Sheboygan County, Wisconsin Genealogy & History
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This article was contributed by Kay Reitberger

Source: Sheboygan Press - January 22, 1913

Does Not Love Her

That is His Mother-in-Law Mrs. Clara Bowen Shepard -- The Husband of Daughter Tells of His Alleged Troubles -- Bride Well Known Here in Musical Circles.


Charging that his mother-in-law Mrs. Clara BOWEN SHEPARD, impresario, who had brought to Sheboygan many musical artists of note, objected to her daughter, Ann Mary, living with him as his wife after he had married the young woman, and allowing that he was forced to conform to certain rules as to his conduct with his wife, set down by Mrs. SHEPARD, Joseph ECKMAN, 28 years old, a piano tuner, on Tuesday filed suit for divorce. Mrs. ECKMAN is 26 years old.

ECKMAN brings his suit on the alleged grounds of cruel and inhuman treatment. According to the complaint they were married June 16, 1909 in the "Little Church Around the Corner," New York City. ECKMAN alleges that directly following the marriage he and his wife planned to go to Boston on their honeymoon to visit his parents and relatives and that Mrs. SHEPARD, who was present at the marriage, insisted on going with them at his expense and also insisted that her daughter travel as an unmarried woman and not with her husband.

Enamored Of Wife

He says he is of a quiet, sensitive nature and that at the time of his marriage, was enamored of his wife and was loath to hurt her feelings. He claims he suffered much anguish when his wife acceded to the wishes of her mother not to live with him as his wife and insisted on traveling as "Miss SHEPARD."

After the visit to Boston, he declares, they returned to Milwaukee, his wife still using her maiden name and posing as an unmarried woman among her friends. Up to the filing of the suit, he alleges, she refused to recognize the marriage. He says he did not care to make an open quarrel over his troubles owing to his love for his wife. He alleges that he lived in the household ostensibly as a boarder and that his wife and her mother gave out this statement to the world.

Mother-In-Law Lays Down The Rules

Shortly after their arrival in Milwaukee Mrs. SHEPARD made certain rules and gave him certain privileges around the house and told him in what manner he was to conduct himself to his wife, he alleges. He declares that when he refused to comply with these wishes he was ordered out of the house. His wife, he charges, refused to move with him.

ECKMAN declares that after moving he was permitted by Mrs. SHEPARD to make formal calls on his wife in the afternoon and that on such occasions he asked his wife to live with him and that she refused.

Sheboygan Press April 4 1913

Not On Speaking Terms

Son-in-law of Clara Bowen Shepard Becomes Angry at Her When Told He Couldn't Play


The many friends of Clara BOWEN SHEPARD, impresario of Milwaukee who conducted the Grand Opera here, with SCHUMAN-HEINK starring in it, will be surprised to hear that her daughter, Anna Mary ECKMAN is being sued for a divorce by her husband Joseph ECKMAN. In the testimony taken from the petition filed in the circuit court at Milwaukee, there is a certain piece of evidence relating to the manner in which Mrs. SHEPARD and he son-in-law had a social break. The following is taken from the Milwaukee Sentinel:

How Clara BOWEN SHEPARD incurred the displeasure of her son-in-law, Joseph ECKMAN, who is suing his wife, Anna Mary ECKMAN for a divorce, became known on Wednesday.

According to a transcript filed in Circuit court, containing testimony given in an examination of Mrs. ECKMAN before Court Commissioner James J. STOVER, ECKMAN became angry at Mrs. SHEPARD in New York shortly after the marriage when ECKMAN appeared before Joseffy, the famous musician, and played for him. After the recital Mrs. SHEPARD, it is said, asked Joseffy's opinion of ECKMAN's playing and whether it would be worth while to give her son-in-law a musical education.

According to the testimony the musician declared that ECKMAN had wasted his time for ten years and if he had any business to attend to he had better go home and attend to it and forget that such a thing as a musical instrument existed. At this frank but "cruel criticism," ECKMAN is alleged to have become enraged at Mrs. SHEPARD and has not spoken to her since the sad event.


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