Person Page - 4

     Odella Hardenstine also went by the name of Matilda. She was born on 8 April 1842 at New York, New York Co., NY; Her birth date was recorded as 7 Apr 1842 in the Strunk Bible and 9 Apr 1837 on her tombstone.^1,2,3,4,5 She was baptized as Ottilia Hartenstein on 28 April 1842 at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, New York, New York Co., NY.¹ She married John L. Kays on 20 August 1863; John's middle initial was recorded as G. in the Strunk Bible.^2,3,5 Odella Hardenstine and John L. Kays sold a city lot 80 x 150 feet of land at East Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA, to Godfrey Hardenstine and Odella Hardenstine on 26 April 1876.⁶ Odella Hardenstine died on 15 September 1898 at age 56.⁴ She was buried in September 1898 at Prospect Cemetery, East Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.⁴

     John L. Kays was born on 10 July 1839 at Branchville, Sussex Co., NJ.^1,2,3 He married Odella Hardenstine, daughter of Godfrey Hardenstine and Odella Schaefer, on 20 August 1863; John's middle initial was recorded as G. in the Strunk Bible.^4,5,3 John L. Kays and Odella Hardenstine sold a city lot 80 x 150 feet of land at East Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA, to Godfrey Hardenstine and Odella Hardenstine on 26 April 1876.⁶ John L. Kays died on 30 May 1879 at Middle Smithfield Twp., Monroe Co., PA, at age 39.^7,2 He was buried in June 1879 at Prospect Cemetery, East Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.²
     As reported in the Jeffersonian Republican on 5 Jun, 1879, "Mr. John Kays of Smithfield Township was instantly killed on the farm of his father-in-law, G. Hardenstine, on the 30th of May by the chimney falling on him. He was aged 45 years and leaves a family of 7 children." I could only find evidence of six children.

     George Kays was born circa 1864 at PA.¹

     Edward Kays was a boiler engineer. He was born on 1 May 1866 at East Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.^1,2,3 He married Mary L. Van Why on 9 November 1888 at Columbia, Warren Co., NJ.⁴ Edward Kays and Mary L. Van Why were divorced after 1912 at Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA; Mary deserted the marriage on 25 Aug 1898 in the city of Binghamton, New York.⁴ Edward Kays married Martha Elizabeth Bush, daughter of Davis Walton Bush and Helen J. Brown, on 28 December 1916 at East Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA. Note that Martha was the widow of William Hardenstine; The marriage license says the marriage occurred on 29 December.^5,6,7 Edward Kays died on 24 August 1941 at Stroud Twp., Monroe Co., PA, at age 75.^1,2,8 He was buried on 27 August 1941 at Prospect Cemetery, East Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.^1,8,2

     Carrie Kays married John Eilber.¹ Carrie Kays was born on 20 December 1867 at PA.^1,2 She died on 4 January 1929 at Rosenkrans Hospital, East Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA, at age 61.¹ She was buried on 7 January 1929 at Prospect Cemetery, East Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.¹

     Sarah Kays married Harry Mount.¹ Sarah Kays was born on 30 August 1873 at Warren Co., NJ.^1,2 She died on 8 May 1910 at East Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA, at age 36.¹ She was buried on 11 May 1910 at Stroudsburg Cemetery, Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.¹

     Harry Kays was born circa 1873 at PA.¹

     Millie Gertrude Kays was born on 22 October 1876 at Bridgeville, Warren Co., NJ.^1,2 She married Emory Harmon, son of John Harmon and Sophia Mosteller, on 9 May 1887 at Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.³ Millie Gertrude Kays died on 29 January 1953 at Stroud Twp., Monroe Co., PA, at age 76.¹ She was buried on 31 January 1953 at Stroudsburg Cemetery, Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.¹

     Lee Oliver Bittner was born on 18 May 1907 at Penn Twp., Snyder Co., PA.^1,2,3,4,5 He was baptized in May 1907.¹ He married Marjorie Elizabeth Shafer, daughter of Charles Eugene Fisher and Angeal Woodside, on 3 March 1926 at Frederick, Frederick Co., MD.^6,7 Lee Oliver Bittner was a dye mixer⁸ in a dye works in 1930. He was a textile printer for Beacon Pierce and Die Company in Beacon Hill, New York between 1940 and 1972. He married Elizabeth A. Cobb, daughter of Frank Cobb and Lillian Repsher, on 25 July 1979 at St. John's Lutheran Church, Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.⁹ Lee Oliver Bittner died on 9 December 1989 at Pocono Medical Center, East Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA, at age 82.^10,4,3,11,5 He was buried on 12 December 1989 at Orchard Hills Cemetery, Shamokin Dam, Snyder Co., PA.^4,3,11

     Marjorie Elizabeth Shafer was born on 10 May 1907 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA.^1,2,3,4,5,6 She married Lee Oliver Bittner, son of Franklin Oliver Bitner and Minnie Mary Sechrist, on 3 March 1926 at Frederick, Frederick Co., MD.^7,8 Marjorie Elizabeth Shafer died on 7 February 1972 at Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA, at age 64.^2,3,4,5,6 She was buried on 10 February 1972 at Orchard Hills Cemetery, Shamokin Dam, Snyder Co., PA.^4,5,6
     As a young man, Lee worked with his father Frank and brother Carl on barges on the Susquehanna River dredging for coal. He worked during the 1920's and 1930's at Sunbury Converting Dye Works and Lebanon Dye. In 1941 he moved his family to Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania and began working at Pocono Textile in East Stroudsburg. During this time he twice worked for extended periods in Drummondville, Canada learning the new trade of textile roller printing. About 1954 he and Marjorie moved to Cold Spring and later Hopewell Junction, New York. He worked for Beacon Pierce and Die Company. In the mid 1960's they returned to 36 Bridge Street when he took another job in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. He later returned to work at Beacon until his retirement. He remained in the house on Bridge Street with his second wife Betty until his death.

     Marjorie worked at one time as a waitress at the Susquehanna Country Club near their home in Hummels Wharf. While living in Stroudsburg she also worked as a sales clerk at the JCPenny and Sears catalog department in Wycoff's department store. This was before they moved to New York.

     Elizabeth A. Cobb was a saleswoman. Elizabeth A. Cobb also went by the name of Betty. She was born on 15 March 1918 at East Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.^1,2,3 She married Lee Oliver Bittner, son of Franklin Oliver Bitner and Minnie Mary Sechrist, on 25 July 1979 at St. John's Lutheran Church, Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.⁴ Elizabeth A. Cobb died on 9 October 1994 at Bartonsville, Monroe Co., PA, at age 76.^1,3,2 She was buried on 13 October 1994 at Stroudsburg Cemetery, Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.^2,3

     Franklin Oliver Bitner was born on 19 March 1873 at Union Twp., Snyder Co., PA.^1,2,3,4,5 He married Minnie Mary Sechrist on 28 August 1892 at Snyder Co., PA.⁶ Franklin Oliver Bitner was a farmer between 1900 and 1910. He lived in 1914 at Hummels Wharf, Snyder Co., PA.⁷ He was a laborer in 1914.⁷ He was a laborer and thresher⁸ on 12 September 1918.¹ He was a laborer in 1920.⁹ He lived in 1920 at Monroe Twp., Snyder Co., PA.⁹ He was a laborer in a dye works¹⁰ in 1920. He died on 31 January 1938 at Hummels Wharf, Snyder Co., PA, at age 64.^11,3,12 He was buried in February 1938 at Witmer's (East) United Methodist Cemetery, Union Twp., Snyder Co., PA.^3,5,13 His estate was probated on 23 May 1940 at Snyder Co., PA.¹⁴

     Minnie Mary Sechrist was born on 18 November 1877 at Union Twp., Snyder Co., PA.^1,2,3 She married Franklin Oliver Bitner on 28 August 1892 at Snyder Co., PA.⁴ Minnie Mary Sechrist lived in 1920 at Monroe Twp., Snyder Co., PA.⁵ She died on 8 May 1927 at Sunbury, Northumberland Co., PA, at age 49.^2,3 She was buried in May 1927 at Witmer's (East) United Methodist Cemetery, Union Twp., Snyder Co., PA.²
     There has been much confusion about Minnie's name. Some people have said it was Mary Minnie. That is the name that her father used for her in his will. I have also seen it written as Minnie Mae. However, when Frank Bitner filled out his draft registration card for World War I, he named his wife as Minnie Mary. Her name on her tombstone is Minnie M.
     Frank and Minnie Bitner initially lived next to his parents' farm on Roosters Road. Frank probably farmed his parents' land with his father. The couple appeared in the 1900 census with their first four children: Bessie, Herbert, Allen and Earl. By 1910 one more child, Lee, was born. They had moved to a farm in Penn Township. According to his son Carl, this farm was located on Greenridge Road, about one mile west of Selinsgrove. Carl said that by the time he was born, they had moved to a home on the Susquehanna Trail just below Selinsgrove.
     By 1920 Frank and Minnie were living in Hummels Wharf, just below Shamokin Dam, with their younger children, Carl and Edna. This house was on the east side of the Susquehanna Trail near the intersection of Park Road. Frank was working as a laborer in a dye works⁶ at that time. The dye works was located in Sunbury.
     After Minnie died in 1927 and Frank remarried, he lived with his second wife Sadie. The younger children were living with their married siblings. Carl was with his sister Bessie and Grant Miller. Edna was with her brother Herb.
     Frank had an interesting occupation in addition to those listed in the census. He dredged coal from the Susquehanna River. I found several articles about this occupation, which was common in that area, in The Snyder County Historical Society Bulletin.^7,8 Please see them for a more detailed description of the operation.
     The coal mining regions north and east of Sunbury along the Susquehanna River and its tributaries dumped many tons of rock containing coal. The rock and waste coal was washed into the streams and floated downstream until it lodged in low points in the river. After many years of mining, the coal could be harvested from the river bottom by bucket or long-handled seives. People would use a barge to work from and to load the coal onto. As methods improved over time, steam and gasoline motors were used to operate the dredging machinery.
     According to the articles, many families dredged coal simply to supply their own needs, while others probably sold what they could. We have no way of knowing whether Frank worked for a profit or not. We also don't know when he began working on the river. However, Lee Bitner said that he and Carl worked with their father on the barge. If they were in their teens at the time, it must have been in the 1920s. We have one photo of Minnie Bitner and her sister Matilda Faust sitting on the barge. (See Figure XXX.) Based on other photos of Matilda visiting from Akron, Ohio, the date must have been about 1923.
     The administration of Frank's estate in 1940 indicates he had no valued possessions. He owned one 30-acre tract of land in Union Township that was vacant. I don't know if this is the same tract owned by Christian Bittner and then Jennie Brubaker.

     Angeal Woodside was born on 31 May 1892 at PA; Woodside family notes; census; Zion Lutheran Church records.¹ She was baptized on 15 August 1892 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Zion Lutheran Church records, DCHS. She died on 5 March 1943 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA, at age 50; Woodside family notes; tombstone.¹ She was buried on 9 March 1943 at Lykens Cemetery, Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Lykens cemetery.¹

     Susan Whipple was born circa 1848 at Susquehanna Co., PA.^1,2 She married Jacob Hardenstine, son of Godfrey Hardenstine and Odella Schaefer, circa 1873.^3,4 Susan Whipple died on 4 April 1875 at Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne Co., PA.¹ She was buried in April 1875 at City Cemetery, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne Co., PA.¹

     William Jeremiah Hardenstine was a railroad employee. He was born on 22 April 1874 at Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne Co., PA.^1,2,3,4,5,6 He was baptized on 9 January 1876 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Smithfield Twp., Monroe Co., PA.^1,4 He married Elizabeth Rachael Brown, daughter of Thomas Brown and Jane (?), on 21 September 1899 at St Joseph, Buchanan Co., MO.^7,2 William Jeremiah Hardenstine lived in 1918 at 624 S. 14th St., St Joseph, Buchanan Co., MO.⁶ He was a car carpenter for the Burlington Railway in 1918.⁶ He died on 19 August 1943 at Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO, at age 69.² He was buried on 21 August 1943 at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Lee's Summit, Jackson Co., MO.²

     Frank Darius Hardenstine was born on 23 July 1891 at Standing Stone Twp., Bradford Co., PA.^1,2,3,4,5 He married Nellie Jones, daughter of Frances L. (?), on 26 December 1912 at Towanda, Bradford Co., PA.^5,6 Frank Darius Hardenstine lived in 1917 at R.D. 41, Wyalusing, Bradford Co., PA.² He was a school teacher in 1917.² He lived in 1942 at Terry Twp., Bradford Co., PA.³ He died on 16 January 1956 at Terry Twp., Bradford Co., PA, at age 64.^1,5 He was buried on 19 January 1956 at New Era Cemetery, New Era, Bradford Co., PA.^1,5

     Edith Viola Hardenstine was born on 20 June 1894 at Bradford Co., PA.^1,2,3,4 She married James Edward Larrabee on 28 May 1912.^1,5 Edith Viola Hardenstine died on 20 March 1980 at St. Petersburg, Pinellas Co., FL, at age 85.^3,4

     Lydia M. Hardenstine was born on 6 August 1896 at Overton Twp., Bradford Co., PA.^1,2,3 She married Freeman Johnson circa 1917.^2,4 Lydia M. Hardenstine was buried at Kellogg Cemetery, Monroe Twp., Bradford Co., PA.² She lived in June 1979 at Towanda, Bradford Co., PA.¹ She died in June 1979 at age 82.^1,2,5

     Elma Carolyn Hardenstine was born on 12 January 1899 at Bradford Co., PA; Her birth date was listed as 1898 on her death certificate.^1,2,3 She married Floyd L. Platt in 1914.^2,4,5 Elma Carolyn Hardenstine died on 18 March 1961 at Athens, Bradford Co., PA, at age 62.^1,4 She was buried on 21 March 1961 at Tioga Point Cemetery, Athens, Bradford Co., PA.^2,1

     Maude Martha Hardenstine was born on 28 May 1907.¹ She married Charles John Christian on 18 January 1925.^1,2 Maude Martha Hardenstine died on 27 September 1957 at Lake Co., FL, at age 50.^1,2,3 She was buried at Sorrento, Lake Co., FL.⁴

     Evelyn P. Hardenstine was born on 29 September 1909.¹ She married James Mimms in 1927 at Lake Co., FL; The husband's name was listed as William H. Mims in the Florida marriage index.^2,1,3

     Aretta Evangeline Hardenstine was born on 29 November 1911 at Terry Twp., Bradford Co., PA.^1,2 She married James B. Baker on 26 November 1927.^1,3 Aretta Evangeline Hardenstine and James B. Baker were divorced in January 1954.² Aretta Evangeline Hardenstine married Howard J. Hatt on 27 January 1956.² Aretta Evangeline Hardenstine died on 5 December 1992 at Elmira, Chemung Co., NY, at age 81.^2,1 She was buried on 8 December 1992 at Forest Lawn Garden Masouleum, Buffalo, Erie Co., NY.²

     Ida M. Hardenstine was a saleslady. She was born on 3 November 1903.^1,2 She married George V. Wells on 26 May 1923.^1,3 Ida M. Hardenstine died on 18 April 1989 at age 85.¹

     Paul Adam Hardenstine was born on 17 May 1915 at Sayre, Bradford Co., PA; Ardis Hardenstine stated his birth date as 5 May.^1,2,3 He married Ardis Fern Gowan, daughter of Charles A. Gowan and Maude Robinson, on 17 April 1942.³ Paul Adam Hardenstine lived on 16 July 2002 at Elmira, Chemung Co., NY.² He died on 16 July 2002 at Elmira, Chemung Co., NY, at age 87.^1,2 He was buried on 19 July 2002 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Chemung Co., NY.¹

     Francis Darwin Hardenstine lived at New Era, Bradford Co., PA.¹ He was a farmer. He was born on 28 January 1927 at New Era, Bradford Co., PA.² He married Jean Ann Comstock, daughter of Lois Comstock, on 13 June 1953.¹

     Ardis Fern Gowan was born on 27 May 1915 at Evergreen, Bradford Co., PA.^1,2,3 She married Paul Adam Hardenstine, son of Peter Hardenstine and Alice Matilda Gowin, on 17 April 1942.³ Ardis Fern Gowan died on 2 February 2002 at Elmira, Chemung Co., NY, at age 86.^1,2 She was buried on 6 February 2002 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Chemung Co., NY.¹

     Mildred Elizabeth Hardenstine was born on 19 June 1914 at Bangor, Northampton Co., PA.^1,2,3 She was baptized on 28 March 1915 at Grace Lutheran Church, East Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.¹ She was confirmed on 24 March 1929 at Grace Lutheran Church, East Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.² She married Earl Edward Edinger on 1 August 1936 at Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.³ Mildred Elizabeth Hardenstine died on 27 March 1987 at Fairfax, Fairfax Co., VA, at age 72.³ She was buried on 30 March 1987 at Falls Church, Fairfax Co., VA.³

     Mary L. Van Why married Edward Kays, son of John L. Kays and Odella Hardenstine, on 9 November 1888 at Columbia, Warren Co., NJ.¹ Mary L. Van Why and Edward Kays were divorced after 1912 at Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA; Mary deserted the marriage on 25 Aug 1898 in the city of Binghamton, New York.¹ Mary L. Van Why married Thomas Worthy between 1912 and 1920.²

     Lester M. Kays was born on 5 September 1894 at PA.^1,2 He and Ethel M. Dreher obtained a marriage license on 28 December 1916 at Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.³ Lester M. Kays lived in 1917 at 504 Main St., Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.¹ He was a railroad fireman between 1917 and 1930.¹