Northumberland-Montour County PA Archives Biographies.....Pensyl, Hatton A. 1861 - living in 1899 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 8, 2005, 5:55 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. HATTON A. PENSYL, Esq., of the borough of Snydertown, Pa., was born in Danville, Pa., July 2,1853. He is a son of George and Mary A. (Vastine) Pensyl, and grandson of John Pensyl, Sr., of Shamokin township. John Pensyl, Sr., the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Shamokin township, but died in Rush township. He was a follower of agricultural pursuits; he was united in marriage with a Miss Kaseman, and six children blessed their union: John, Jr., a retired shoemaker and farmer, who now lives in Rush township; George, our subject's father; Daniel, who now lives in Danville, Pa.; Hannah, who died in Philadelphia and was the wife of John Hiney; Barbara, who married Henry Hill, and lived in Shamokin township, died recently; and Catherine, who married Joseph Matter, a blacksmith, now retired, who lives in Scranton, Pa. After the death of his first wife John married a Miss Willett, and to them were born four children: William, a tanner and farmer, who now lives at Elysburg, Pa.; Samuel, who died in 1897 and was a retired farmer living in Rush township; Adam, a farmer, who now resides in Rush township; and Francis, who is a merchant, miller, postmaster and farmer at Pensyl, Pa. George Pensyl, our subject's father, was born and grew to manhood .in Shamokin township, but later lived in Danville ten years. He was a carpenter and boss-heater. He moved to Shamokin township about 1856 and bought a farm, upon which he lived until his death, July 7, 1880. He married Ann Vastine of Rush township, who died in 1850; three children resulted from their union: Thomas V., a blacksmith, who responded to our country's call in the Civil War and died in 1870,—he was married to Malinda Read; Helen M., who married John I. Miller, a tinner at Mount Carmel, Pa., and they have three children, William, Emma, and Olive; and Ellis, chief engineer in the Philadelphia Inquirer office. Our subject's father, after the death of his first wife, married her cousin, Mary A. Vastine, of Rush township, who died October 27, 1871. They were the parents of three children: Hatton A., our subject; Clara H., who married G. A. Startzel, now living at Mount Carmel, Pa., and has one son, Frank; and William H., who deals in books, stationery, Avail paper, paint, etc., at Mount Carmel, Pa,, who married Mary Morey, and they have one child, Hazel. Mrs. Pensyl, our subject's mother, was a school teacher and followed her chosen profession for several years. She found her greatest pleasure in becoming acquainted with the great minds of our country through the books they have written, and consequently was well informed upon all the subjects of the time in which she lived. Mr. Pensyl was quite active in politics and supported the Republican party, in which he firmly believed. Although very well known in the county he never aspired to an official position. Hatton A. Pensyl, our subject, was educated in the common schools, but feeling the need of further advancement he attended the academy at Elysburg, Pa., for about three years, during which time he lived at home. At the age of twenty-one he engaged in mercantile trade at Snydertown, Pa., with William and Francis Pensyl, and owned a half interest in the business. They were together for about five years and then, sold out. He then engaged in similar business in Berwick, Pa., for one year, and also at Milton one year. On June 23, 1881, our subject became connected with one of the old families at Snydertown, Pa., by marrying Lillie Farrow, a daughter of William and Isabella (Wilkinson) Farrow, the former being the genial proprietor of one of the hotels of Snydertown. Mr. Farrow is now eighty-five years old. Mr. and Mrs. Pensyl have no children. After his marriage our subject located at Millheim, Pa., and had a store for two years, also owned and operated a store at Sunbury five years, and then engaged in business as a dry goods merchant for three years at Mount Carmel, Pa.; he then sold out and moved to Snydertown, Pa., where he bought the store property, which he remodeled and improved. In 1898 he built a large double house next to it, which he now rents. He was elected justice of the peace in the spring of 1895. He is also a real estate dealer and makes a specialty of collections and the settling of estates. Politically he is a stanch Republican, but not an office seeker. Mrs. Pensyl is a member of the Methodist Church. Our subject belongs to a number of societies. He has lived to realize the success of all his undertakings, which is the result of his own well-directed efforts and industry, and now enjoys the fruit of his labors. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 5.3 Kb