HARRIET M. SHUMWAY, Pioneer Woman – From Leader-Dispatch, November 5, 1914:
"With the death of Harriet M. Shumway at the home of her son, C. H. Francis, of this place (Galeton), antoher of the fast disappearing pioneers of this section passed to her last reward.
Born in Charleston Township, Tioga County, July 20, 1825, she came of hardy pioneer stock. Her father, Israel Merrick, was a
wealthy slave holder, by inheritance in the state of New Jersey. After reaching maturity he saw the iniquity of holding human
souls in bondage, and as under the laws of the state of NJ, should he liberate his slaves they could be picked up by anyone
who found them without a master, he packed his household goods and started through the wilderness to Pennsylvania.
After many hardships they reached Charleston, her mother, Mrs. Merrick, being the first white woman who ever came over
the township road from Mansfield to Dartt Settlement, which had to be cut and logged almost the entire length to give the
wagon of household goods a passage. Here her father gave all his slaves their liberty, and as in those days was of no
value, he thus voluntarily gave up nearly all of his worldly possessions.
Early in life the deceased married John Francis of Tioga County and the couple set up housekeeping in Delmar Township
which at that time was practically an unbroken wilderness. In 1868 they moved to Ulysses where they lived for nearly
thirty years until the death of Mr. Francis.
From this union there came children, eight of whom survive. About six years after the death of her first husband she
married W. P. Shumway, of Shumway Hill, who died about six years ago since which time she has been living
with her children.
As an instance of the sturdy stock from whence she sprang we are informed that at the time of her death she was the
head of eight families of eight generations, all living, a record which we doubt can be equaled anywhere.
She was a good Christian woman, having first joined the M. E. at Ulysses, shortly after she came there and has been
a member of Shumway Hill Church and Galeton M. E. Church successively since leaving Ulysses. She was a member
of the Galeton Church at the time of her death.
We have permission to print a letter received during her last illness from the Dean of the State Experiment Station,
which shows in a measure the esteem in which she was held.
State College, PA
August 11, 1914
Mr. J. K. Austin
Hammersley Fork, PA
My dear Mr. Austin: I am pleased to receive your note of August 8th but regret to hear that Grandma Shumway is poorly.
Please remember me to her and tell her that I consider it a great privilege to have known her for even a short time, such
a Godly character. She made a profound impression upon my children. I took occasion to refer to her life before our
Sunday School a few weeks ago. The influence of such people who have implicit confidence in the heavenly Father, must
be very good and I know her life has been a benediction to thousands.
Yours very truly,
R. L. Watts
She had complained for years of pain in her side and about four months ago while staying with her daughter, Mrs. E. O. Austin,
it became severe. It was finally decided that with the winter coming on she should be brought where medical attendance could
be quickly obtained and on October 6 she was brought by automobile to Galeton. She stood the trip well but gradually grew weaker
and on Tuesday evening, October 27th, just at the setting of the sun, her soul quietly slipped its early moorings and she slept
the last sleep. During the time that she was here all but one of her children were able to visit her and receive her last blessing.
Her father was the grandfather of Hon. George S. Merrick, Mrs. M. F. Elliott, Mrs. Roy Harrington and Mrs. Wm. Matheram,
all of Wellsboro.
The children who survive are: Mrs. Clara Losey, Of Wellsboro, Clarence H. Francis, of Galeton, Mrs. E. O. Austin, of
Hammersley Fork, Henry Francis, of Bingham, Leroy Francis, of Raymond, William Francis, of Ulysses, Mrs. Cornelia Knapp,
of Westfield, NY, and Sherman Francis of Hickox, Pennsylvania
Prayer held at home of her son, C. H. Francis on Thursday morning, October 20 at 7 AM, funeral from Methodist at Ulysses
at 1 PM, same day. Rev. C. H. House, officiating. Interment in Ulysses Cemetery.
(Her father, Israel Merrick, Sr. had a son, Israel Merrick, Jr. who married Julia Ann Erway, sister of George Kelsey Erway,
of Harrison Township, Potter County and daughter of John and Christine (Arter) Erway. George Merrick, the son of
Israel Merrick, Jr. and Julia Ann Erway, b. March 27, 1838, married Ione Butterworth, November 25, 1866; born in
Coudersport January 19, 1838, daughter of Appleton and Mary (Wilmot), sister of Hon. David Wilmot, Butterworth. Ione
died at Wellsboro January 1, 1918)
Who is this family member?