John A. Schaney of
McKean and Potter Counties, Pennsylvania
Sher Groce wrote to me sometime ago inquiring if I had a John Schaney in my line, because she had a photograph of an "unknown Schaney" that looked so much like the photograph of my ancestor Jacob Schaney as to be the same person. I didn't know of a Schaney family from that area, but added them to my list for research.
Sher's great Grandmother was Mabel Schaney born August 1878 in Bullion, Venango County, Pennsylvania she died January 1966 in Beaverton, Washington County, Oregon. She marreid Fielder Allison Jones born August 13, 1871 in Shinglehouse, Potter County, Pennsylvania he died March 13, 1934 in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon.
Mabels parents were John A. Schaney born March 1848 and Julia Stull born about 1858. They operated a hotel in Mt. Jewett, Pennsylvania. Julia left circa 1906-1908 and moved to Bolivar, New York. They were divorced and about 1908 Julia moved to Oregon. Julia later married William Akin. Julia died December 18, 1919 in Portland, Oregon.
I found a mention of an Alice Schaney which mentions both a Schaney and a Hotel.
"Commerative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1898." On page 638: "(VIII) Jane K. (Goodlander), born March i6, 1841, on the old homestead, married J. L. Schofield, of Penfield, who owns the "Penfield Hotel," and is one of the cleverest and best landlords in Pennsylvania; his worthy wife assumes the duties of entertaining her guests with true womanly grace and kindness. Their daughter, Mrs. Alice Schaney, resides with her parents."
A trip to Mt. Jewitt, McKean County, Pennsylvania and Bolivar, Allegany County, New York didn't turn up much, so turning to the census I found the following records:
1880 United States Federal Census
Bullion, Clinton Twp., Venango Co., PA, enumerated June 3, 1880 by
William Cross, Page 66, Dwelling 102, Household 105, Head of household
Thomas Clifford.
Line 39, Clifford, Thomas, W, M, Age 57, Married, Hotel
Keeper, Born PA, Father born PA, Mother born PA.
Line 40, Clifford, Mary A., W, F, Age 40, wife, Married,
Keeping House, Born PA, Father born PA, Mother born PA.
Line 41, Clifford, Emma, W, F, 19, Dau, Single, At School,
Born PA, Father born PA, Mother born PA.
Line 42, Shaney, John A., W, M, 30, Partner, Married,
Hotel Keeper, Born PA, Father born not known, Mother born not known.
Line 43, Shaney, Julia, W, F, 26, Sister-in-law, Married,
Keeping House, Born PA, Father born PA, Mother born PA.
Line 44, Shaney, Mabel, W, F, 1, Dau, Born PA, Father
born PA, Mother born PA.
Line 45 Black, Maggie, W, F, 11, Boarding, Single, Attending School within
the current year, cannot write, Born PA, Father born PA, Mother born PA.
Line 46, Shilling, George, W, M, 37, Boarding, Single, Physician, Born
Ohio, Father born PA, Mother born PA.
1900 United States Federal Census
Eldred Borough, Eldred Twp., McKean Co., PA, enumerated June 28, 1900
by BGW Hall, Supervisors District: 14, Enumeration District: 105, Page
10A, Railroad Street, Dwelling 218, Family 237, Head of household Harry
Schaney.
Line 19, Schaney, Harry, head, W, M, Born Nov 1862, Age
37, Married, Born Pennsylvania, Father born Germany, Mother born Germany,
Proprietor Hotel, Can Read, Can Write, Can speak English, Rents, House.
Line 20, Schaney, Alice V., wife, W, F, Born Oct 1870,
Age 29, Married 6 years, One child, One child living, Born Pennsylvania,
Father born Pennsylvania, Mother born Pennsylvania.
Line 21, Schaney, Freda V., daughter, W, F, Born Oct
1894, Age 6, Single, Born Pennsylvania, Father born Pennsylvania, Mother
born Pennsylvania.
Line 22, Schaney, John, brother, W, M, Born Mar 1848,
Age 52, Widowed, Born Pennsylvania, Father born Germany, Mother born Germany,
Desk Hotel, Can Read, Can Write, Can speak English.
Line 23, Herzog, Peter, Help, W, M, Born Sept 1864, Age 35, Single, Born
Pennsylvania, Father born Germany, Mother born Germany, Bar Keeper, Can
Read, Can Write, Can speak English.
1910 United States Federal Census
Huston Precinct, Dubois Borough, Clearfield Co., PA, enumerated April
15, 1910 by Frank Hathaway, Supervisors District 17, Enumeration District
84, Page 3B, Dwelling 58, Family 58, Head of household Harry M. Schaney.
Line 91, Schaney, Harry M., Head, M, W, Age 46,
Married 16 years, Born Penna, Father born Germany, Mother born Germany,
Speaks English, Operator, Telegraphic, Wage, Can read, can write, Rents,
House.
Line 92, Schaney, Alive V., Wife, F, W, Age 39, Married
16 years, Two children, Two children living, Born Penna, Father born Penna,
Mother born Penna, Speaks English, Housekeeper, Boarding House, Working
on Own Account, Can read, Can write.
Line 93, Schaney, Freda J., Daughter, F, W, Age 14, Single,
Born Penna, Father born Penna, Mother born Penna, Speaks English, Can
read, Can write, Attended school since Sept 1909.
Line 94, Schaney, Wilmer J., Son, M, W, Age 1 3/12, Single,
Born Penna, Father born Penna, Mother born Penna.
Line 95, Scofield, Jane C., Mother-in-law, F, W, Age
70, Widowed, Three Children, One child living, Born Penna, Father born
Ireland, Mother born Germany, Speaks English, Housekeeper, Boarding House,
Working on Own Account, Can read, Can write.
Line 96, Spoto, Joseph F., Boarder, M, W, Age 25, Single, Born Penna,
Father born Penna, Mother born Penna, Merchant, Groceries, Working on
Own Account, Can read, Can write.
Line 97, Slifer, Corney, Boarder, M, W, Age 61, S, Born Switzerland, Father
born Switzerland, Mother born Switzerland, Immigrated 1851, Pool Room,
Working on Own Account, Can read, Can write.
Line 98, Lenagher (?), Patric P., Boarder, M, W, Age 35, Single, Born
Ireland, Father born Ireland, Mother born Ireland, Immigrated 1851, Laborer,
Coal Mine, Wage, Out of work for 20 weeks in 1909, Can read, Can write.
Several years ago I found the following entries in the Pittsburgh City
Directory from1940, I couldn't place them at the time, but it now matches
this family with the family in above census records:
Schaney, Alice (wid Harry) r 850 Kennebec
Schaney, Freida sten h850 Kennebec
Schaney, Wilmer r850 Kennebec
I decided to check the 1900 Census for Bolivar, Allegany County, New York to see if I could find relations...
1900 United States Federal Census
Bolivar Town, Bolivar Village, Allegany Co., NY, enumerated June 7,
1900 by Harry P. Hockenberry, Supervisors District 16, Enumeration District
10, Page 8B, Dwelling 202, Family 203, Head of household Barbara Schaney.
Line 59, Schaney, Barbara, Head, W, F, Born Sept
1829, Age 70, Widowed, Four children, Three children living, Born Germany,
Father born Germany, Mother born Germany, Can read, Can write, Can speak
English, Owns, House.
Where have I seen a Barbara Schaney before?
For quite awhile I have known about a Michael Schaney (1826-1864) who lived in Allegheny and Westmoreland Co. PA. Although I have no proof, I suspect he is another brother of the Jacob and George Schaney that I have been researching, so I have done a little research on him.
Michael was born about 1826 in France. He was naturalized October 25, 1848 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He married about 1846, Barbara (___), who was from Germany or Bavaria. He was in the Civil War (Eleventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers Company). He died April 12, 1864, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
1850 United States Federal Census
Census Roll 744, Page 37, First Ward, Allegheny City, enumerated 16th
August 1850 by L.S. McMillan, Household 530, Dwelling 563, Head of Household
Michael Shaney
Michael Shaney, Age 26, M, Shoemaker, Born France
Barbara Shaney, Age 21, F, Born Germany
Catherine Shaney, Age 3, F, Born Penn
John A. Shaney, Age 1, M, Born Pa
1860 United States Federal Census
Greensburgh Borough, Westmoreland Co., PA, enumerated June 7, 1860
by H. Kettering, Dwelling 173, Household 172, Michael Schaney.
Michael Schaney, Age 33, M, Shoemaker, Value of
real estate 800, Value of personal estate, 200, Born France.
Barbara Schaney, Age 28, F, Born Bavaria.
Catherine Schaney, Age 12, F, Born Pennsylvania, Attended school within
the year.
John Q.A. Schaney, Age 10, M, Born Pennsylvania, Attended
school within the year.
Caroline Schaney, Age 8, F, Born Pennsylvania, Attended
school within the year.
Nicholas P. Schaney, Age 1, M, Born Pennsylvania.
I can find no trace of Barbara and her children in Westmoreland County after Michael dies in 1864.
If this John A. is the same as the son of Michael and Barbara, which I'm beginning so suspect, there are a couple problems which need to be solved.
1. This John A. Schaney had a brother named Harry M., Michael did not
have a son named Harry M. (as far as we know).
2. Barbara said in 1900 that she had four children, three of whom are
living, still no Harry, if she is Barbara wife of Michael. Did she only
count children who had lived to adulthood?
Sher's Family Research Page - Sher Groce