Anna Willy and John Schafer

Anna Mary Willy was born in December 1873 in - according to her marriage record - Marietta, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 5.8 km NW along the Susquehanna River from Columbia. Her parents were Mary Hess (or Helwig) and George Willy Her family lived in West Hempfield and Chickies before finally settling down in Columbia. On 03 Mar 1891, "George Willy of West Hempfield Township" purchased a lot with a two-storey brick house on the west side of South Eighth Street, between Locust Street and Ridge Avenue. This was later to become known as 34 South Eighth Street.

On 20 Oct 1896 Anna married John A Schafer in Columbia. (John's last name is spelled different ways in different records, with a single f or a double f, with an a or an ae, with an sch or an sh. He signed his marriage record as Schafer.) John had been born in April 1867 in Florin, 10.3 km NNE of Columbia, up near Mount Joy, Donegal Springs and Donegal Heights. His parents were William ad Mary Schafer, both German immigrants. By 1880 the family was living in Columbia. According to the US census records, William was a labourer in a stone quarry, Mary was insane, John's older sister Barbara was keeping house, his younger sister Katie was in school and 13-year-old John had "nothing to do." From this inauspicuous beginning John went on to become a photographer. At the time of his marriage he was living in Bristol, Bucks County, on the Delaware River. According to his obituary, he had arrived there in or about 1894 from Malvern, which lies in between Columbia and Bristol.

John and Anna returned to Briston to live after their marriage. The 1900 US Census found John and Anna living at 312 Otter Street in Bristol with their two daughters, Mary Edna born 12 Sep 1897 and Ethel E born January 1900. A third daughter, Dorothea G, was born in or about 1902. She's referred to as "Martha" on the 1910 census but as Dorothea or Dorothy in all other documents. The 1910 census also mentions that there was a fourth child born who was no longer alive.

By 1910 the family had moved two blocks to 536 Swain Street. This makes it not unlikely that Anna may have had something to do with introducing Mary Brennan of 558 Swain Street to Anna's younger brother Christian.

I don't know exactly when John opened Schafer's Studio at 135 Otter Street. The earliest advertisements I could find in the Bristol Daily Courier appeared in December 1911. However, according to John's obituary he operated the shop for 42 years, and the 1940 US Census lists him as being (at 72) without occupation. This suggests that the shop opened before 1898. Here's a sample ad from February 1912: "Perhaps you have an old Daguerotype [sic], an old Tintype or a Penny Picture you wish copied. You may wish a single person copied out of a group. If it is possible to copy such pictures at all, we can do it for you and it is truly astonishing what good copies can sometimes be made from exceedingly poor pictures. SCHAFER'S STUDIO 135 OTTER STREET."

The Bristol Daily Courier reported on 25 Oct 1916 that "Mrs. John Schafer and daughters Dorothea and Ethel, of Swain street, are spending the day in Philadelphia." Perhaps they were visting Anna's brother Nicholas? On 19 Jul 1917, the Courier reported that "Miss Ethel Schafer, of Swain street, will leave tomorrow for a ten day visit to her cousin, Miss Jeannetta Donnelly, of Columbia, Pa." The reference is to Anna Jeannetta Donley, the daughter of John's sister Barbara Schafer Donley.

Marriages and Births: 1919-1927

Anna and John's oldest daughter, Mary Edna, married William Patrick Sharkey in Philadelphia in 1919. William had been born 19 May 1894 in Middletown, Bucks County, 10 km NNE of Bristol. His parents were Elizabeth Wheeler and Samuel Sharkey, both of them the children of Irish immigrants.

According to the 1920 US Census, as of 01 Jan 1920 Mary and William were living with Mary's parents and sisters at 536 Swain Street. Mary, Ethel and Dorothy were all working as stenographers at a shipyard, while William was working as a clerk at a shipyard. Mary and William's son John William Sharkey was born 29 Jan 1921. The Bristol Daily Courier published 04 Feb 1921 described the new parents as being "of Harriman" (a neighbourhood in Bristol) indicating that they'd moved out on their own.

Ethel was the next to marry. She and Harvey J C Phillips obtained a marriage licence in Philadelphia in 1920, but the wedding actually took place on 01 Jul 1920 in St Mark's Church. According to the Bristol Daily Courier, "Miss Schafer was attended by her sister, Miss Dorothea Schafer, and Michael McFadden, of Bridgewater, was the best man." (Remember that name, Michael McFadden.) Harvey Phillips was born either 01 or 12 Dec 1893 in Chicago to Jennie Lovell and Chapin Phillips. His birth record gives his name as Chamberlain Stanley Phillips, but he's listed in the 1900 US Census and all subsequent records as Harvey J or Harvey J C. I couldn't find Harvey's WWI draft registration, but on 12 Sep 1918 his older brother Jesse Louis Phillips was living in the Harriman neighbourhood of Bristol and working for the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation. By 1920, Jesse, his wife and children had moved on to Akron, Ohio, but Harvey was lodging at 252 Cedar Street in Bristol and working as a clerk for a shipyard. I suspect that's how he and Ethel came to meet.

The Courier's article on the wedding described Harvey as a "Toledo man" "who came to Bristol in connection with the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation." It also said that Ethel and Harvey would be making their home in Toledo. Well, close. The Courier published 06 May 1921 described "Mrs. Harvey Phillips, formerly Miss Ethel Schafer" as being "a resident of Akron, Ohio," which sounds as if she and Harvey had moved out to join Jesse and his family. However, Ethel and Harvey apparently didn't stay in Ohio too long. Both their children were born in Pennsylvania, Ann Chapin ("Nancy") in or about 1924 and Bruce on 31 Aug 1926. (Bruce is referred to as "William B" on the 1940 US census but not on any other records I've found.) The Bristol Daily Courier published 06 Dec 1927 notes that "Mrs. Chapin Phillips, of Oak Lane, Ill., is the guest of her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Phillips, of Monroe street."

In the meantime, Dorothy had married Michael F McFadden (remember him?) in Philadelphia in 1923. Michael had been born in 1901 in Bensalem, 9.7 km WNW of Bristol. He was the son of Irish immigrants Mary Agnes McCarry and Patrick J McFadden. As of 1920, he was working as a chauffeur for a motor truck company. (Note that although "Bridgewater" is a town in Beaver County in western Pennsylvania, the township of Bensalem is composed of several communities, one of which is Bridgewater. The Bristol Daily Courier published 25 May 1921 refers to Michael's father as "Mr. P. J. McFadden, of Bridgewater." Dorothy and Michael's son Robert F was born 17 May 1924.

Deaths and Another Marriage: 1929-1939

Anna Mary Schaefer died 29 Aug 1929, leaving John a widower. The death took place in Philadelphia County rather than Bucks County, but I don't have any other details.

The 1930 US Census found Dorothy and young Robert McFadden living at 536 Swain Street with John. I can't find Michael McFadden enumerated in this census, but Dorothy is still listed as married. The Bristol Daily Courier published 26 Sep 1931 reported that "Mr. and Mrs. Michael McFadden, of Swain street, had as a guest for several days, Mrs. Raymond Barton, of Lancaster." Thus, Michael appears to have been in residence at this time.

I can't find Ethel and Harvey Phillips in the 1930 census either, but the Courier reported on 19 Sep 1931 that "Mrs. Harvey Phillips and son Bruce, of Swain street, are passing a fortnight in Chicago, Ill., with relatives."

Mary Edna and William Sharkey's address on the 1930 census was rather interesting. They and their son John are listed as living at Rohm & Haas, around the corner from Maple Beach. William was working as a bookkeeper for a chemical plant, and all of the family's neighbours worked for the chemical plant as well. Since Rohm and Haas (now a subsidiary of Dow Chemical) was a chemical manufacturer and had a plant in Bristol, I wonder if the Sharkeys were living in some sort of company housing.

Both Mary Edna and Dorothy lost their husbands during the 1930s. Dorothy's husband Michael McFadden died 01 Sep 1933. I don't know where or in what circumstances. Four years later Dorothy remarried. Her marriage to Joseph I O'Hare took place in Bristol on 27 Nov 1937. Joseph was the son of Margaret F Clark and James M O'Hare, born in Philadelphia 03 Jul 1901. Listed as a clerk for a railroad in the 1920 US Census, by 1930 he had become a public accountant. Dorothy and Robert seem to have moved to Philadelphia after the marriage rather than the other way around. The Bristol Daily Courier was still referring to her as "Mrs. Dorothy McFadden, Swain street," on 18 Aug 1936. However the attendees of a Fourth of July picnic reported 09 Jul 1938 included "Robert McFadden, Philadelphia."

Mary Edna's husband William Sharkey died 17 Dec 1939 at his home on North Radcliffe Street due to coronary thrombosis. The death obviously came as a surprise. The Bristol Daily Courier reported that he had been re-elected secretary of Rohm & Haas Social Club - a position he'd already held for 14 years - at the club's annual dinner the evening before. He was also captain of the Rohm and Haas bowling team. He was buried in Bristol in St Mark's Cemetery.

1940-1960

By 1940 the house at 536 Swain Street was home only to John Schafer and the Phillips, Ethel, Harvey, Nancy and Bruce. At 72, John was no longer working. Harvey was working as a construction manager for Sears Roebuck.

Nancy married Frederick W D'Agostino in Bristol 24 Nov 1945. Fred was the son of Italian immigrants Erlinda Patricelli and Ferdinando D'Agostino. He was born 06 Jan 1920 in Mercer County, New Jersey, either in Trenton itself or in Lawrence Township 7.9 km NNE. After their marriage Nancy and Fred lived in Trenton, NJ. Their daughter Fernanda was born 25 Apr 1950. They also had a son named Frederick who seems to have been born in or about 1960; the data is a little sketchy.

Bruce married Virginia Rose Kehler in Bristol on Valentine's Day, 1950. Virginia was born 13 Jul 1928, probably in Ashland in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, to Ellen Rose Fleetman and Clarence Kehler. By 1950 she was living at 253 McKinley Street in Bristol, while Bruce was still living at 536 Swain Street. They remained in Bristol after they married, and their daughter Marsha was born there 10 Apr 1951.

Meanwhile, in 1940 Dorothy and Joseph O'Hare and Dorothy's son Robert McFadden were enumerated at 4627 Locust Street in Philadelphia. (For some reason, the census taker recorded Joseph's first name as James.) Joseph was working as an accountant for an electronic instruments company, while Dorothy was working as a secretary for an electronic instruments company.

In 1947 Robert married Barbara M Koller in Philadelphia. Barbara had been born in Philadelphia 12 Jun 1926, the daughter of Rosalia Schuster Breitenbach and Michael Koller. Both Rosalia and Michael immigrated areas that were part of the Kingdom of Hungary until WWI but are now part of Serbia (in Rosalia's case) and Romania (in Michael's).

The Bristol Daily Courier reported on 23 Oct 1952 that "Mrs. Bruce Phillips and daughter Marsha, Airacobra street, were Sunday dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Fred D'Agostino and family, Trenton, N. J." A week later on 30 Oct 1952, it was the Phillips' turn to play hosts: "Mr. and Mrs. Robert McFadden and children, Maureen and Michael, Lansdowne, were Sunday dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Phillips, Airacobra street."

Barbara and Robert were later to have two more children, Patricia born 30 Sep 1956 and Kathleen born 11 May 1958.

John A Schafer, still resident at 536 Swain Street, died 28 Feb 1953 at the age of 85. He was buried in St Mark's Cemetery. His obituary describes him as being survived by his three daughters, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. I know the names of four of the great-grandchildren: Fernanda D'Agostino born April 1950, Marsha Phillips born April 1951, and Maureen and Michael McFadden, both born by or in October 1952. I don't know the name of the fifth grandchild. John's grandson John W Sharkey had a son born in 1956, but I don't know if he had any earlier children.

As of 1940, Mary Edna and John were living at 179 North Radcliffe Street. John was working as an electrical worker for a chemical company. I'm guessing this was probably Rohm and Haas, where his father had worked. When WWII arrived, John joined the Navy. The Bristol Daily Courier published 25 Feb 1944 noted that "John Sharkey, of the U.S. Navy, who is stationed at Sampson, N.Y. is visiting his mother, Mrs. Edna Sharkey, North Radcliffe street. After the war, John married Catherine Frances Hadley. Catherine was born 02 Aug 1923, certainly in New York and probably in Brooklyn, the daughter of Irish immigrants Mary and John Hanley. Her parents announced her engagement in the Long Island Star Journal published 01 Mar 1949. I would assume that the marriage took place within the year. They had at least one son, William Patrick Sharkey born 23 Sep 1956.

After 1960

The oldest of Anna Willy and John Schafer's daughters, Mary Edna Schafer Sharkey, died in Bristol in April 1987. She was predeceased by her grandson, William Patrick Sharkey, who died in March 1981. Both are buried in St Mark's Cemetery.

Mary Edna's daughter-in-law Catherine F Hanley Sharkey died in Bensalem 02 Oct 2000 and is also buried in St Mark's Cemetery. John William Sharkey married Mary Louise Dearnley in Bucks County 18 Sep 2004. It was a second marriage for both of them; I don't know Mary Lou's last name at birth. John died 27 Dec 2010 and was survived by Mary Lou, three stepdaughters and two more women who were either daughters or stepdaughters. He was buried with Catherine.

I was unable to find any further information for Anna and John's second daughter, Ethel Schafer Phillips, and her husband Harvey. Their son Bruce died in Bristol on 10 Jan 1994. His wife Virginia died eight years later on 24 Feb 2002, also in Bristol. I don't know anything further about their daughter Marsha.

Bruce's sister Ann Chapin ("Nancy") Phillips D'Agostino died 24 Apr 2006 in Portland, OR. According to the Trenton Times, she had lived there her last five years, I'm guessing because her daughter Fernanda lives there. (The US Social Security Death Index says Nancy was living in Morrisville, PA, when she died, but that could just be because no one ever notified the SSA she'd moved. I recently discovered how much of a nuisance this can be when one's acting on behalf of a senior parent.) Nancy was predeceased by her husband Frederick D'Agostino, who like Bruce Phillips died in January 1994, apparently in Morrisville. She was survived by Fernanda, Fernanda's husband and daughter and by her son Fred.

Anna Willy and John Schafer's youngest daughter, Dorothea G Schafer McFadden O'Hare, died in Philadelphia in March 1985. I don't know what became of her second husband, Joseph I O'Hare. Their son Robert died on 21 Oct 2012 in Lansdowne. His wife Barbara Koller McFadden followed him on 23 Jul 2013. Both are buried in St Mark's Cemetery. They were survived by their children, Michael, Maureen, Patricia and Kathleen as well as 13 grandchildren and their great-grandchildren, four born as of October 2012 and one more born by July 2013.