From "The James Harris - Mary Cherry Family" by Fielder Bowie
Harris, August 1935:
The Hollenback Ancestral Families
This line has been traced in full by Edward Welles. Of Wilkes-Barre, Pa.,
a grandson of Matthias Hollenback described further on. Complete records
were available and these Mr. Welles collected for a Family Tree in 1878.
These records and letters written by Mr. Welles to the writer's uncle, George
Harris in 1880, to his brother Charles in 1906, and to his son, Clarence
in 1911, give a complete and authentic history of the Hollenback ancestry.
George Hollenback (originally Hollenbach),
our immigrant ancestor, born in 1670, and his wife, both of German parentage.
came from the Kingdom, then Grand Duchy of Wurtemburg (now a part of Germany)
in 1717 and settled in Philadelphia County, Pa., where he died July, 1736.
He left, for that time, a goodly property to his four children: Matthias,
John, Mary Katherine, and George. Of these four, John Hollenback became our
next ancestor. He was born in 1720, at New Hanover, Montgomery (then
Philadelphia) County, Pa., and when grown moved to near Jamestown, Lebanon
(then Lancaster) County, Pa. There he married a widow, Mrs. Eleanor Stout,
whose maiden name was Jones. From this union a family of five resulted, from
whom all the eastern families of Hollenback, Welles, Laming, etc., and all
the western families of Cherry, Harris, Hollenback, Raymond, etc., have
developed. Our next ancestress was the youngest of the five children but
brief mention is made of the others in order of birth.
I) George, 1748-1824, married Hannah Barton and had
a family of 17 children! Soon after his marriage he moved further west along
the Mononghehela River. Several of his children went to the "Ohio Country"
later and he died at the home of one of these near Zanesville.
II) Jane, 1750-1822. She married David Hunter of Martinsburg,
VA., and had five children, three sons and two daughters. None of the suns
ever married. The older daughter married Dr. Alexander Straith: she died
a few years later and the Doctor married the younger sister.
III) Matthias, 1752-1829. In 1769 Matthias located
at Wyoming, now Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Later he there established a profitable
mercantile business into which a few years after he took his younger brother,
John, as a partner. In this they were engaged when the Revolution began,
with their youngest sister, Mary Ann, then only 16 years old as their
housekeeper. and who sometimes helped in the store. Matthias soon entered
the army as a commissioned officer and fought in the New Jersey campaign
under Washington. He resigned in 1778 to return home and help rescue the
valley from the combined Tory and Indian forces, led by the notorious John
Butler, a dastardly New York Tory. Some time before the historic massacre,
Matthias had sent John and Mary Ann. with all the books, papers, etc., of
the business, down the river for safety.
After the war he married Sarah Burrett, studied law and later served for
30 years as Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of his state. Matthias had
no sons, but through one of his daughters he became the ancestor of Gen.
John F. Hartranft, who distinguished himself in the Civil War and as governor
of his state, Pennsylvania. For more see
Colonel Matthias
Hollenback.
IV) John 1755 -?? He was associated with his older brother
Matthias till after the war began. When it was over he married Elizabeth
Stansbury and lived for some time at Wilkes-Barre. He had two sons: John
and Matthias. The further record of John and his descendants is missing.
V) Mary Ann, 1761-1796. She was our next ancestress,
the writer's great grandmother, and deserving of more than passing notice;
for in her comparatively short span of life was crowded much of the tragic
and heroic as well as the romantic, with later the care of a large household
and family. She was born near Jonesboro, Pa., June 15, 1761. She seems by
nature to have been energetic and efficient. When barely sixteen she went
to Wyoming to keep house for her brothers and help in their business. There
she met Elias Bixby, a young soldier, and after a courtship interrupted by
the early events of the Revolution the two plighted troth and were to be
married, "when the war was over."
But her husband to be was killed in the battle of Wyoming, July 3rd, 1778.
Mary Ann had been sent down the river to safety and it was six weeks before
she received definite evidence of his death in the form of certain "keepsakes"
found on his dead body. She never returned to Wyoming.
Nearly all the settlers in the valley perished; for the few troops left at
home, mostly old men and boys, were no match for the sudden onslaught of
the fierce, crafty, weather-hardened Indians and the even more savage Tories.
The entire valley was for a time at the mercy of these dastards. Helpless
children and women were tortured, tomahawked, and treated in every conceivable
beastly manner. The hapless captives were shown no mercy. Near Wilkes-Barre
(formerly Wyoming) is preserved a large flat stone. well protected from unfeeling
"relic hunters;" on this stone "Queen Esther," a fiendish Indian female,
beat out the brains of sixteen helpless captives. Two broke loose and escaped.
Death in the wilderness was preferable to capture by the Indians; for those
who escaped to the woods had no time for preparation, many were mere children,
and so often perished, in the solitude of the Pocono forests, from the unusual
and blistering heat, lack of food or water, or from the wild beasts. So ghastly
was it all that the wilderness region was long known as "The Shades of Death".
It was often weeks before the bodies of the dead were found, if at all.
There is a family tradition that the father of Mary Ann, John Hollenback,
who lived some distance from Wyoming, escaped by the ruse and aid of an Indian
to whom he had been friendly. This Indian sought John out and tomahawk in
hand pretended to be pursuing him, but at the same time calling to him softly:
"Run, John Hollenback, run, run for your life!" Needless to say John ran,
and so escaped the general death.
Stunned by the tragedy Mary Ann went to live with her married sister at
Martinsburg, Va. There her native energy soon reasserted itself and she found
relief from her sorrow by helping in every possible way the American cause,
as nurse, secretary, hostess, and messenger. It was in this later capacity
that she met Captain William Cherry, early in the spring of 1779; he was
stationed at Martinsburg as recruiting officer, with the rank of Captain.
Both were ardent patriots and it seemed but natural, though the Captain was
many years her senior, that their friendship developed into matrimony, and
they were married December 24, 1779.
It may be interesting to note that the wedding ring given by William to his
wife was by her bequeathed to their youngest daughter, Mary, who married
James Harris. She in turn passed it on to her youngest daughter, Martha Harris
Stackhouse. Martha had no children and gave it to Mary Katherine Zillefrow,
a grandniece. She gave it to Dorothy Smith, now Mrs. Weisner, because she
was doubly descended in the Cherry line; her father, Samuel, being a great
grandson of Eleanor Harris Villars, and her mother. Maud Statler-Smith, a
granddaughter of Mary Harris Statler.
From "History of the Wyoming and Lackawana Valleys"
CIST, HOLLENBACK, WEISS, COCK FAMILIES. Jacob Cist was a son of Charles Cist who is mentioned at length elsewhere in this work (See Wright family). Jacob Cist was born in Philadelphia March 13, 1782, died in Wilkes-Barre December 30, 1835. Charles Cist was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, August 15, 1738, died Fort Allen December 1, 1805: married, Philadelphia, June 7, 1787, Mary Weiss, born June 22, 1762. Charles Cist was a son of Charles and Anna Maria (Thomassen) Cist. The younger Charles matriculated at the University of Halle, Germany, April 23, 1755; was exiled to Siberia, 1767 ; fled a political refugee to America 1773, reaching Philadelphia October 25, where he became printer, publisher, soldier of the Revolution; was private, in 1777, Capt. George Esterley's company, Col. William Bradford’s regiment, Philadelphia militia.
Sarah Hollenback, who married Jacob Cist, was great-grand daughter of George Hollenback, died July 23, 1736, who prior to 1734 owned lands and paid quit rents in Hanover township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. His son, Johannes Hollenback, born September 9, 1720, died in Martinsburg, Virginia, August 9, 1783, married Eleanor Jones. Their children were baptized by the Rev. John Casper Stoever and were: Maria, born February 9, 1748; Jenny Maria, 1751; John Matthias, born February 17, 1752, died Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, February 18, 1829; Anna Maria, born June 13, 1761. John (Johannes) Hollenback took up land in Lebanon township, Lancaster (now Lebanon) county, Pennsylvania, 1750, and removed thence to Martinsburg, Virginia, where he died. John Matthias Hollenback (commonly known as Matthia Hollenback) came to Wyoming in 1769 and became a wealthy merchant; was commissioned ensign Twenty-fourth Regiment, Connecticut, under the Crown, October 17, 1775; commissioned ensign by continental congress August 26, 1776; served in New Jersey and at Wyoming, 1776, 1777 and 1778; was justice of the peace, 1790-1829; lieutenant-colonel Pennsylvania militia, 1787, 1792-93; associate judge of Luzerne county, 1790-1829; was first treasurer of Luzerne county. Judge Hollenback married, Wyoming, April 20, 1788, Sarah Burritt, born Stratford, Connecticut, November 19, 1750, died Wilkes-Barre July 21, 1833, and they had children: Mary Ann, married John Lanning; Eleanor Jones, married, August 15, 1816, Charles F. Welles; Sarah married, August 25, 1807, Jacob Cist, and George Matson Hollenback.
Thanks to Catherine Comeau for the following:
Historical Gazette of Tioga County, New York,
1785-1888
by W. B. Gay, Syracuse
John Hollenback was born near Wilkes-Barre, Pa., November 2, 1780. He came to Owego in 1801 or 1802, and commenced a general mercantile business. He died, childless, June 13, 1847, and bequeathed the greater portion of his large property to his nephew, George W. Hollenback
George W. Hollenback was born at Wyalusing, Pa., August 25, 1806. He entered the store of his uncle, John Hollenback as a clerk, in 1831. He was engaged for many years in the mercantile and lumbering business. He died in Owego December 30, 1878. Mr. Hollenback was supervisor of the town of Owego in 1850, 1851 and 1855; trustee of the village in 1852, 1854 and 1862, and president of the village in 1854 His sons were William H., Frederick, John G., and Charles E. Hollenback.
George W. Hollenback, for nearly fifty years a prominent business man of Owego was born in Wyalusing, Pa., August 25, 1806. He was the eldest son of John Hollenback of Martinsburg, who left his birth-place and settled in Pennsylvania in 1795. He was for many years engaged in business and was on intimate terms with the old time merchants of Philadelphia. A gentleman of the old school, he was distinguished for an ease of manner and a generous hospitality which attracted many friends. His son, George, first came to Owego in 1816, for the purpose of attending school. On the fifth of December, 1828, he returned to Owego and entered the store of John Hollenback as clerk, where he remained until 1831, when he entered into business -for himself, near Towanda, Pa. After his marriage with Miss Gordon, a lady of Scotch-Irish parentage whose ancestors on the father's side were distinguished in Scottish history, he acceded to the earnest wish of his childless relative, and with his wife removed to Owego, in 1838, and again entered the store of John Hollenback, who was widely known as one of the most active and energetic business men of his day. In the fall of 1847 Mr. Hollenback, with Jacob Hand, entered into a partnership with Mr. William H. Bell, who had also been a clerk for John Hollenback,, under the firm-title of Wm. H. Bell & Co., which partnership continued twenty years. They conducted an extensive general mercantile business, and engaged largely in the manufacture and traffic in lumber. On January 16, 1867, the firm, from which Mr. Hand had previously withdrawn, was dissolved by mutual consent, and the property owned by them was divided. Mr. Hollenback retained the store and Mr. Bell took the saw-mill and lumber tract in the south part of the town of Owego, and after the dissolution of the firm of William H Bell & Co., Mr. Hollenback took two of his sons, George F. & John G., into partnership with him, and continued the general mercantile business until the fall of 1871, when they disposed of their stock and commenced a wholesale and retail crockery business. This business they continued until October, 1873, when they sold their stock to D. C. Tuthill. Mr. Hollenback took a great interest in public affairs. He died at his home in Owego, December 30,1878, aged seventy-two years. His wife, who had been an invalid, suffering from consumption for several years, survived him a little more than two years, passing peacefully away on the morning of April 14, 1881. Of the four sons and three daughters born to them, the youngest daughter died October 28, 1874. Two daughters remain at the homestead, which was bequeathed to them and their brother Charles E., by their father.
William Henry Hollenback married Mary McLain, of Owego, in July, 1868, and by whom he has seven children. He resides on his farm, in the town of Owego George Frederick or "Fred," as he was familiarly called, was born in Owego. He received his education here and at the Brookside school, pre-sided over by the Messrs. Judd, at Berkshire, and finally at a private school. In April, 1861, he enlisted in the 3rd Regt., N. Y. Vols., and served two years under Gen. I. S. Catlin. In 1878 he married his cousin, Augusta, daughter of George Gordan, of Frenchtown, Pa., by whom he had one child; George Frederick. He died May 11, 1882. John Gordan early evinced a predilection for a mercantile career. After finishing his studies he entered the store of W. H. Bell & Co., as clerk. He afterward spent some time in Rochester, N. Y. He returned and entered into business with his father and brother. After two or three years, they disposed of the business, and he accompanied his brother to California, where he remained a year. On his return he entered into partnership with C. A. Link, in the clothing business. In October, 1875, he married Miss Lizzie Dean, of New York. They have one daughter, Florence, and reside at Los Angeles, Cal., where Mr. Hollenback conducts a real estate business.
Charles Edward Hollenback was born in Owego, Feb. 3, 1849. He prepared for college at the Owego academy, under the tutorship of Prof. Prindle. He entered Union college at Schenectady, N. Y., in 1868, and was graduated therefrom in the classical course in 1871, taking the first prize in oratory. In September, 1871, he commenced the study of law, in the office of Hon. John J. Taylor, and was admitted to the., bar in 1874, when he formed a partnership with C. D. Nixon, known as the firm of Nixon & Hollenback, which continued for a year. In 1876 and 77, he had charge of the law office of Hon. E. B. Gere, who was then a member of assembly. He afterward opened an office on his own account, with a large and constantly increasing practice. Mr. Hollenback, or " Dick," as he was called by his friends, was one of the most active of Owego's young Democrats. He was chosen chairman of the Democratic county committee, in '81, and continued at the head of that committee until he was taken sick. He was the Democratic candidate for district attorney in 1876 and 1882, and for supervisor of the town of Owego, in the latter year. He died November 9, 1884.
Thanks to Catherine Comeau for the following:
Early Owego by Leroy Wilson Kingman
JOHN HOLLENBACK
John Hollenback was one of the early merchants of Owego. He was a large owner of timbered property, a manufacturer of lumber, and a man of extensive business transactions. He was a son of Geo. Hollenback of Mill Creek, a place situated about a mile above Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and was born November 2, 1780. He came to Owego in 1801 or 1802 and began a general mercantile business. His first store was on the south side of Front street. above Lake street. At night he slept on a side sole leather on the counter of his store.
Mr. Hollenback was successful in all his undertakings. He invested largely in real estate. In 1805 he owned two hundred acres east of Paige street, and in 1815 he was the possessor of 856 and 1/2 acres, comprising nearly all the land bounded west by a line east of Paige street and extending a little east of the Little Nanticoke creek. At the time of his death in 1847 he owned about 2,000 acres of land in a body in and near Owego village, together with his father's homestead at Wilkes-Barre Pa.
In 1813 or 1814 Mr. Hollenback had the lease of the Onondaga and Montezuma salt works. In 1814, at the close of the war of 1812 he owned all the salt that was in the market and had it stored in arks on the Susquehanna river at Port Deposit, Md. This salt was held from $16 to $20 a barrel. Had the war continued a few months longer he would have made a clear profit of $40,000, but peace was declared Dec. 4 and the price fell so low that Mr. Hollenback lost about $20,000 on his investment.
Soon after this Mr. Hollenback opened a hardware and tin store in James Pumpelly's two story wooden building, which stood on the north side of Front street, a few rods west of Paige street. The upper part of the building was occupied by Stephen B. Leonard as the publication office of the Owego Gazette and as a post office, Mr. Leonard being the postmaster. This store, which was then considered "out of the village," was afterward converted into a dwelling house and is now occupied by A. C. Burt.
About the year 1812 Mr. Hollenback moved down into Judge Drake's store, which stood on the south side of Front street, opposite Lake street and was on the site of the present Central drug store. There he remained three or four years, and then removed to the store that William A. Ely had built and occupied on the south side of Main street, opposite North avenue.
In 1840 he removed once more, this time into the Camp store, which stood on the south side of Front street, a little west of Park street. A little later be removed up the street to Charles Pumpelly's old store. which stood opposite where the Ahwaga house now stands, and there he continued the mercantile business until his death, June 13, 1847.
Soon after coming to Owego, Mr. Hollenback established a branch store at Ithaca, in 1804, which was managed by a man named Isaacs.
Mr. Hollenback was a man of strong determination and extraordinary energy of character. In his centennial history of Tioga county, published in 1876, William F. Warner wrote of Mr. Hollenback as follows:
"Had this gentleman lived at a time military leadership was demanded, he would unquestionably have made one of the ablest commanders who ever led an army. He dealt largely in the purchase and manufacture of lumber. His impaired hearing forced him to withdraw himself from social life, and he devoted himself assiduously to his extensive business. Those, however, who had access to him in his home circle, found him a genial man and an accomplished conversationalist. He was well informed, and kept abreast with the foremost in all matters of general interest, although seemingly absorbed in business matters."
While conducting the Ithaca store, Mr. Hollenback had some trouble with Eleazer Dana, one of the early lawyers in Owego. In order to annoy Mr. Hollenback, Mr. Dana waited until he had left town and got nearly to Ithaca, when he served a summons upon him and caused his immediate return to Owego. Mr. Hollenback was so infuriated at this summary action that he attacked Mr. Dana with a cowhide. Mr. Dana sued him for assault and recovered $100 damages.
When Mr. Hollenback began business in Owego he could not agree with one of his rivals in the mercantile business. He employed many men in making arks and rafts of lumber, but for some unknown reason the men would leave his employ abruptly when he most needed their services, and would make no explanation for their course. Finally one man was candid enough to inform him that his rival in business was the cause, he telling the men that Mr. Hollenback was irresponsible and they would not receive their wages. Mr. Hollenback, with his rawhide, went to his business rival and threatened to use the whip over his shoulders should there be any repetition of the trouble, it is needless to say he was subjected to no further annoyance.
Mr. Hollenback was a hard worker himself, and would employ none who was idle or lazy. It is related of him that when an applicant for work came to him he would examine the seat of his trousers. If it was patched or worn, he would give him no employment.
Mr. Hollenback lived in a house which stood on the north side of Front street, on the third lot west of Paige street, later owned by his brother-in-law, William Pumpelly. The house stood so near the street that when Front street was regularly laid out and straightened by a surveyor, the house was left close upon the sidewalk. This house, which was a large one, was several years afterward cut in two, moved away, and converted into tenant houses.
Mr. Hollenback's wife was Susan Welles, daughter of George and Prudence (Talcott) Welles. They were married Sept. 24, 1805. She was born Jan.10, 1783, and died in Owego Feb. 7, 1865. Geo. Welles was a native of Connecticut, who settled at Athens, Pa., about the year 1800.
The portrait of Mr. Hollenback, which illustrates this article, is from a photograph taken by Mr. LaSon from an oil painting. The painting is the work of Mrs. Hollenback's sister, Miss M. A. Welles, who afterward became Mrs. Wm. Pumpelly. The painting was owned by the family of Geo. W. Hollenback for many years, and it is now the property of Frank M. Baker, of Owego.
Some time previous to his death, Mr. Hollenback had expressed his intention of founding some kind of a public institution in Owego, by which his name would he handed down to posterity, and he had made a partial will to that effect, but he was taken ill while his nephew, Geo. W. Hollenback, who for many years had had almost entire charge of his extensive lumber business, was down the river, and, at the last moment, being unable to carry his intention into effect, he devised the greater portion of his large estate to his nephew, at the same time leaving a portion of the property in trust for the support of his widow during her life.
At the time of his death Mr. Hollenback had one brother, Matthias Hollenback, living at Wilkes-Barre.
GEORGE W. HOLLENBACK.
The first Hollenback in this country of whom there is any record was George Hollenback, a sturdy Dutchman, who settled in Wyoming county, Pa. He had a son, John Hollenback (1), who was born about 1720, whose wife was Eleanor Jones. Their children were, George, Matthias H., and John Hollenback (2).
George Hollenback was the father of John Hollenback, the Owego merchant.
Matthias H. Hollenback, a prominent business man of his day in Pennsylvania, and three children as follows:
Eleanor Jones Hollenback, who married Charles Welles of Athens, Pa.
John Welles Hollenback.
Mary Ann Hollenback, who married Gen. John Laning, one of the early merchants of Owego.
The third brother, John Hollenback (2) had a son also named John Hollenback of Owego, who was the father of Geo. W. Hollenback, of Owego. This John Hollenback (3) was born Oct. 14, 1775, at Martinsburg, Va., under the rule of King George III., but the family were not enthusiastically loyal subjects. In 1783, after the declaration of peace, his parents removed to
Morgantown, West Virginia, and in 1793 to Wilkes-Barre, Pa. He was engaged for his uncle, Matthias Hollenback in trade along the Susquehanna river in 1796. The next year he came up the river in a Durham boat and established a shad fishery at Wyalusing, the first in that part of the country. He soon afterward returned down the river with his boat heavily laden with salted shad. In 1801 he opened a store at Wyalusing, which was considered a marvel at the time, as he brought 2,400 pounds of goods from Philadelphia in wagons to Middletown, where they were, loaded on boats and pushed up the river. Mr. Hollenback died at Wyalusing March 13, 1867, aged 91 years.
Geo. W. Hollenback, who was the oldest one of John Hollenback's fifteen children, was born Aug. 25, 1806, at Wyalusing and came to Owego to attend school in 1816, at ten years of age, and remained here during the summer. December 5, 1828 he came again to Owego to live, and was clerk in his uncle, John Hollenback's store until August, 1831. In December, 1838, he again returned to Owego to resume his duties as his uncle's clerk, and he lived here all the rest of his life.
From six to nine months each year his time was occupied up and down the Susquehanna river attending to his employer's lumber business. In the fall of 1847, after John Hollenback's death, he entered into partnership with William H. Bell in the mercantile and lumber business and the partnership continued twenty years.
Wm. H. Bell was a son of William Bell. a farmer, who lived on the West Owego creek, about six miles north of Owego, where he was born, Nov, 18, 1811. At an early age he entered the store of Martin & Andrew's at Wysox, Pa., as a clerk. He afterward came to Owego and was for three years a clerk in David P. Tinkham's store. He was next employed in the same capacity in the stores of John Hollenback and Platt & Ely.
In 1837, Mr. Bell in company with Daniel G. Taylor and W. C. Taylor's, purchased the store of Platt & Ely and conducted the business under the firm name of Taylors & Bell until Jan. 25, 1839, when Mr. Bell sold his interest to his partner, who continued under the name of D. G. & W. C. Taylor. Their store was on the south side of Front street, the third store east of Lake street. Mr. Bell afterward became teller of the old Bank of Owego. Sept. 20, 1841, he left the bank to return to the mercantile business, having purchased W. C. Taylor's interest in the store. The new firm of Taylor & Bell continued until Nov. 15, 1847, when Mr. Bell purchased his partner's interest.
January 5, 1848, Mr. Bell, Mr. Hollenback, and Jacob Hand formed a partnership and began a general lumber business in connection with their store under the firm name of William H. Bell & Co. They owned a large saw mill on the south side of' the river, a little below the mouth of the Owego creek, and a large timber tract in the southern part of the town of Owego. After the burning of their store in the great fire of 1849 they erected a three story brick store - the sixth one above the bridge - into which they removed in December, 1850. The firm was dissolved Oct. 16, 1855, Mr. Hand retiring, and Albert Newell was received into the partnership. Sept. 1, 1866, Mr. Newell retired from the firm. Jan.10, 1867, the firm of Wm. H. Bell & Co. was dissolved and their property was divided. Mr. Hollenback took the store and Mr. Bell the mill and lumber tract. In August, 1870, Mr. Bell was stricken with paralysis and rendered entirely helpless and incapacitated for business. He died at the home of his brother, Charles T. Bell, in east Main street, April 20, 1876.
Mr. Hand came to Owego in 1829 from Otsego county and entered the lumber business with John R. Drake, later purchasing judge Drake's interest. He died in Owego April 27, 1874, aged 72 years.
Upon the dissolution of the partnership of William H. Bell & Co. Mr. Hollenback continued the mercantile business with his sons, Geo. F. and John G. Hollenback until the fall of 1871, when they sold their stock and directed their attention to the sale of crockery exclusively. In October, 1873, they sold their stock to D. C. Tuthill and retired from business.
For many years and until 1856, all the ground on the south side of Front street east of Paige street was one vast lumber yard, where lumber was piled for shipment down the Susquehanna, while on the river it was being continuously made into rafts for shipment down to a market upon the first rise of the water.
Mr. Hollenback married Miss Jane Gordon, of Bradford county, Pa. in 1827. She died in Owego April 14, 1881. The family lived several years in the house which John Carmichael built on the Stephen Mack lot in Front street. In the summer of 1853 Mr. Hollenback built the large brick house on the south side, of Front street, east of John street, where he lived until his death on December 30, 1878.
Mr. Hollenback was three years a member of the board of village, trustees and president of the village of Owego in 1854. He was supervisor of the town of Owego in 1850, 1851, and 1855. He was a man of public spirit and did much to improve the eastern part of the village, laying out new streets and contributing to the general improvement.
Mr. Hollenback's children were William H., George F., Charles E. and John G. Hollenback, and Misses Alice and Mary H. Hollenback.
The Taylors came to Owego from Florida, Orange county, N. Y. Col. Wm. C. Taylor entered Dr. Jedediah Fay’s drug store as a clerk in 1833. Daniel G. Taylor came in 1826 and the brothers the next year entered into the mercantile partnership with Wm. H. Bell. Col. Taylor was for many years station agent for the New York and Erie railroad company at Jersey. He died April 9, 1892, in Brooklyn, aged 78 years. In 1861 when D. C. McCallum was appointed military superintendent of the railroad of the United States, Wm. C. Taylor was appointed manager of all the military railroads, to attend to their construction, repair, etc., with the rank of colonel.
Daniel G. Taylor lived during the latter part of his life in Chicago. Ill., where he died April 28, 1898, aged 89 years.
John Hollenback
1775-1867
Thanks to Catherine Comeau for the following:
Pioneer and Patriot Families of Bradford County,
Pennsylvania
1800-1825
By Clement F. Heverly
Towanda, PA. 1915
John Hollenback, son of George and Hannah (Barton) Hollenback, was born October 14, 1775 at Martinsburg, West Va. His great grandfather, George Hollenback, came from Germany previous to 1720 and settled in Montgomery county, Pa. In 1796 John went to Wilkes-Barre to live with his uncle, Colonel Hollenback, afterwards better known as Judge Matthias Hollenback. The first winter he was sent to Tioga Point with two sled loads of goods to replenish his uncle's store. Part of the way they could follow the Indian paths and the rest of the way they went on the river ice. He worked some on his uncle's farm, boated goods on the river and part of the time went to school. In 1798 he enlisted in the army under Capt. Samuel Bowman and was assigned to enlisting men for service in the prospective war with France. This duty performed and being strong, fearless and resolute, he was sent South to hunt and arrest deserters. His company was disbanded in 1800 and for a short time he engaged in the tanning and distillery business with his cousin (also John Hollenback) at Mill Creek.
The following spring his uncle made him an offer of goods to keep store at Wyalusing. On the 6th of March, 1801, he left Wilkes-Barre with 2400 pounds of merchandise loaded on a big "fish" canoe. It took him four days to push up to Wyalusing. He commenced keeping his store in the house that had been occupied by Guy Wells, which stood on the main road about 60 rods below the cemetery. He kept bachelor's hall and boarded himself until January 15, 1803 when he married Rebecca, the youngest daughter of Edward and Mary (Stalford) Dougherty, who had moved from Valley Forge. Mr. Hollenback's goods were brought from Philadelphia in wagons to Middletown, Dauphian county thence pushed up the river in boats to Wyalusing, more than 200 miles. "Previous to his coming, Peter Stevens had kept a few goods in his house, where the George H. Welles barn now stands; Major Gaylord handled a few leading articles and Joseph Ingham had kept a small store at Sugar Run, but none of them had ever had so large an assortment as Hollenback unloaded from his boats." He rafted the first raft run out of Wyalusing creek from Town's mill.
In 1801 he presided over a memorable celebration of the 4th of July at Wyalusing. Jonas Ingham made an address on "Disputed Land Titles,'' in which he defended the claims of the Connecticut settlers and denounced with great severity the adverse legislation of Pennsylvania; Uriah Terry composed an ode on the death of Washington, which was song by Polly Sill; a huge bear, killed that morning and roasted, provided meat for the entertainment. In 1821 Mr. Hollenback built a grist-mill, where Welles’s mill now stands and at that time was one of the best in the county. He was for seven years postmaster at Wyalusing and long prominent in the business affairs and enterprises of that place.
In person, Mr. Hollenback was handsome, large, strongly built and of undoubted courage. The children of John and Rebecca Hollenback were Eleanor J., George, Nelson B., Harry Augustus, John Gordon, Edward Dougherty. Mrs. Hollenback died June 5, 1817, and April 26, 1818 Mr. Hollenback married for his second wife, Rebecca, daughter of John Birney. He died March 13, 1867 aged 91 years and his wife, December 25, 1884, aged 85 years. Their children were Rebecca, Clark, Eleanor, William, Charles, Sarah, Jackson and Chester.
Eleanor J., born October 14, 1804, married, 1823, Thomas Richardson, died January 6, 1825.
George, born August 26, 1806 married, January 22, 1833, Jane Clark Gordon of Standing Stone, died December 30, 1878.
Nelson B. born January 7, 1809, died May 23, 1885, unmarried.
Harry A., born June 26, 1811 married 1834 Olive A. Turrell, died August 17, 1888.
John G., born May 11, 1813 married Mrs. Bertha Davis, died September 25, 1877.
Edward D., born July 16, 1815.
History and Geography of Bradford County, Pennsylvania
1615-1924
by Clement F. Heverly
1801. -- John Hollenback, who had been engaged in traffic for his uncle, Matthias Hollenback, came to Wyalusing in the spring of 1801, bringing with him from Wilkes-Barre a cargo of merchandise. He opened a general store, and for many years devoted himself to business with great energy and was an enthusiastic promoter of local enterprise. In 1801 he presided over a memorable 4th of July celebration at Wyalusing. Jonas Ingham made an address on "Disputed Land Titles'' and Uriah Terry composed an ode on the death of Washington which was sung by Polly Sill; a huge bear, killed that morning and roasted whole, provided meat for the entertainment.
Obituary
John Hollenback, Esq., died at his residence in Wyalusing, March 13th, 1867, in the ninety-second year of his age.
Mr. Hollenback was born in Martinsburg, Va., Nov.14, 1775, a subject, though a rebellious one, of his majesty King George III. In 1783, after the declaration of peace, his parents joined in the sudden tide of emigration to the westward, and settled at Morgantown, on the Monongahela River, West Virginia; now talked of as the future capital of that new state. Ten years later he left that place and came to Wilkes-Barre where he had relatives; which place was his home until his final removal to Wyalusing.
Pending the present movement to restore the shad to our upper waters, it is interesting to know that in the year 1797 he came up the river to Wyalusing in a Durham Boat, for the purpose of establishing a shad-fishery; and that he soon after returned to Wilkes-Barre after a successful experiment, with his boat heavily laden with the salted shad.
In the year 1801 he removed to Wyalusing coming up the river in a canoe, with a small stock of goods for purposes of trade; which was the beginning of a trade of a considerable extent carried on for many years at various points in the valley.
Mr. Hollenback was the parent of fifteen children in all, of whom all but two or three have survived him.
Such men are a legacy to us from our dead and buried ancestry; links connecting the ever changeful and oblivious Present with the years of the sublime and heroic Past. Living throughout three generations, he wise one of the few, now alas, how few! whose lives extending to our time were co-extensive with the life of our nation. Within a few days we have been called to mourn as a nation the departure of the last survivor of the Army of the Revolution. Very soon we shall bury from our sight every soul of the men and women who were even living as babes in that historic time.
It is truly lamentable that this stalwart and long-lived generation should have been allowed to pass away without giving to the world more fully their rich stores of memory and experience. Within a twelvemonth have died men and women who knew more of our early local history, deeply interesting as it must be to their successors of the present and future generations, than any who have survived them. In this view their loss becomes a public bereavement, felt beyond the narrow circle of their family connections, and deeply felt by all who remember with tender regret the early struggles and hardships of our fathers, and cherish a laudable pride as well in their triumphs, as in the grand progress and development of the fabric of society which they founded. COM
I am writing this in hopes of clarifying some of the confusion between all of the various John Hollenbacks and who was who. Hope it does not makes things even more confusing.
Johannes Hollenback born September 9, 1720 in New Hanover, Montgomery County, PA died August 8, 1793 Martinsburg, VA., now West Virginia. He was the son of George Hollenbach and Maria Catherina Huber (?)* who immigrated from Wurtenburg in 1717 and settled in New Hanover, PA.
This was the first John Hollenback we have any record of in this country. He married Eleanor (Jones) Stout or Staudt about 1740. We do not know when or where she died, but it is believed she died prior to his move with his oldest son to Martinsburg.
Here lies the first confusion in whose father was which John Hollenback. Johannes and his wife Eleanor had three sons.
Son number 1 was named John George went by the name of George.
Son number 2 was named John Matthias went by the name Matthias
Son number 3 was named George John went by the name John.
Are you confused yet? If not it gets much worse.
Son number 1 (John George) went by the name of George. He was born about 1748 in Lebanon County, near Jonestown, PA married Hannah Barton in 1772, Lebanon County, and died June 28, 1824 near Zanesville, Ohio. He is also listed with the DAR and in the DAR extract of Revolutionary War soldiers graves as being buried in Muskingum County, Ohio. I have search and search and have not found his grave. Hannah (Barton) Hollenback died in Kendall County, Illinois, and was living with her son at the time of her death. I have not located her grave as yet.
He and Hannah actually had eleven children, all of whom lived to adulthood. If you want all of their names, birth dates, and death dates, I can provide that information. This George (son number 1) had a son named John Hollenback and who, when a teenager, went to live with his Uncle Matthias (son number 2) in Wilkes-Barre, PA. His Uncle set him up in business in Wyalusing, PA; he became a successful business man and had a family of 15 children with two different wives. I refer after this as, John Hollenback of Wylusing.
Son number 2 (John Matthias) went by the name of Matthias. He was born February 17, 1752 in Lebanon County, near Jonestown on the Swatara and died February 18, 1829 in Wilkes-Barre, PA. He married a widow of the Wyoming Massacre, Sarah (Burnitt) Hibbard, April 20, 1788. (This date is in question. Several other researchers as well as myself have done extensive research about this date. I'll explain later) They had a son named George Matson Hollenback, who never married but adopted his nephew, John Welles, (Eleanor Jones (Hollenback) Welles daughter of Matthias, son number 2) in order to carry on the family name. His name became John Welles Hollenback. Much has been written about Matthias. Any history book of Pennsylvania you pick up has information about Matthias and his son and grandson.
Son number 3 (George John) went by the name of John. He was born 1755 in Lebanon County, near Jonestown on the Swatara and died in 1797 in Wilkes-Barre. He married Elizabeth Stanburrough (also spelled Stansbury) July 23, 1778 in Lebanon County, PA. I kept trying to find Elizabeth's parents in Lebanon County believing that since they were married in Lebanon County but lived in Wilkes-Barre she must have come from Lebanon County. As usual, logic oftentimes does not prevail when it comes to genealogy. She actually moved to Wilkes-Barre with her father, Josiah Stanburrough, brother Adonijah, and mother from Tyronne County, New York. Her brother got into trouble with the Yankees (over the Pennamite-Yankee land dispute) and left Wilkes-Barre in a hurry leaving his valuable mill property to his father, who in turn left it to his daughter, Elizabeth. When she died in 1831 in Wilkes-Barre, she left the property to her younger son Matthias 2nd. Being a genealogist means you need to study history. John and Elizabeth's marriage date reflects history. July 3, 1778 was the then famous Wyoming Massacre. The entire valley was destroyed by the Tories and Indians. The refugees were a pitiful sight and the slaughter is still spoken of. Matthias's future wife, Sarah, almost lost her baby, Hannah Dower Hibbard, in fleeing the valley for safety. The state of Wyoming was named in honor of that dreadful event. Remember that Matthias had sent his brother, John, along with his sister Mary Ann (whose intended husband was killed during the massacre) down river with all his business papers for safety. I believe he also escorted his future wife. They may have even received warning from Elizabeth's brother of the impending doom. They were married less than two weeks later. Elizabeth and John also had a son John Hollenback. John and Elizabeth are both buried in the Hollenback Cemetery in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Right next to their graves is the grave of their son Matthias's wife also named Elizabeth. Their son Matthias was known as Matthias 2nd. He and his wife Elizabeth had nine children, one of whom was John M. C. born in 1869. If anyone is interested, I can supply that data as well.
John Hollenback (son of son number 3) was born November 2, 1780 in Wilkes-Barre and died June 13, 1847 in Owego, New York. He married Susan Welles born January 10, 1783 and died February 7, 1865 in Owego, New York. Susan's brother was Charles Fisher Welles, husband of Eleanor Jones Hollenback, Matthias's (son number 2) daughter and Aunt to John Welles Hollenback the adopted nephew of George Matson Hollenback. John and Susan never had any children.
Other researchers have said that John and Elizabeth's son John was the son of George and Hannah. The confusion lies in that his father's name was really George but went by the name of John. Also John Hollenback of Wyalusing had a son George W. who went to live with John and Susan Hollenback of Owego when he was about 10 years old in order to attend school. He called John and Susan aunt and uncle. We have to realize that 200 years ago Aunt and Uncle did not necessarily mean aunt and uncle in the same context it does in the year 2000. Uncle meant mentor and John was certainly a mentor to young George W. At the time of John Hollenback of Owego's death he left his entire estate except his father's homestead in Wilkes-Barre to George W. He was survived by one brother, Matthias 2nd of Wilkes-Barre.
George W. Hollenback had a son John Hollenback born in Owego, New York married Lizzie Dean of New York and moved to Los Angeles, California. He was involved in real estate. They had one daughter, Florence, who died in Mexico in 1921 while working for the Mexican Consulate . I believe she never married.
There is yet one more John Hollenback that is unaccounted for living in Bradford County, Pa and listed in the early marriages of that county.
George W. had a younger brother Harry who had a son John Hollenback. Harry and his family lived in Barton, New York just over the border from Bradford County, PA. This could very easily be that John Hollenback. Also John Hollenback of Wyalusing had 8 sons. We can eliminate George W. as the father, but any of the other 7 could easily have had a son named John.
I need to discuss the marriage date of Matthias Hollenback to his wife Sarah (Burnitt) Hibbard. Two of his daughters, Mary Ann and Eleanor Jones were born before that marriage date. I am sure Mary Ann was born February 27, 1783. Her obituary very clearly states she was 71 at the time of her death as does an article I found in Early Owego about her husband, General John Laning., as does her tombstone. That date was also stated in the History of Wyoming Valley written in 1906. I am also quite sure of Eleanor's birth date, January 1788, as it is also on her tombstone in Wyalusing, Pa. Question? Was Matthias married prior to his marriage to Sarah? Every article I have seen indicates that Sarah is the mother of both Mary Ann and Eleanor. She did have a daughter by her first husband. In fact it was one of her descendants which helped out another researcher whose work I found in Towanda, PA. Matthias Hollenback and Sarah Hibbard is listed as the first marriage performed by Judge Obadiah Gore April 27, 1788 in Sheshequin, Bradford County, PA. In doing research on Judge Gore, I find that he moved to Sheshequin in 1788. One book stated the marriage date as April 27, 1782. That would be a more correct date. This has caused other researchers besides myself concern. Several books have also stated "that shortly after the war Matthias married Sarah Hibbard, widow of the Wyoming Massacre." Right after the war would not have been 1788. So that question is still left unanswered. Were Matthias Hollenback and Sarah (Burritt) Hibbard married in 1782 or 1788? I also found a several hundred page thesis written about Matthias Hollenback and it states that Sarah was married three times not twice and that both her former husbands were killed in the Wyoming Massacre. I did find some date and place errors in that thesis. That question is still left unanswered. Was Matthias married prior to his marriage to Sarah (Burritt) Hibbard?
I hope this clears up some of the confusion.
Catherine Hollenback Comeau,
cats14818@yahoo.com
December 3, 2000
Descendants of George Hollenbach
1 George Hollenbach Born: 1670 in Germany Died: July 1736 in Philadelphia
County, Pennsylvania
2 Matthias Hollenback
2 Mary Hollenback
2 Katherine Hollenback
2 George Hollenback
2 Johannes Hollenback Born: September 09, 1720 in New Hanover, Montgomery
County, Pennsylvania Died: August 08, 1783 in Martinsburg, Virginia
+Eleanor Jones
3 George Hollenbeck Born: 1748 Died: 1824
+Hannah Barton
3 Jane Hollenback Born: 1750 Died: 1822
+David Hunter
3 John
Matthias Hollenbeck Born: February 17, 1751/52 Died: February 18, 1829
+Sarah Burnitt Born: November 19, 1750 in Stratford, Connecticut Married:
April 20, 1788 Died: July 24, 1833
3 John Hollenback Born: 1755 Died: 1797
+Elizabeth Stansbury
3 Mary Ann Hollenback Born: June 15, 1761 in Jonesboro, Pennsylvania Died:
1796 in Virginia
+William Cherry Born: 1741 in Frederick, Virginia Married: December 24, 1779