Sullivan-Wayne-Bradford County PA Archives Biographies.....LANCASTER, Robert D. 1825 - 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 3, 2005, 8:50 pm
  
  Author: Biographical Publishing Co.
  
  ROBERT D. LANCASTER, a highly esteemed resident of Forksville, Sullivan County,
  Pa., was for many years a prosperous merchant there, but since 1894 he has been
  living in practical retirement. He is a son of Richard and Fanny (McIlwain)
  Lancaster, and was born in South Sterling, Wayne County, Pa., December 13, 1825.
  
    His grandfather was William Lancaster, a native of England, who immigrated to
  this country and located in Philadelphia, where he remained until 1821. In that
  year he moved to South Sterling, Wayne County, Pa., and there followed his trade
  as a carpenter until his death at the age of seventy-six years. He was joined in
  marriage bonds to Margaret Dunlevy, who also came of a well-known English
  family, and they reared three children: Richard, the father of our subject;
  Americus; and Clara.
  
    Richard Lancaster was born in England and was nine years of age when he came
  to America with his parents. At an early age he and his brother Americus learned
  the jeweler's trade and did job work for Mr. Duboys, a well-known jeweler of
  Philadelphia. In 1833 Richard turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and
  became one of the most prominent citizens in Wayne County. He was a man of more
  than ordinary ability and was well thought of by his fellowmen. In 1840 he was
  elected sheriff of Wayne County and subsequently was chosen to represent his
  district in the State Legislature. He was also justice of the peace for many
  years and held many minor offices. He was united in marriage with Fanny McIlwain
  and the following children were born unto them: Richard; William; George; John;
  Franklin; Hugh A.; Robert D., the gentleman whose name heads these lines;
  Christopher C.; Margaret; and Jane. Mr. Lancaster passed away at the age of
  sixty-eight years and his wife at the age of sixty-five years.
  
    Robert D. Lancaster attended the public schools and the Wayne Institute,
  receiving a good intellectual training, and then taught school for one year. He
  next went to Bethany, Wayne County, and accepted a clerkship with E. W. Hamlin,
  Esq., with whom he remained for four years. He then purchased the store of his
  employer and successfully conducted it for four years, when he removed to Salt
  Rapids, Minn., as a land surveyor for the government, remaining there about
  three years. Upon returning East he engaged in the mercantile business in
  connection with his brother, William, at New Albany, Pa., and also in the lumber
  business at Cape Mills, from 1862 to 1867. In 1867 he moved to Forksville,
  Sullivan County, Pa., and purchased the store opposite what is now the
  Forksville House, and conducted it for two years alone. At the expiration of
  that time he took in G. A. McIlwain and they conducted the store for three
  years. His partner then retired and the store was conducted until 1875 by our
  subject. At that time he disposed of his store and went to Bethany, Wayne
  County, for one year. Upon returning to Forksville at the expiration of that
  time, he again took charge of his old store and engaged in general merchandising
  until he retired from business in 1894. He has since assisted his son, Brenton
  S., who conducts a drug store in Forksville, and is also engaged in business in
  Towanda, Bradford County. He resides in a handsome home in Forksville and is
  surrounded by a large circle of friends.
  
    Mr. Lancaster was united in marriage with Serenda Mathers, who died in 1890 at
  the age of thirty-eight years, and they reared the following children: Hammond
  D.; Brenton S.: and Gertrude A. Our subject is a Democrat and has served as
  school director, county auditor and justice of the peace. In religious
  attachments he is an attendant of the Episcopal Church, but his wife belonged to
  the Methodist Episcopal Church.
  
  
  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: 4.4 Kb