USA > Pennsylvania > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 38
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 38
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In 1820 William Primrose of Philadelphia, who had been a friend and contemporary of Judge Lewis, wrote a very interesting sketch of the lat- ter's life. The original manuscript of Mr. Prim- rose was given into the possession of the Lewis family, and has remained there to the present time. In April 1896, the sketch was published in the "Pennsylvania Magazine of History." Philadelphia, accompanied by a silhouette of Judge Lewis.
Judge Lewis and his wife Rosanna Lort, had three children : Josiah, of whom later ; Martha, married Dr. Samuel F. Conover: Margaret, married May 23, 1792, Stephen Agard.
Josiah Lewis, only son of Hon. William and Rosana (Lort) Lewis, born Philadelphia, died 2d, 5mo., 1851, Lackawanna, Pa. (was buried in the Atherton burial ground, and in 1891, his remains, together with his wife's, were removed and re-in- terred).
Josiah Lewis came with his wife and infant son from Philadelphia to Wilkes-Barre, 1804, where he resided until 1809, when he removed to Kingston, Luzerne county. In 1818, he re- turned to Wilkes-Barre. In 1806 he was constable of Wilkes-Barre borough and town- ship: in 1821 he was deputy surveyor of Luzerne county; and from May, 1830, to May, 1833, he was burgess of Wilkes-Barre borough. In 1834 he removed from Wilkes- Barre to a farmi which he owned in what is now Old Forge, Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania. In the winter of 1838 he had a severe fall on the ice, and from that time until his death, which occurred at his home in Lackawanna county, he was a cripple-almost helpless. He was a good classical scholar, having received his education at the old Philadelphia Academy, and was a sur- veyor by profession. "He was an extraordinary man, and would have made his mark in any posi- tion in life. Cordial and social in his intercourse with his friends and neighbors, his company was sought and appreciated, and he was always a wel- come guest at social or convivial board."
He was married to Margaret Delany. 23d. 3mo., 1799, by Rt. Rev. William White, D. D. She died 31st, romo., 1852, aged seventy-two years. She was a daughter of Sharp Delany,
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who was a native of the county of Monaghan, Ireland, and came to Philadelphia before the Rev- olution.
Sharp Delany was born in Ireland in 1736, the son of Daniel and Rachel (Sharp) Delany, of Bally Fin, Queen's county. He received a thor- ough school education, and then learned the apothecary business. At the age of twenty-eight he immigrated to America, and in 1764 or `65 es- tablished himself as a druggist in Philadelphia, at the northwest corner of South Second street and Lodge alley, where he carried on an extensive and profitable business in that line for some years in partnership with his brother, Dr. William De- lany. The brothers dissolved partnership. De- cember 30th, 1788, and Dr. Delany continued the business. He was a deputy from Philadelphia to the Provincial Conference which met in Car- penter's Hall, Philadelphia, January 23 and June 18, 1775, and June 18 to 24, 1776. On the last named date the members of the Conference adopted "A Declaration on the subject of the In- dependence of this (Pennsylvania) Colony of the Crown of Great Britain," and unanimously de- clared their "willingness to concur in a vote of Congress declaring the United Colonies free and independent states." Thomas McKean, Benja- min Rush, Timothy Matlack and Sharp Delany were some of the Philadelphia deputies who signed this declaration, which was laid before the Continental Congress and read June 25. Three days later the first draft of the Declaration of Independence was reported to Congress by the committee having the matter in charge, and four days thereafter (July 2), the resolution was passed which formally declared the Independence of the Colonies.
Sharp Delany was captain of a company of Philadelphia "Associators" or militia, July. 1776, and early in 1777 he was promoted to the ma- jority of one of the city battalions, and about July I, 1777, he became colonel of the "Philadelphia Second Battalion of Foot in the service of the United States." He was elected by Congress, November 20, 1776, one of the seven managers "to carry into execution" a certain lottery, which had been previously authorized by Congress for the purpose of "raising a sum of money on loan, bearing an annual interest of 4 per cent, to be ap- plied for carrying on the (then) present most just and necessary war." In 1780 he subscribed 1.000 pounds to the bank established to supply the Continental army with provisions.
Colonel Delany was a member of the Pennsyl- vania Assembly in 1780-81, and in March, 1784, was appointed state collector of customs at Phil-
adelphia. He was appointed by President Wash- ington, May 8, 1789, collector of the Philadelphia port, and held the office for a number of years, certainly till 1797. He transacted the business of collector in the front portion of his residence on the southeast corner of Second and Walnut streets. In 1789 he was also state collector of imposts. He was a member of the Hiberian Society, the American Philosophical Society, and the Society of the Cincinnati. He possessed the friendship and regard of Washington, who was often a guest at his house. In one of the cabinets of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Soci- ety, Wilkes-Barre, is preserved a small lock of General Washington's hair, which was once pos- sessed by Colonel Delany, and was presented by one of his descendants to the Society. Colonel Delany died at his home in Philadelphia. May 13, 1799, and was buried in St. Peter's churchyard.
Colonel Delany's eldest daughter, Sarah, mar- ried October 17, 1787, in Christ Church, Phila- delphia, Major James Moore, son of James Moore, of Chester county. She was one of the belles of Philadelphia society. Major Moore served through the Revolutionary war with credit, entering the service as captain under Col- onel Anthony Wayne. During the troubles in the Wyoming valley in 1784, between the Connecticut settlers and the Pennamites, Major Moore commanded some of the soldiers sent by the state authorities against the settlers, and Charles Miner, in his "History of Wyoming" (page 349), describes him as having been the "active oppressor of the settlers, and confidential coadjutor of (Justice) Patterson."
Josiah and Margaret (Delany) Lewis had eleven children: (1) Margaret Delany, born I mo., 31, 1800, died 3 mo., 15, 1853; (2) William. born 3 mo., 7, 1801. died 5 mo .. 6. 1889: (3) Sharp Delany, born I mo., 2, 1804, died 3 mno., 25, 1879 : (4) Frances Baldwin, born 9 mo., 1807, died 4 mo., 15, 1860; (5) Martha Allen. born 9 1110., 20, 1809, died 7 mo., 3, 1882: (6) Josialı born Io mo .. 13. ISII, died 3 mo .. 17. 1815 : (7) Mary Anne D., born 12 mo .. 9, 1813, died 9 mo., 1848; (8) Josiah, born II mo., 15, 1815, died 7 mo., II, 1890; (9) Samuel Allen, born 6 mno., 28, 1817, died 5 mo., 31, 1886; (10) Phœbe E., born 6 mo., 23, 1820, died 6 mo .. 15. 1897; (11) Thomas R. D., born 8 mo., 1822.
Josiah Lewis, son of Josiah and Margaret (Delany), born in Kingston, II mo .. 15, 1815, died 7 m110., II. 1890. He was for a number of years engaged in the tannery business with Will- iam Bowman, at the corner of North and North Main streets, and afterward conducted a leather
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store on the east side of the public square, where he was burned out in the great fire which swept over that locality in 1855. He married Arabella Duncan Cahoon, 9 mo., 13. 1843, daughter of George Chahoon and Mary (Baker) Chahoon. George Chahoon was from 1804 until his removal to Hunlock's creek the leading carpenter, erect- ing most of the prominent buildings during that time. He was remarkable for industry, energy, probity and good workmanship. On occasional pleasure parties he was one of those whole-souled, true hearted men, who gave life to the occasion. His prejudices were strong, and his enemies like his friends, knew where to find him always, but no man was more placable. He never cherished anger when the disposition to be on good terms prevailed. There was this distinguished excel- lence in the character of George Chahoon. He spoke plainly just what he thought. There was no concealment about him. He was, as the say- ing is, open and aboveboard. He would tell a friend his faults, show where he was wrong, not offensively, but kindly, though he spoke it out. His wife Mary Baker, was the daughter of
Baker, who came from Connecticut and settled in Forty Fort, Luzerne county. Her mother was a sister of the celebrated American traveler John Ledyard, who was with Captain Cook when the latter was killed by the Sandwich Island savages.
Josiah and Arabella (Chahoon) Lewis had two children : George Chahoon Lewis, and Mary Chahoon Lewis, of whom later.
George Chahoon Lewis, born 8 mo., 14, 1844, married Mary Pomela Squires, 9 mo., 6, 1876, at Chenango Forks, Broome county, New York. She was a descendant of John Barker, one of the first settlers in Broome county, after whom the town of Barker was named. Their children are : Anna Chahoon Lewis, born 6 mo .. 17. 1877; Ruth Hyde Lewis, born II mo., 23, 1878, married 6 mo., 10, 1905, Arnold Rohn, born 7 mo., 29, 1890. Mr. Lewis was educated at Nazareth Hall, Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and is engaged in the real estate business in Wilkes- Barre. He served as private in Company I. Third Regiment Pennsylvania Militia, Capt. Agib Ricketts, 1862, for one month ; also in Com- pany K. Capt. E. W. Finch, Thirtieth Regiment, 1863, emergency troops.
Mary Chahoon Lewis, daughter of Josiah and Arabella D. Lewis, born May 26, 1846, married October 26. 1871, to L. Horace Gross, of Allen- town, Pennsylvania, son of John and Elizabeth (Deshler) Gross and grandson of Peter Gross, an active participant in the Revolutionary War. Two
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gross: Ara- bella Lewis Gross, born February 17, 1875; John Lewis Gross, born March 20, 1876. H. E. H.
ALEXANDER FAMILY. Among the early members of this family was John Alexander, of county Donegal, Ireland. He married Isa- bella Marks and had issue, all born in Ireland, as . follows: Thomas, mentioned hereinafter; Will- iam ; John, born 1753, married Jane Byers ; Sam- uel ; James.
Thomas Alexander, son of John and Isabella (Marks) Alexander, came to America in 1760 and settled in Carlisle, Cumberland county, Penn- sylvania. He was among the members of the First Presbyterian Church at Carlisle, in 1773 and 1775, as were also his brothers, William and Samuel Alexander. He married Agnes Mitchell. daughter of and Mary Mitchell, and their children, all born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, were as follows : John ; William, died in infancy ; William, called "Big Billy,' captain of the war of 1812; Thomas, a saddler by trade, was ensign in Captain Beckwith's company in the war of 1812; in 1826 he was a resident of Lewistown, Pennsylvania. but later went west, supposedly to St. Louis, Missouri, and there died : Mary, who became the wife of Samuel Clendenin, and had several children, one of whom married Robert Irvine, of Carlisle. Isabella, who became the wife of William Mackley, of Carlisle, in which city her death occurred. The parents of these . children died June 15, 1802, and April 12, 1794, respectively.
William Alexander, second son of John and' Isabelia (Marks) Alexander, came to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, subsequent to the year 1760, and was active in support of the colonies during the Revolution. He was commissioned first lieuten- aut in Captain Rippey's Company, Sixth Battal- ion of Pennsylvania, under Colonel William Ir- vine, January 9, 1776; was promoted captain, October 25, 1776; appointed major, Third Regi- mient of the Pennsylvania line, April 16, 1780; retired July 1, 1783. He was appointed July 8, 1786, to survey military roads west of the Al- leghany and Ohio rivers in Pennsylvania. Fam- ily tradition says he was appointed brigadier- general in 1812, but did not enter the service, although fully equipped for the campaign. He was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati of Pernsylvania. His certificate of membership is still in the possession of his descendant, John Alexander, of Center Moreland. Pennsylvania, and bears the signatures of Washington and
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Knox, being dated October 31, 1785. William Alexander died unmarried in November, 1813.
John Alexander, third son of John and Isa- bella (Marks) Alexander, came to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, after the year 1760, and distin- guished himself during the Revolutionary war. He was commissioned second lieutenant in Cap- tain Abraham Smith's Company, Colonel Will- iam Irvine's Sixth Pennsylvania Battalion, raised in the Cumberland Valley, January 9, 1776; first lieutenant, March 23, 1776; captain of Seventh Regiment Pennsylvania line, March 20, 1777; appointed paymaster of First Pennsylvania Regi- ment. August 27, 1778; transferred to Fourth Pennsylvania Regiment, January 17. 1781. He is believed to have attained the rank of colonel, but he resigned July 11, 1781, for the purpose of marrying, his betrothed being opposed to his re- maining longer in service. He was major of militia at Carlisle, September, 1794, during the Whiskey Insurrection. He married at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Jane Byers, daughter of John Byers, of Carlisle, formerly of Lancaster county, and their children were: John Byers, married at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1806, Sidney Smith, and settled at Greensburg. Pennsylvania. James, settled in Pittsburg. Thomas, settled in Pittsburg. Samuel, a lawyer at Carlisle, mar- ried a Miss Blaine. William. Isabella, married Andrew Carothers, at Carlisle. Rebecca. Jane
Mary. Margaret Elizabeth. John Alexander, father of these children, died at Carlisle, August 4, 1805. John Byers, father of Jane ( Byers) Alexander, immigrated to America from Ireland with his brother James before 1750. October 24. 1758, he held a commission from the crown as justice of the peace, and acted as an associate judge of the court of common pleas for the county. He continued in office until 1780, and at one time was president judge. In 1781 he was elected a member of the supreme executive coun- cil from Cumberland county. He was an active member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church at Carlisle.
Samuel Alexander, fourth son of John and. Isabella ( Marks) Alexander, came to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, with his brothers subsequent to the year 1760 and entered the Revolutionary army. His name appears among the members of the First Presbyterian Church at Carlisle in 1785. Subsequently he removed to Pittsburg and was a merchant there. He married. September 13. 1785, Isabella Creigh, daughter of John Creigh. and their children were: John, William, and Samuel. John Creigh, father of Isabella ( Creigh) Alexander, emigrated from Ireland to America
in 1761 and settled at Carlisle. He was a son of Jolin Creigh, a ruling elder of the church at Carmony, Ireland. John Creigh, Jr., was an ac- tive defender of American liberties. He filled many offices in the county, namely: register of wills, recorder of deeds, clerk of the orphans' court, justice of the peace, and president judge. Among his grandsons was Alfred Creigh, LL. D., and the Rev. Thomas Creigh, D. D.
James Alexander, fifth son of John and Isa- bella (Marks) Alexander, came to America with his parents. His wife's christian name was Mar- gery, and among their children was a son James, who was a professor in the University of Dublin, Ireland.
John Alexander, eldest son of Thomas and Agnes (Mitchell) Alexander, and grandson of John and Isabella (Marks) Alexander, was born at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He married. July 3, 1798, Hannah Downer Hibbard, born June 18, 1778, died 1827, and their children were : Thomas Hibbard. born June 18, 1799. died same day ; Sarah Agnes, born March, 1801, died Jan- uary. 7. 1805; William Hibbard, born No- vember 19, 1805, mentioned hereinafter. Han- nah Downer ( Hibbard) Alexander was the daughter of Cyprian Hibbard, who was killed by the Indians at the Massacre of Wyoming: his name is on the monument at that place. Han- nah Downer Hibbard was taken by her mother to Connecticut, the journey being made on horse- back, when she was only two weeks old. The mother remained in that state until the trouble was over, when she returned to the Wyoming Valley. She afterward married Judge Mathias Hollenback.
William Hibbard Alexander, son of John and Hannah (Downer) (Hibbard) Alexander, was born in Carlisle. Pennsylvania. November 19, 1805. He was educated in Wilkes-Barre. Later he received appointment as a midshipman on the "Constitution" that cruised around Pensacola, Florida, hunting up pirates, and finally, at the request of his mother, he left the navy and re- turned to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where he took up civil and mining engineering, which he followed for some years. He then retired to a farm, where he spent the remainder of his life, al- though following his profession. His farm is now in the possession of his son. William Mur- ray Alexander, referred to hereinafter. He was a man well known in Luzerne county, and took an active part in its affairs. He was known in poli- tics as a war Democrat. For many years he held the office of county auditor, and also served as county surveyor. He was a member of the Free
-
Miny Molander
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and Accepted Masons, in which he held all offices, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Wy- oming Historical and Geological Society, and the First Presbyterian Church. He married, Decem- ber 2, 1830, Maria Ulp, born March 17, 18II, daughter of Barnett Ulp, of Wilkes-Barre, who bore him the following children: Emily Isa- bella, died February 18, 1897 ; she was a member of the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames, and life member of Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. She was a woman of strong character and a disposition that made her parti- cularly dear to her intimate friends, who loved her with a strong and abiding affection. She was a student of the best books and found happi- ness in the association of the great minds of liter- ature, also a liberal student of the arts, which tastes had been fostered by extensive travels abroad. Caroline M., a resident of Wilkes- Barre. Marie Annie, who died at the age of seventeen years. John Barnet, born September 27, 1843, a retired farmer, resides at Center Moreland, Pennsylvania ; he is a member of the Pennsylvania State Society of the Cincinnati. Hannah Augusta, died at the age of seven years. William Murray, mentioned hereinafter. Charles Henry, born April 14, 1850, resides in Ohio and is interested in coal properties. He married, November 9, 1904, Edith Depew. William H. Alexander, father of these children, died in Han- over township, Luzerne county, May 3, 1864. His wife died March 2, 1875.
William Murray Alexander, second son of William Hibbard and Maria (Ulp) Alexander, was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, August 26, 1848. He was educated in the schools of his native city, and during his boyhood removed to Hanover township in 1859, remaining till 1863, in which year he removed to his present farm of forty acres, which is well cultivated and therefore highly productive. He served as supervisor and auditor , for many years, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity. In politics he is known as a war Democrat. He is a mem- ber of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. In 1889 he was united in marriage to Frances Stewart Pfouts, born in Lovelton, Wy- oming county, Pennsylvania, daughter of John and Rachel (Lemon) Pfouts, the latter named being a daughter of Judge Lemon. She was one of five children, two of whom are living, as fol- lows: Pierce Lemon, a resident of Covington, Kentucky, and Mrs. Alexander, who is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Wilkes- Barre, of which Mr. Alexander is an attendant.
H. E. H.
POWELL FAMILY. The members of the Powell family trace their ancestry to Arthur Powell ( I) who resided on a two hundred acre. farm near Great Egg Harbor, New Jersey. He- married Margaret Clement, a daughter of James Clement, who was born in England, emigrated. to Long Island in 1670, died 1728. James Cle- ment was a son of Gregory Clement, a native of England, a citizen of London, a merchant, a trader with Spain, and a descendant of a knightly family in Kent, England. Gregory Clement was a member of Parliament in the reign of Charles- I, was one of the commissioners for his trial, which duty he performed, and signed the King's. death warrant. For this deed he was executed by Charles II, at Charing Cross, London. After his execution, his estate was confiscated, his fam- ily scattered, and one of his sons, James, accom- panied by his wife Jane, emigrated to Long Island in the year 1670, as above mentioned. Richard Powell (2), son of Arthur Powell, was born 1713, died April 5, 1801. He was a resident of New Jersey, and served in the King's militia. He married Charity Chew. Richard Powell, (3) son of Richard Powell, was born 1743, died De- cember 28, 1818. He participated in the Revol- utionary war, having been a member of the- Gloucester county (New Jersey) militia. De- cember 1, 1783, he married Ann Cheeseman, who- died December 12, 1830. Abraham Powell (4), son of Richard Powell, was born February 27, 1792, died April 28, 1865. He was a resident of Philadelphia. He married Mary Sparks, born October 25, 1788, died December II, 1877. Rich- ard Powell (5), son of Abraham Powell, was. born October 5, 1811, died May 20, 1878. He was a naval architect, and resided in Philadel- phia. He married Hannah Stinsman, born 1813, died December 24, 1899.
William Thackara Powell (6), son of Richard Powell, and father of Mrs. George B. Hillman. was born October 30, 1837. He is a resident of Georgetown, D. C., a naval architect, and a mem- ber of the Sons of the Revolution. He married Katharine Hoover, born August 26, 1839, a daughter of Henry Hoover, born 1809, died 1877. Henry Hoover resided in Philadelphia, served as naval constructor in the United States navy- throughout the Civil war, and was retired as cap- tain. He married Hannah Flickwhier Baxter. Henry Hoover was a son of John Hoover, a resi- dent of Philadelphia, and a rope manufacturer. He married Mary Metz. John Hoover was a son of John Hoover, also a resident of Philadel- phia. He served in the Revolutionary war, being a member of a Pennsylvania company. He was.
1
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captain of the sloop "Hetty," of the Pennsylvania navy, was appointed steward September 12, 1776, and was promoted to captain June 1, 1777. H. E. H.
LEVAN FAMILY. For seven generations the race of the Levans has been resident in the United States, and for the greater part if not the whole of that period has been numbered among the population of Pennsylvania, the Wilkes-Barre branch being now represented by Louis E. Levan.
The first to emigrate was Jacob Levan (I), whose son Sebastian (2) was the father of John (3) and the grandfather of John (4). The last named was the father of John Klein (5), who married Kate Seidel, and was a resident of Berks county, Pennsylvania.
Franklin Klein Levan, A. M., D. D., (6), son of John Klein (5) and Kate (Seidel) Levan, was born July 15, 1831, in Maxatawny township, Berks county. At the age of seventeen he en- tered Elmwood Institute, Norristown, Pennsyl- vania, and after remaining there three years was admitted in the autumn of 1851 to the junior class of Marshall College, and two years later graduated with honors from Franklin and Mar- shall College. In the autumn of 1853 he taught in the Academy, Manchester, Maryland, and after a course in the Theological Seminary, Mer- cersburg, was licensed to preach by the synod convened in Reading, Pennsylvania, in October, 1856. The same year he received the degree of Master of Arts, and in 1891 that of Doctor of Divinity from his alma mater. In May, 1857, he was ordained at Stoyestown by the classis of Westmoreland, and continued to labor within bounds of this classis until 1861, when he became principal of the Westmoreland Colle- giate Institute at Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylva- nia. In 1866 he moved to Oakland, near Pittsburg, and in 1873 went to Wilkinsburg, subsequently removing to Philadelphia. In October, 1873, the board of missions of the tri-synodic compact completed its organization, and Mr. Levan, who up to this time had filled the office of missionary superintendent in the Pitts- burg synod, was elected superintendent of the missions of the tri-synodic board. This office was then new to the church and the labors which it in- volved were arduous and delicate, calling for the exercise of much skill and tact. Mr. Levan proved himself equal to the responsibility, and at the ex- piration of his term of four years the missions and the missionary operations were in a greatly im- proved condition. He organized a number of
churches, among them the church at which Presi- dent Roosevelt attends, the Reformed. This con- tinued until his removal to Wilkes-Barre, in 1878, when he too charge of Zion's Reformed Church, which during his pastorate became an important centre for church extension in the historic Wyom- ing valley, and in this position he remained up to his decease. During his pastorate in Wilkes- Barre he organized Zion's Reformed Church at Nanticoke, and the First Reformed Church at Plymouth. St. Luke's Church in the northern part of Wilkes-Barre was also organized with a nucleus of members from the congregation of which he was pastor. He also urged the neces- sity of and helped in preparing the way for the organization of Calvary Reformed Church at Scranton, and was a member of the classical com- mittee which organized it. At the meeting of the Eastern synod, in October, 1894, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, he was elected president of the same.
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