The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-07-06
The Sad Sequel of a Divorce.

On Wednesday afternoon, says the
San Francisco Chronicle, funeral took
place from Trinity Church, and large
congregation gathered to pay the last
mark of respect to Clara A. Sayre,
whom they had all known. After the
religious services mad been concluded,
and just as the recognized relatives were
about to gaze once more upon the cof-
fined form, the whole congregation was
startled by the appearance of middle
aged man, clothed as a working me-
chanic, who strobe to the side of the
bier, and with his whole powerful frame
shaken by sobs of anguish, gazed long
and intently upon the cold face before
him, and then turned and left the
church. But one person present, and
she, Mrs. A M. Burns, the sister of the
dead, knew him, and no others sus-
pected that strong man in anguish was
a father gazing upon the dead face of a
daughter whom he had not seen for
seven years.
About thirty-five years ago John J.
Pensam was married in the city of New
York to young lady, in company with
whom, few years afterward, he
came to California. They took
up a residence at Petaluna, where
they lived in harmony a num-
ber of years, finally removing to
this city. The result of the union was
three daughters-Clara, Emma, and
Ida. Mr.. Pensam was a most estima-
bic man, brickmason by trade, and
soon by his frugality acquired little
fortune; but shortly after coming to
this city differences of opinion and un
congenial tastes bred discord in the
family. The wife was fond of dress,
balls, parties, and fashionable dissipa-
ton; the husband was simple in his
tastes, and liked happy home more
than the questionable qualifications of
modern society. He refused to allow
his wife and daughters the means nee
essary to conduct fashionable house.
He was fond of intellectual pursuits and
the cultivation of flowers and strange
kinds of agricultural productions, and
soon the apple of discord grew to such
proportions that the daughters were
taught to disregard their fathers wish
es, and from that to considering him
beneath them. This dissatisfaction
and incompatibility between the hus-
band and wife finally eliminated in a
divorce, and they parted. o. -1
The custody of the children was given |
to the mother, and as they grew to wo-
manhood they became estranged from
their father. The parties separated |
about seventeen years ago, and nine |
years thereafter Ida died. The other
two afterward married. Mr.. Pensam |
took up a residence at Oakland, where |
he now lives, having married again. He
became the Noble Grand of the Brook
lyn Lodge of Odd Fellows and the head
Of literary society in Oakland, in
creased his worldly store, and was re-
'pected and honored in the select and
small society in which he moved. The
mother remained in San Francisco, and
ended giddy and fashionable career
.hree years ago.
On Wednesday morning, on taking up
lis paper, Mr.. Pensam saw the brief no
ice of his daughters death. He had
lot seen her for seven years. He had
'eceived from her friends no notifca-
ion of her death. Coming to San
7rancisco in his everyday attire, he
vent to the church and for the last time
Jaw his child.