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THE FIFTH GENERATION
Part B (99 - 105)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Major Benjamin Rosenkrans (47)

Rachel Rosenkrans (99) John B. Rosenkrans (100)
Roanna Rosenkrans (101) Nicholas Rosenkrans (102)
Avert Rosenkrans (103) Levi Rosenkrans (104)
Maria Rosenkrans (105) See Next for additional children

 


Major Benjamin Rosenkrans (47)

MAJOR BENJAMIN ROSENKRANS and Margaret Schoonover had fourteen children.

99.  RACHAEL ROSENKRANS, eldest child of Major Benjamin, was born in Walpack, New Jersey, April 17, 1791. She was probably named in honor of Rachael the beloved wife of Jacob, the ISRAEL of old and her children outnumbered the children of Israel, the family of Jacob. Rachel married John W. VanAuken, son of Nathaniel, son of Daniel, of Walpack, New Jersey. He moved to Luzerne County, PA, sometime during the thirties, and there raised a family of fourteen children, living on a farm near Newton Centre. He finally went with other relatives to Lee County, Illinois, and in old age died at the house of his son-in-law, Jesse Beemer, near Pawpaw. Rachael outlived him, and died at the home of another son-in-law, Henry Fletcher, at Elgin, where both are buried. Rachael’s children were: Richard VanAuken, who married Phebe Bennett, and raised a family in Sussex County, New Jersey, living most of his life in Newton as a carpenter. After middle life he moved to Pittston, Pennsylvania, and died there with consumption. Barnet W. married secondly Kate Vansickl, and raised a family in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. He died suddenly in Scranton, at the barn while caring for his horse. One daughter of his married James E. Cleveland, a property owner and fish dealer, on Lower Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, Pennsylvania. Helam VanAuken, son of Rachael (99) married Susan Bell, and raised a family in Walpack, New Jersey. He was a shoemaker by trade, whose son Wesley settled on the Delaware, in Sussex County, near Dingman’s Ferry. Aaron remained unmarried and died in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Ainsley R. VanAuken married Samantha Bogart and lived on a farm at Brinktown, near Buttermilk Falls, Pennsylvania, and there raised a family. He was noted as were the Brinktown people generally, as being a good horseman, and a trader in horses. Lydia Maria VanAuken, daughter of Rachael (99) married Henry Fletcher, who moved to Pawpaw, Illinois, 1851, and eventually to Elgin, where they died. She had eleven children.

The limited information obtained concerning the Fletcher family and the burial of the elder VanAukens, at Elgin was received from James Fletcher, son of Henry and Lydia dated Elgin, February 27, 1895, whose address was 510 Sherman Avenue. Hannah Jane VanAuken, married Jesse Beemer, a farmer in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, and moved to Pawpaw, Illinois, where they died. Of Hannah Jane’s family nothing definite is known. Margaret Priscilla VanAuken, daughter of John W. and Rachael (99) was born July 28, 1823, in Walpack, Sussex County, New Jersey. She married December 2, 1839, Charles W. Brink, a farmer, and occasional preacher, born December 1, 1817. He owned and lived on several farms at different times, and died near Newton Centre, 1880. Their children were, George W. Brink, born March 27, 1842, Dewitt C., born May 22, 1844, Frances J, born May 22, 1846, Charles W., born August 4, 1849, Jasper J., September 17, 1852, Amos A., February 21, 1857, Josephine L., May 4, 1859, and Minnie M., born July 15, 1869. At the last account of M. Priscilla Brink, 1897, she was still living. Her children, George W., Frances J., and Amos A. were dead. Some of them entered the regular army. Everson VanAuken, son of Rachel (99), married Dorcus Daley. Wheat VanAuken married Delia Fitch. Catharine married Sidney Beemer a farmer, Sarah married George Sickler, and lived at Brinktown. Dorinda married Squire Brink, a farmer of Brinktown, Pennsylvania James VanAuken, the fourteenth and last child of Rachael (99) remained unmarried, Some of her sons went west.

100.  JOHN B. ROSENKRANS, eldest son of Major Benjamin (47), was born in Walpack, New Jersey, July 19, 1792. He married Margaret Hornbeck, born April 12, 1794. He purchased land of his father 1828, on the extreme northeast of his father’s tract, in Sandyston, adjoining lands of his brothers Nicholas and Elijah. He was an industrious economical farmer, and his wife Margaret was one of the most motherly and kind hearted of women. Their house was between ours and the schoolhouse, and therefore a convenient and oft stopping place to and from school. Like ourselves they lived in a log house for a time, but built and lived in a good frame dwelling subsequently. John B. died January 1, 1850. Margaret died August 22,1875. Their children were: Daniel who died young, Daniel H., Alfred, Everson W., and Jacob H.

101.  ROANNA ROSENKRANS, daughter of Major Benjamin (47) called Arreantie, was born in Walpack, July 14, 1794, married May 18, 1815, John Youngs, born March 21, 1791. John Youngs located on a farm about one mile north of my father’s house on the river road — the farm extending to the cross road southward, running to Peter’s Valley. On the border of his farm, and on the cross road, was built a stone school house, 1835, where our district school was located. One or two incidents of interest connected with the building of that school house is still recollected by the writer, then a boy of five years of age. He in company with his mother and "Aunt Patty," (Margaret), previously mentioned, on our way to the home of Aunt Arreantie Youngs, took shelter in it from a passing rain shower, and after reaching our destination visited the little school in the chamber of their wagon house kept by "Sallie Buckley," and warmed by an iron kettle containing live coals sitting in the middle of the school room. In that stone school house the most of the writers school days were spent, and in 1851 he was the first native teacher employed in the school, the former teachers being mainly from New York and the Eastern States. The stones of that old school building have been thrown down as completely as were the stones of the temple at. Jerusalem, and the last vestige of the building has long since disappeared — Sallie Buckley, of the little wagon house school, has long since departed from the land of the living, and most of her scholars have gone to their eternal rewards. Time is rapidly passing and great events are crowding upon us. The century will soon be ended (January 1900) and our times for departure will soon come. Let us then be ready for whatever awaits us.

When Arreantie’s family were nearly all grown, John Youngs died and she became the second wife of Benjamin Hull, of Flatbrookville. She departed this life 1865. John Youngs and Arreantie (101) had nine children. Martha, born May 12, 1816, remained unmarried and died in middle life. Benjamin Youngs, born January 23, 1818, married Sarah Maria Gustin, of Sandyston, and lived for a time on a farm in Upper Walpack. He went to Lackawanna County Pennsylvania, then to Bradford County, and finally to Kansas, where he located on the prairie, and for a time lived in a sod shanty. He died in Topeka, 1892. His children were William, Mary Frances, Homer, Stella and Sada. James B. Youngs, son of Roanna (101) was born in Sandyston, November 7, 1819. He married Catharine Stoll, daughter of Richard Stoll, of Walpack, and purchased the homestead farm. He subsequently owned the Robert Stoll farm at Peter’s Valley, and now lives near Hainesville, Sussex County, New Jersey. He is a devoted Christian and a Deacon of the Reformed Dutch Church of Sandyston. His children were: John Youngs, (who married Martha daughter of David Bunnell, of Walpack), a farmer, merchant and Justice of the Peace. Elizabeth Youngs, who married George Schooley, a farmer of Sandyston. Robert S. Youngs married Fannie Armstrong, of Montague, a merchant and farmer. Allen R. Youngs married Celesta Layton, daughter of SyIvester, and for his second wife a Vanauken. He was once a merchant at Peter’s Valley, and is now located at Branchville, New Jersey.

Emma Jane Youngs married Jacob Linden Rosenkrans, son of Alfred (238), a farmer living near Unionville, New York. Mary, the youngest child, still lives with her parents. Sarah Youngs, daughter of Roanna (101), was born April 11, 1822, and married Isaiah Shay, a merchant at Hainesville, New Jersey. She had children, Watson and John, and died in Sandyston. Jason, son of Roanna, was born January 7, 1824, in Elizabeth Haney, daughter of John Haney, of Walpack, and moved to the State of Illinois, where he has recently died. His children are: Celesta and Oscar. Rachel Ann Youngs married Isaiah Shay, widower of her sister Sarah, a merchant. Her children were: Coe Shay, who married Mary Bevans, daughter of Nicholas and Uzal Shay. Rachel Ann is a widow still living at Hainesville, New Jersey. Maria Youngs, daughter of John and Roanna, was born May 29, 1828, and married John S. Howell, a farmer and business man of Newton. Maria Youngs left home before marriage and came to Newton, engaging in the millinery business with her cousin, Martha Probasco, but soon married and retiring from public business became mistress of her own household in Newton. John S. Howell, as stated elsewhere, administered on the estate of Elijah Rosenkrans of Newton, 1885, and gave to the writer the family documents mentioned in "Sources of Family Information." He died in Newton April, 1896, and the writer was at his bedside when he died. His children were Lewis Howell, married, and a salesman in Dover, New Jersey, Lizzie Howell, once a music teacher, who married James O. David of Philadelphia. Mr. Howell was a moral, upright business man and died a member of the Presbyterian church, in which his wife has long been a member. Mrs. Maria Howell is still living, January, 1900, and resides with her children, having recently visited her relatives in the far West. Experience Youngs, daughter of John and Roanna, was born December 25, 1829, and married James Williams, a merchant. Her children were Elizabeth and Anna, a school teacher who married Luke Bryant, of Spring Valley, Pennsylvania, and is reported as living in Indian territory. Phebe Elzira Youngs, last child of Roanna (101) was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, February 9, 1836, and married Frank N. Hyde, a farmer, who located at Amboy, Lee County, Illinois. No children.

102.  NICHOLAS ROSENKRANS, son of Major Benjamin (47), and Margaret Schoonover, was born in Walpack, New Jersey, January 31, 1797. He was brought up a farmer by the Delaware, and married March 23, 1821, Lydia Layton, born February 5, 1802, daughter of John Layton, Esq., son of Thomas Layton, of Peter’s Valley, who moved to Steuben County, New York. Lydia’s mother was Abigal Layton, a daughter of Jacobus Brink, and Arreantie Rosenkrans (54), daughter of Herman Rosenkrans and Arreantie Oosterhout. Herman’s ancestors were: Jacobus, Dirk and Harmon Hendrick (1). My parents Nicholas and Lydia, like Isaac (53) and Polly, Aaron (73) and Hannah D., form a connecting link between the two branches from Harmon Hendrick, our first American ancestor. Nicholas was the son of Major Benjamin, son of Colonel John, son of Alexander, son of Harmon Hendrick from Bergen, Norway, a supposed descendant of Captain Dirk Roosecrans, of Amsterdam, descended from the German branch of the Rosenkrantz family, descended from Erik Nielsen, of Holstein, Denmark (now Germany), the knight and nobleman, who 1325 was presented with a rose wreath, and first took the name Rosenkrantz, son of Niels Iversen, the head of the noble family of Denmark, in 1308, and descendant of Erik (1st) of 1227 A.D.

After his marriage in 1821, Nicholas Rosenkrans lived one year on the Jacobus Brink farm on Flat Brook, owned by his father-in-law, but purchased of his father the farm on which he subsequently lived and for which he received a deed 1831. This farm consisted of 138 acres, adjoining his father’s on the ridge road midway between the Delaware and Flat Brook. In 1822 he built himself a log house on his farm in which he moved the next year, and in which five of his children were born, including the writer, 1830. When he moved there a log house was standing on the lower end of the farm in which his brother Levi lived. In 1834 Nicholas built a frame dwelling, near his log house, in which be moved the same year. In January and February, 1836, came the notable "deep snow" five feet deep, still talked about by old people, and mentioned in history. In the Sussex register of that year appeared the following item February 22, 1836: "Snow on the ground said to average five feet in depth and being added to nearly every day or two." In connection with the deep snow I recollect seeing my father make a pair of snow shoes of boards strapped to his feet, with which he walked on the snow across the fields to Henry Berk’s house, a half mile distant, being unable to travel even on horseback without shoveling the snow.

My father was a kind hearted, social man, a lover of his kindred and friends and fond of good horses, his hounds and the fox hunt. He was also fond of pets, among the fowl kind, especially loving the Robin, Martin and Phoebe bird. He kept tame pigeons and all kinds of domestic fowls. He brought to the farm one strange pair, which excited the curiosity of his neighbors, and brought many a sightseer to the farm. This was a pair of dusky Indians, an Indian and his squaw, who had come down the Delaware in a canoe, with their dog and their gun. They stopped on the bank of the Delaware, pitched their tent, and sold fancy baskets and the Indian amused the crowds and secured many a penny by shooting them from a split stick stuck in the ground with his arrow and his bow. The Indian’s name was Joseph Mitchell and his wife’s name was Millie. Joseph wanted a shelter for the winter and Nicholas provided one on his own farm, where they lived for a year or two, and supplied the neighborhood and Newton with fancy and useful small baskets. Millie was modest and retiring and would never talk to men and very little to women, except of our own household. She never called at a neighbor’s house, but could frequently be seen shooting robins as they came about her door. But Joseph and Millie had one infirmity shared by many a pale face. They occasionally indulged too freely in strong drink. When this Christian Nation becomes wise and righteous enough to overcome the sin attributed to Pope Leo 10th of "selling indulgences," selling licenses to make drunkards and increase poverty and crime, then drunkenness will be diminished and our people made better and happier. These Indians were harmless and peaceable except to each other when intoxicated and quietly departed down the Delaware, as they came in their canoe with their dog and their gun.

But what changes have taken place since my father left that log house in 1834 with its open fireplace, its uncarpeted floor, string latch, high curtained beds, an uncased clock placed on a mantle against the wall, with its heavy weights hanging beneath, which was subsequently cased, and served the family till my father’s death 1850, when it went among strangers. Since leaving that log house have disappeared the open fire place, the tin oven, andirons and trammel, the family loom, the spinning wheel, flint lock, candle stick and snuffers. Since then have come the cooking stove and range, the Locofoco match, the envelope, postage stamp, percussion cap, the breech loading and the gatling gun, the oil, gas and electric lights, the railroad, telegraph, telephone, phonograph, and many other inventions now in use. Since then have come the cultivator and reaper, the mower, drill and planter, iron clad torpedo boats, submarine vessels diving bells, cotton, smokeless and giant powder and dynamite, since then the Civil war and end of slavery, and recently the Spanish war, the expansion of our Government and policy, and the end of Spanish misrule over millions of the human race, God is now doing an especial work among the nations, and the millennial age of light and liberty and Christianity is dawning upon us to break, as we believe, into full day, within the coming three years. In 1837 my mother was taken with inflammatory rheumatism and ever after confined to the house, and died October 11, 1841. In 1842 my father married Hannah Flynn, of Orange County, New York, who died June 22 of the same year. A Christian woman and highly respected. October 24, 1844, Nicholas married Mary Smith, daughter of Jacob Smith, of Sandyston. Eventually he was taken sick and died November 25, 1850, and was buried at the Dutch Reformed Church in Peters Valley. His widow, Mrs. Mary Rosenkrans, after raising her two small children, married Samuel Sheets and lived for years on the Levi Rosenkrans (45) homestead on the Delaware, and is still living at Peter’s Valley, New Jersey. Nicholas Rosenkrans’ children by his first wife were: Caroline, Theresa A., Anson P., Layton, Allen, Emily and Lorenzo D. By his third wife, Henry Oscar and Myron S., six of whom are still living.

Avert Rosenkrans

103.   AVERT ROSENKRANS (first written Everitt), son of Major Benjamin (47) was born June 8, 1790, and married Mary Smith. He was a farmer and purchased a farm on the Delaware below Shappanack, on the river road, at the junction of the Ridge and the Pompey road leading to Flatbrookville, where his son John S. now lives. Avert’s wife died about 1839, leaving four children, and he subsequently married Mary Buss, born September 1, 1812, and died September 5, 1878. Avert was a good farmer and citizen, living on the farm till near the close of his life, when he retired from farming, and lived with his daughter, Mrs. S.E. Decker, near Flatbrookville, where he died July 7, 1874. His children by his first wife were: Benjamin, Margaret, Maria, Phebe Jane and Jacob. By his second wife, Martin, Sarah E., Amanda, John S., Seeley, Maria, Aquilla, Celesta and Martha Alice.

Levi Rosenkrans Mrs. Rebecca (Williams) Rosenkrans

104.   LEVI ROSENKRANS, son of Major Benjamin (47), was born March 10, 1800. He married 1821 Rebecca Williams of Wantage, born June 16, 1806. Soon after his marriage, or perhaps prior to it, a log house was built at the lower end of the meadow on the farm subsequently purchased by Nicholas, and in this house Levi lived and carried on blacksmithing for years. At the writers earliest recollection of the place the shop had been taken down and the timbers used in the construction of a fence with the anvil block still lying near. In 1833 Levi left there and settled on land west of Bald Mount, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, near the turnpike road, leading from Scranton to Newton Centre, where he farmed and carried on blacksmithing till near the close of his life, when the farm was left in charge of his children. Levi, named after his uncle Levi, like his father and his grandfather had fourteen children, all of whom grew up and married. He died about 1880, his wife having departed prior to his death. Their children were: Brittain, Lydia Jane, Amanda, Seeley J., William, Benjamin, Margaret, Teresa, Martha C., Roanna, Layton and Levi, twins, Gideon Judson and Mallery.

105.  MARIA ROSENKRANS, daughter of Major Benjamin, (47), was born March 14, 1802, and married James C. Bevans, September 28, 1820. He was born in Sandyston, January 3, 1800, purchased and settled on the Andrew Dingman farm, which his father Evan had bought of Isaac Rosenkrans (66). He started a store about 1835, and was engaged in the mercantile business with his farming till during the civil war, when he closed out the business and confined himself to farming. He purchased two farms near Hainesville for his sons Obadiah and Benjamin, and the Colonel Benjamin Rosenkrans farm in Walpack, and the Nicholas Rosenkrans farm adjoining, now owned by his son Victor E. Bevans. Maria, the wife of James C., died after giving birth to her twelfth child June 22, 1841. After Maria’s death, he married her sister, Mrs. Sallie Wheat, widow of Everson Wheat, of Orange County, New York, by whom he had four children, making sixteen in all. The twelve children of Maria Bevans are: Priscilla, born February 11, 1823, who married David Depue and lived on a farm near Hainesville, New Jersey, and eventually moved to Dalton, Pennsylvania, where they engaged in the mercantile business with Oscar Stoll, who married their daughter Alice, both subsequently dying there. Margaret, born March 27, 1824, married John Lerch, a miller, and died 1846. Sarah Bevans born May 22, 1825, married Elisha Depue; had three children, Maria, Addie and James, and died 1880. Katharine, born August 15, 1826, died unmarried March 28, 1846. Obadiah Bevans, son of James C., and Maria (105) born March 18, 1828, married Sarah Jane Wheat, is a farmer near Hainesville, and has two children, Emmet, who married Mary VanAuken, of Montague, and died in Scranton, where his widow still lives, and Philena, who married John Jagger, a farmer, in Sandyston. Obadiah Bevans before marriage was engaged in the commission business in New York, under the firm name of Bevans & Blizzard, selling farmer’s products, the writer in 1851 being employed by them and stationed at Port Jervis, to receive freight. Hezekiah, son of James C. Bevans, was born June 24, 1829, a merchant and trader, who married Sallie Ann Westbrook, daughter of Reuben B., of Sandyston. She was brought up and educated by her grandmother Mrs. Nancy Westbrook, on the Delaware, having attended school among the Quakers in Philadelphia. Hezekiah clerked in the store of his father for years, and then in company with James Easton, opened a store at Howell’s Depot, Orange County, New York, and carried on the mercantile business for many years, being alone in the business during the latter portion of his life there. During the eighties he moved to Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he purchased a fancy store, which his daughters carry on, while he meanwhile is engaged in other business projects in Scranton and elsewhere. He has three children: Clementia, who remains at home, and in the store; Stella, who has been long in the store, and is now employed by a New York firm, traveling in this country and also to London, introducing and selling to the trade patterns for ladies wear, which is one leading article of sale in their store; and Burson Bevans, an assistant bookkeeper in a Scranton bank.

Mrs. Philena Bevans Trusdell John Trusdell
Residence of Mrs. Philena Bevans Trusdell, Newton, N.J.

Philena Bevans, daughter of James C. and Maria (105), was born June 30, 1831. She was brought up on the farm, a merchant’s daughter and in early life came to Newton, New Jersey, where, in company with Mary Vansyckle, she carried on dressmaking. She eventually secured the interest of Miss VanSyckle in the business and conducted it alone. November 14, 1883, Philena married John Trusdell, born September 11, 1817, formerly a photographer of Newton; purchased a home on Trinity Street, and retired from public life. Mr. Trusdell became an invalid and so remained for several years, departing this life February 10, 1886. He was buried in Newton cemetery. Mrs. Philena Bevans Trusdell is still living in Newton. She and her husband were both members of the Presbyterian church, and she so remains at the present lime. When Mr. Trusdell died       he was said to be longer a member of  that church than any person then living. Benjamin Bevans, born February 28, 1833, married Belinda Clark, daughter of Samuel, was a meat seller and farmer in Sandyston, and died 1885. He had one son James. His widow married Elias Merrett and              lives in Sandyston. Jacob Bevans, born December 24, 1835, was a merchant at Port Jervis, New York, and died single March 6, 1870. Edward Bevans, born February 1, 1837, married Maria Schooley; was a merchant and farmer, and once keeper of the County Alms House. He had children: Barger and Blanche. He moved to Scranton, where his wife died. He married again and still lives there. he was said to be longer a member of that church than any person then living. Benjamin Bevans, born February 28, 1833, married Belinda Clark, daughter of Samuel, was a meat seller and farmer in Sandyston, and died 1885. He had one son James. His widow married Elias Merrett and              Maria Bevans, daughter of James C. and Maria (105), was born January 7, 1839. She married Evi S. Decker, a school teacher and merchant, and once in the milk trade in Scranton. She is still living, in Scranton, and has children, Cora, who is engaged in the Scranton Library; Burson, a bookkeeper in a Scranton Bank, and Bevan Decker. James C. Bevans, Jr., was born June 22, 1841, and died September 2, the same year. [Ed: Graphics are Philena Bevans Trusdell, John Trusdell, and their residence in Newton, New Jersey.]


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