#32 Sister--Ettie Viola Shaffner Mayer

#32  Sister  Ettie Viola Shaffner

Ettie Viola Shaffner was the 2nd child born to John Martin Shaffner and Elizabeth Deobrah Fletcher Shaffner.  Ettie was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on 16 April 1883.  She was the older sister to my grandfather, John Faniot Shaffner.  

Ettie was 16 years old when her mother, Elizabeth Deborah died.  There was a 2 month old baby that needed a mother, so she, along with her sister Lida helped.  There were 6 children in the motherless home in 1899.

Ettie went to school to become a teacher.  She taught school in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania which was near where her mother’s family lived.  Her aunt, ______, was raising her younger brother, Walter Ruskin Shaffner in Lawrenceville.  Ettie boarded with a farm family that was about 10 miles from town.  After this job she was eligible to teach in Harrisburg.  Grandpa Shaffner wrote that after two miserable years at Lawrenceville and walking to school, she thought Harrisburg was heaven.  

Ettie married William A. Mayer on 12 March 1914.  She was nearly 32 years old.  

marriage license application

Unfortunately she died 28 December 1915 in Philadelphia from cancer.  

death certificate

Ettie was buried in the Harrisburg Cemetery.  

The pastor, Rev. E. E. Snyder, who married Ettie, also officiated at her funeral.

Ettie was the big sister to Walter and took care of him after their mother died.  And she was helping to provide for his care with money from her estate.

Walter Ruskin Shaffner received $500 from Ettie’s Estate.

I believe Walter is buried next to Ettie in the Harrisburg Cemetery.  

Genealogy friends are the best, even flying to Pennsylvania and looking for Ettie's grave! Fortunately the grave wasn't her only reason for the trip, but Kim made a special attempt to  find Ettie's grave. (Thank you Kim!)   I still think Walter is buried near Ettie, but further research is required.  I'm on it!

In Grandpa Shaffner's homestead application, he made to made a request, on 5 February 1916 that “since filing on said tract of land, on account of sickness in the family and death of my sister, Mrs. William Mayer, at the Uncologists Hospital Philadelpia, PA, Dec. 30, 1915, it was necessary for me to go East with my family and go to a large expense.  Therefore it will be impossible for me to put the improvements on my claim, that are necessary before establishing my residence there before June 1, 1916.”   I assume that Della (John's wife) and his son, George, accompanied him to Pennsylvania.  His request was granted.