I’ve been researching my McWhirter family line for over 20 years now, and have been tracking the descendants of Thomas McWhirter Sr. (1800-1867) and Eliza Jane Beatty (1800-1846) forward in time.
I recently came across some articles in the archives of an old San Francisco newspaper regarding Mary Jane “Jennie” McWhirter. Jennie was one of Thomas and Eliza’s granddaughters through their son Thomas McWhirter Jr. (1835-1876) and his wife Esther Sherer (1841-1885).
Mary Jane McWhirter was born 31 August 1865 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts.
Source Information: Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988
Jennie married John Jacob Klapperich (1864-1943) in San Francisco, California in 1886. They divorced 0n 2 April 1902, in San Francisco, California. The following three newspaper articles appeared in the San Francisco Call Newspaper regarding their divorce.
I found the first one kind of amusing.
Mrs. Klapperich Files Answer
Mrs. Jennie M. Klapperich who is being sued for divorce by John J. Klapperich, filed an answer and cross complaint yesterday. She denies that she ever said her husband was crazy, or that the drove him from home by her ill treatment. She also denies having compelled him to mend his clothes. In her cross complaint the wife alleges that her husband deserted her. The Klapperichs were married in 1886 and reside at 179 Albion Ave.
San Francisco Call, Volume 87, Number 113, 23 March 1902
Divorces were granted to…Jennie M. Klapperich from John J. Klapperich for desertion.
San Francisco Call, Volume XCI, Number 122, 1 April 1902
John J. Klapperich, a wagonmaker, who was divorced April 2 1902, from Jeannie M. Klapperich, was ordered by Judge Seawell yesterday to be taken into custody and held in jail until he pays $100 back alimony to Mrs. Klapperich.
San Francisco Call, Volume 101, Number 74, 12 February 1907
Jennie remarried on 28 February 1912 to Hermann Schaffner (1851-1921). The following wedding announcement appeared in the newspaper.
A quiet wedding was performed in the First Congregational Church of this city on Wednesday evening, when Mrs. Jennie Klapperich and Hermann Schaffner were married. Only the immediate families witnessed the ceremony, which was performed by Dr. Charles F. Aked. Mr. and Mrs. Schaffner are passing their honeymoon in the southern part of the state. On their return they will reside permanently in San Francisco, where a pretty home awaits them at 1134 Castro Street. Both Schaffner and his bride are well known in this city, with whose social life they have been identified for a number of years. Before the catastrophe of 1906, Mrs. Schaffner was a prominent resident of the old Mission district, and since then she has resided in Ashbury heights. Schaffner is a member of a number of fraternal societies, having been grand keeper of records and seal of the Knights of Pythias of California for 26 years. He is also a past brigadier general of the uniform rank of that order, and a past imperial prince of the Dramatic Order, Knights of Khorassan.
San Francisco Call, Volume 111, Number 94, 3 March 1912
Jennie McWhirter Klapperich Schaffner died just nine months after her marriage to Hermann on 20 December 1912, in San Francisco, California. The following obituary appeared in the newspaper on 22 December 1912. It does not mention cause of death or where she was buried.
SCHAFFNER- In this city, December 20 1912
Jennie H., beloved wife of Herman Schaffner, beloved mother of Louis Klapperich, and loving sister of H.E. and W.J. McWhirter, a native of Boston, Mass. A member of Mission Lodge No. 296, G.F.B. (Boston Mass., papers please copy)
Interment private.
San Francisco Call, Volume 113, Number 22, 22 December 1912