The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-29
A MAN WHO WAS A WOMAN.
The Extraordinary Story Over Which the
Entire Shenandoah Valley Is Excited.

AHe extraordinary story over Whch the
Entire Shenandoah Valley Is Excited.
New York Special
At o'clock this afternoon in the little brick
church at Martinsburg, w. Va. which is used
by the Southern Methodist congregation of that
town, two people were married by the Rev.
John Longstreet former chaplain Of .'oh Stu
arts confederate regiment of cavalry There
was nothing peculiar about the ceremony except
that both parties to the contract have been
known for thirty-fve years as respectable
women in that vicinity. The groom, if
such a name can be applied to the
leading spirit in the transaction. has
been known for ten years, in Martinsburg,
as lady of correct habits, modest demeanor
and marked intelligence and refinement His
or her name is Jane Catherine Jaynes During
the ten years referred to Jane Catherine has
kept a little store in the village known as Rest
thirteen miles from Martinsburg and eight miles
from Winchester, on the Winchester pike.
There Is no BETTER known family in that section
than the Jaynes. The mother was left widow
In comfortable circumstances some years since,
and married again, but subsequently separated
from her second husband, and now lives on one of
the best farms IN Frederick county Virginia,
near the town of Rest, before mentioned.
She reared seven. children successfully, four of
whom married prosperous farmers in that neigh
borhood Another lives at this time with her
mother Still another conducts a fiOurishing
school for young ladies near her mothers home,
and the remaining one Jane Catherine. who
from childhood evinced remarkable business
talent, has. from time of attaining years of ma
tuTlty, been engaged in commercial pursuits
No one in that vicinity is more favOrably known
than the last mentioned. Living quietly and
attending closely to business, the neighbors
gradually came to look upon the proprietor of
the little store as an old maid, 'bOrn to
blush unseen and waste her sweetness
on the desert air." Judge, therefore of their as
constituent when. on last Tuesday, Jane Cathe-
rine appeared in Martinsburg, boldly announced
her conversion from the gentler to the sterner
sex, purchased and arrayed herself in a suit of
masculine habiliments including silk hat and
redtop boots, and followed up this performance
by stating her intention of marrying Miss Annie
Hinton, lady who for years has been her asso
ciate and assistant in the commercial establish
ment at the town of Rest. In the explanation
furnished Jane Catherine stated that there had
never been any occasion to doubt her femininity
until about fortnight ago, when she was
led to visit DR.. Mcclure and Dr. Love- at Win
chester, the result of which that they an
nounced to their patient that there could be no
doubt as to perfect masculinity, and that the
ignoramus, who superintendent Jane GATHERINGS
advent into the world, deserved to be prosecuted
for the dense stupidity which brought about the
subsequent wearing of petticoats instead of
trousers. Armed with this information Jane
Catherine lost no time in carrying out the pro
granlme before mentioned. The license issued
for the ceremony was made out in the name of j.
q. Jayne instead of Jane Catherine Jayne it
being ]. C.'s intention to have the feminine
name OF Jane changed to the more suitable one
of John, as soon an act of the Legislature can
be procured for that purpose.
Of course the community in which this start
ling metamOrphosis has occurred is considerably
stirred up over the event, but there is no doubt
as to the facts stated, and no one questions the
purity and sincerity of the parties to the mat1i-
monial contract. There are no more reputable
physicians in the valley of Virginia than the
medical gentlemen referred to. DR. Mcclure is
widely known as skilful surgeon and Dr.
Love, the other practitioner is a son-in law Of
the Hon Charles James Faulkner and highly
esteemed physician and gentleman The two
who were oday joined together in matrimony
have not only been associated together in
business, bnt have lived together for years in the
closest social intimacy, working, eating and
sleeping together without the suspicion that they
belonged to opposite sexes Some indignation
at first expressed among their neighbors
over the present discovery. One preacher in the
neghborhood, who recently invited Jane Gather
inc to sleep with his wife during a joint visit
scolded to-day considerably becituse his invita-
ton was accepted but ON further investigation
of the matter he became pacited, and Joined in
the general congratulations extended to
the happy pair. AS the people thus
strangely brought together stood at the
altar to-day Jane Catherine presented a
somewhat delicate but manly and determined
appearance. Where the luxuriant chignon for
merly depended the hair was neatly and closely
trimmed, and the radiant eountenanee, gultless
of mustache or whiskers, looked positively hand
some in comparison with that Of the bride who is
apparently two or three years older and hardly
as prepossessing in personal appearance as her
companion. The newly welded pair will aftera
short visit among friends and relatives, settle
down in their former home, and it is to be hoped
that they will enjoy their present happiness in
definitely, while at the same time continuing to
present striking Illustration that truth is
stranger than fiction.