKitty (contributor 51383026).
8. "DIED," death notice, San Francisco [Calif.] Call Bulletin newspaper, 19 February 1908, page 13, column 3, Mary Ann (Paul) Schaffner death notice; imaged, GenealogyBank (https://www.genealogybank.com).
9. "San Francisco Chronicle," online database, SFGenealogy (https://www.SFGenealogy.com), citing original documents at San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco, Calif., Schaffner/McWhirter Marriage Notice, 1 March 1912, page 17.
10. "California, San Francisco, County Records, 1824-1997," indexed records with digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org), Marriages > Marriage Certificates, Vol. 22, 1916, image 289 of 510, Herman Schaffner and Fredericka Armstrong entry, 30 August 1916.
11. "California Death Index, 1905-1939." online database, FamilySearch (https://www.FamilySearch.org), San Francisco County, Herman Schaffner entry, 8 December 1921.
12. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/263046343/herman-schaffner : accessed December 11, 2025), memorial page for Herman Schaffner (11 Nov 1851–8 Dec 1921), Find a Grave Memorial ID 263046343, citing Woodlawn Memorial Park, Colma, San Mateo County, California, USA; Maintained by C D Bird (contributor 49157592).
13. "Deaths," San Francisco [CA] Chronicle newspaper, imaged, GenealogyBank (https://www.genealogybank.com), 9 December 1921, page 7, Herman Schaffner obituary.
Herman Schaffner (1851-1921) and Mary Ann Paul (1854-1908) are the maternal great-grandparents of my wife, Linda (Leland) Seaver (1942-still living), through her grandfather Paul Frederick Schaffner (1879-1934) who married Edna Catherine McKnew (1884-1974) in 1906 in San Francisco, California, and their daughter, Edna May (Schaffner) Leland (1913-1979) who married Leo S. Leland in 1937.
The URL for this post is:
Subscribe to receive a free daily email from Genea-Musings using www.Blogtrottr.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment