Person Page 2,455

Ruth Evelyn St. John was born on 17 September 1925 in Castlewood, Lawrence, Pennsylvania.^1,2,3 She died on 12 July 1992, at age 66, in West Pittsburg, Lawrence, Pennsylvania.^2,3 She was buried in Harmony Baptist Church Cemetery (Section 4, Lot 153, Grave 3), Energy, Lawrence, Pennsylvania.

Flora Ruby Shaffer was born on 30 April 1910 in New Castle, Lawrence, Pennsylvania.² She and Thomas Jefferson St. John were married after 16 April 1930. She died on 1 September 1991, at age 81, in Fort Lauderdale, Broward, Florida.²

Maynard St. John was born on 20 August 1954. He died on 22 February 2009, at age 54.

U.S. Army- 16 Jul 1974- 13 Feb 1975.²

Cornelius Robbins was born on 24 January 1810 in Hanover, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.^1,2 He and Hannah Wiggins were married about 1830 in Hanover, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.¹ He died on 7 August 1895, at age 85, in Kingston, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.¹ He was buried in Hanover Cemetery, Hanover Green, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.³

Civil War- GAR, 58th Regiment.³ Cornelius Robbins was a Laborer.² From the obituary of Cornelius Robbins:

Cornelius Robbins, a life-long resident of Wyoming Valley and a resident of Kingston for forty-eight years, was born in Hanover Township on Jan. 21, 1810. In 1830 he was married to Miss Hannah Wiggins of Hanover. Cornelius and Hannah moved to Nicohls, Tioga County, New York along with Hannah's father's famlly, Silas Wiggins. All of the Robbins children were born in Tioga County, New York before the family returned to Kingston, PA in the late 1840s.

Hannah died in 1873, Cornelius died on August 7, 1895. Both are buried in the old section of Hanover Green Cemetery.

Cornelius served in the GAR, 58th Regiment, P.V.for three years. His regiment served in many of battles or the Civil War. During the time he served in the war he contracted yellow fever and sent to a hospital in NC, from where he was discharged in 1865.

He and his wife Hannah where to parents of five children. One son, John Robbins, died while serving his country in the Civil War. The other children where: Abner of Scranton, Elias and Mary of Kingston, and Mrs. Etta (Robbins) Pearce of Green Ridge and later Scranton.

Cornelius was a member of Conyngham Post 97, G.A.R. of Wilkes-Barre, and a member of the Kingston Methodist Church.

Cornelius Garrison, Mr. Robbins' grandfather on the maternal side, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was a native of Alsace and came to this country in 1776 as a French soldier. After the revolution he came to Hanover and settled. Here he met and married Miss Mary Snover and they made their home on the back road near Sugar Notch. In 1825 he was killed after being thrown from his runaway wagon.

Hannah Wiggins was born on 18 February 1808 in Hanover, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.^1,2 She and Cornelius Robbins were married about 1830 in Hanover, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.¹ She died in 1873, at age ~65.³ She was buried in Hanover Cemetery, Hanover Green, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.

John Robbins was born about 1832 in Tioga County, New York.^1,3,2 He died on 6 January 1864 in Civil War- Pennsylvania.¹

Abner Robbins was born in November 1832 in Tioga County, New York.^1,3,2 He died on 4 November 1915, at age ~83, in Kingston, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.³ He was buried in Hanover Cemetery, Hanover Green, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.

Abner Robbins was a Cabinet Maker.⁴ Death of Abner Robbins

Abner Robbins, aged 84, died at his home, 187 South College avenue, Kingston, last night, following an illness of general debility. He is survived by two sisters, Mrs Catherine E.W. Pearce, of Harrisburg, and Mary Robbins, of Kingston, also one brother, Elias Robbins, of Kingston. The funeral will be held from the home of his brother, Elias Robbins, 268 Rutter street, Kingston, Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Services will be conducted at the house by Rev. C.M. Olmstead, pastor of the Kingston M.E. Church. Interment in Forty Fort Cemetery.

Elias Howe Robbins was born in October 1844 in Tioga County, New York.^1,3,2,4,5 He and Emily Prosser were married on 4 July 1870 in Shickshinny, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.^4,3 He died on 27 May 1922, at age 77, in Kingston, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.^3,5 He was buried in Forty Fort Cemetery, Forty Fort, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.⁵

Civil War- 02 Sep 1862, PA 143rd, Co. B.³ Elias Howe Robbins was a Coal Mine Watchman.⁶ Civil War Veteran and Pioneer Resident of Kingston Victim of Tragic Accident- Served with 143rd

Falling down a flight of stairs leading to the cellar of his home at 258 Rutter Avenue, Kingston, about 8 o'clock Friday evening, Elias Robbins, aged 78, and a resident of Kingston for the past 76 years, received injuries which resulted in his death at the family home at 5:15 o'clock last evening. In falling down the stairs the aged man struck his head on the concrete floor with such force that his skull was fractured and he never regained consciousness.

Up until the time of the accident he was exceptionally active considering his age. Earlier in the day he had walked to and from the circus grounds and was in the best of spirits. Being a Civil War Veteran, he was particularly interested in the ceremonies to be conducted on Tuesday and was looking forward with keen anticipation to the coming event.

He was one of the pioneer residents of the valley and was one of the most highly esteemed men of the community in which he lived. He was born in Owego, N.Y. in 1844 and two years later his parents migrated to Wyoming Valley coming down the Susquehanna river on a raft. Since then Mr. Robbins made his home on the West side.

At the age of 17 he enlisted in the service of his country with Co.B, of the 143d Regt. Volunteer Infantry. He served throughout the entire Civil War with the exception of about six weeks, during which he was confined to a hospital with an attack of yellow fever. He saw action at Gettsyburg, Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Emittsburgh, Spotsylvania Court House and several other major operstions. He participated in the grand review of the army at Washington on May 23, 1865, and was honorably discharged from the service shortly afterward. His brother, John, was killed in action at Harper's Ferry.

Following his discharge from the service he was employed by the D.L. &W. Railroad and was one of the pioneer railroaders of this section later he was employed by the Woodward Coal Company with which concern he worked for twenty-eight years.

On July 4, 1870, he was married to Miss Emily Prosser, of Shickshinny, and she with the following children survive: Edwin, Elias, Jr. and Abner, all of Kingston; also thirteen grandchildren. Mr. Robbins was a member of the Jr. O.U.A. M. Order of the R.R. Conductors and Conyngham Post, No. 97, G.A.R. He attended the Methodist Episcopal Church. No definite arrangments have been made for the funeral though it is certain that he will be buried in the family plot in Forty Fort Cemetery where he had anticipated attending the Memorial Day ceremonies on Tuesday.

Mary Robbins was born in November 1840 in Tioga County, New York.^1,3,2 She died on 20 January 1916, at age 75, in Kingston, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.³ She was buried in Hanover Cemetery, Hanover Green, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.

Mary Robbins was a Seamstress. OBITUARY OF MARY ROBBINS (as appeared in Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, 20 Jan 1916)

Miss Mary Robbins, aged 75, one of the best known residents of the West side, died at her home on South College Ave. this morning (20 Jan 1916) at 10 o'clock after two year illness of general debility. She was a member of Kingston M.E. Church and a faithful worker in the church. She has many friends in this city and vicinity. She is survived by one brother, Elias Robbins of Kingston, and one sister, Mrs. W.T. (Etta) Pierce (E. W. Pearce?) of Harrisburg.

Mary's funeral services took place on 22 Jan 1916 at 2:30 pm at the Kingston Methodist Church. She was buried in Forty Fort Cemetery.

Mary Robins was the first daughter of Cornelius and Hannah Wiggins. She was born in Oswego County, New York and moved to Kingston, Luzerne, Pennslyvania with her parents and siblings in approximately 1847. Mary never married and was childless. She made her living as a seamstress. Cornelius lived with Mary near the end of his life. After his death she lived alone.

Esther (Etta) L. Robbins was born on 19 August 1846 in Owego, Tioga, New York.^1,3,2 She and Edwin Warrner Pearce were married on 14 October 1872 in Kingston Township, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.⁴ She died on 19 January 1925, at age 78, in Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania.

1900 Pennsylvania Census shows Edwin and Etta Robbins Pearce had 4 children, 1 living.

Edwin Warrner Pearce was born on 7 January 1844 in Pennsylvania.² He was married on 24 June 1869.³ He and Esther (Etta) L. Robbins were married on 14 October 1872 in Kingston Township, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.² He died on 11 September 1916, at age 72, in Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania.³

Edwin Warrner Pearce was a Carpenter.² In October he enlisted at Harrisburg in Co B, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh (127th) Pa Infantry. The regiment was sent from there to Washington and a short time later to the front. With this regiment he took part in every battle the Army of the Potomac engaged in until he was captured at Weldon's railroad Aug 19, 1864.

Though Major Pearce had suffered much from illness, he was wounded but once at Antietam. He was knocked down by a minie ball while fighting in a corn field. His service time expired in Feb 1864, he immediately reenlisted and six months later after participating in the battles of Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor and Petersburg he was captured at Weldon's railroad 19 Aug 1864. He was taken with others to Libby and forced to disrobe, the rebels took all his clothes and left him rags. They had shelter and were fed once a day, half a pint of black beans soup and corn meal and up to 9 PM had plenty of water. They attempted to escape by loading their guns with boiler scrap and odds and ends and for a time made matters lively for the guards. However they were subdued and wounded. He remained at Salsbury 5 1/2 months until the prison was broken up. He was then taken to Raleigh and thence to Greensboro
and in March 1865 he was paroled and sent home. By the time he got home he had typhoid fever and his weight went down to 62 1/2 lbs. At the time of capture he was 167. He was honorably discharged in June 1865.

June 24 1869 he married Miss Mary C. Calloway, a daughter of Thomas Calloway of Honesdale, PA. She died 10 months later. At Kingston, Oct 14, 1872 he married again, his bride being Miss Etta L. Robbins, daughter of Cornelius Robbins, himself a veteran. They had two sons, Warren Robbins and Roy E. W.

Edwin Pearce was commissioned aide on Gen. E. S. Osborne's staff three different times. In l870 led the company known as Scranton Zouaves and in July of that year he was commissioned their captain by Goveror Geary. He continued in that capacity until transferred to Co B of the ninth Regiment. In l876 he was commissioned major of that regiment by Gov. J. F. Hartranft and held
that position for two years. Later he raised Co H of the Thirteenth regiment. Fraternally Major Pearce was a member of Celestial Lodge # 833 I.O. O. F. Veteran Soldiers Association and Lieut. Ezra S. Griffin Post, G.A.R. which latter he had the honor of naming.

Census: 1880 Vol 42, ED 53, Sheet 14, line 10, Edwin W. Pearce b/144, age 36
b/PA Main St, Scranton, Lackawanna Co, PA with wife, Etta L. 32 b/NY and son
Warren R 6 yr b/PA and Robert Westlake bo b/1856 must be boarder.

A letter sent to his parents while in Prison Libby Prison, Virg. Aug 17, 1864:
My Dear Father and Mother
According to the fortunes of war, I fell a prisoner on the 19th inst. I am well and enjoying myself as well as a prisioner can under such circumstances. Give my love to all inquiring friends. With love to all. Your son.
Edwin W. Pearce.

Military Records: Sent to National Archives for Pension Records, 2nd request 3 Jan 2000 Files never found.

1890-1891-1892 Scranton City Directories, Edwin W. Pearce, carpenter, 613 E. Market St, Scranton, PA.

Abner Robins was born in 1812 in Hanover, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.^1,2,3 He died in 1884, at age ~72, in Mifflin, Pennsylvania.^1,3 He was buried in First Methodist Cemetery, Lewistown, Mifflin, Pennsylvania.^1,3

Abner Robins was a Potter.²

Catherine Faustnach was born in 1815 in Pennsylvania.^1,2 She died in 1870, at age ~55, in Mifflin, Pennsylvania.^1,2 She was buried in First Methodist Cemetery, Lewistown, Mifflin, Pennsylvania.²

Sarah I. Robins was born about 1842 in Pennsylvania.^1,2 She died after 28 July 1860.

Armilda (Camilla) Robins was born about 1845 in Pennsylvania.^1,2 She died after 21 June 1870.

Millicent Robins was born in May 1850 in Mifflin, Pennsylvania.^1,2,3 She and Henry F. Prentzenhoff were married about 1876.^1,3 She died before 1930 in Pennsylvania.¹

No children from this marriage.