Person:Jennie Shafer (1)

Sarah Jennie Shafer

Sarah Jennie Shafer was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia in November 1877. Sarah J. Shafer is enumerated on the 1880 US Census of Rockbridge Co., Virginia as a 3 year old daughter of Nancy J and William Shafer. The family moved to Grant County, Indiana in 1884. Jennie had an older sister, Margaret, and younger brother Burtney W. and sister Ester or Esta Shafer. Margaret married Harry W. Wootering who evidently was in the management of the local industry, Indiana Rubber Works. Burtney Shafer became an Indiana State Senator. Ester married a Professor George Carter. So the family seems to be part of the higher social circle of Jonesboro.

On 3 September 1896, Frank Bourie and Sarah Jennie Shafer, daughter of Nancy J Ruley and William D. Shafer, are married in Grant County, Indiana. This is the first marriage for both. On 12 June 1900, the young family is enumerated in Mill Township, Grant County, Indiana. Frank Bourie is shown as a 22 year old born in Indiana in September 1877. Sarah J Bourie is 22 years old born in Virginia in November 1877 and has been married 4 years with one child who is still living. The child is enumerated as Roberta M. Bourie, a 2 year old born in Indiana in May 1898.

Their second child, a son, William D. Bourie is born soon after on 1 November 1900. Frank Bourie joined the US Navy sometime during the next few years and we find him on the USS Truxton headed for the Pacific in the 1906-1907 report of the ships action. Sometime after the birth of their son in 1900 and prior to the next US Census on 22 April 1910, Jennie Shafer Bourie had died. Family tradition is that the death was from TB. Frank Bourie is enumerated living with his parents and children in the 1910 US Census of Jonesboro, Mill Township, Grant County,Indiana.