{"id":5827,"date":"2017-06-25T20:47:20","date_gmt":"2017-06-26T01:47:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/?p=5827"},"modified":"2026-09-17T14:55:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T19:55:18","slug":"williamsport-lycoming-county-pa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/williamsport-lycoming-county-pa\/","title":{"rendered":"Williamsport, Lycoming County, PA"},"content":{"rendered":"

My genealogy research has led me to Williamsport, PA, in search of ancestors by the name of Furst, Aitken, and Harrar, particularly the following:<\/p>\n

Aitken, Elizabeth Rebecca (). Res: 1880 to burial in 1925
\nFurst, James Chamberlin (). Marr: 30 Apr 1913
\nFurst, John Shuman (). Marr: 04 Feb 1898; Res: 1900; Age: 24; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Son in Law
\nFurst, Louise Houston (1902-).
\nHarrar, Eleanor J. (1889-). Res: 1910
\nHarrar, Ellwood Scott (). Res: 1875 to 1907
\nHarrar, Emily (1887-). Res: 1887-1920
\nHarrar, James Aitken (1877-1970). Res: 1880 to 1970
\nHarrar, Lillian Aitken (1885-). Res: 1885-1920
\nHarrar, Mabel (1882-1961). Res: 1882-1961
\nHarrar, Mary Adele (1879-). Res: 1879-1913
\nShantz, Mary Watson (). Res: 1900; Residence Age: 24; 0083; Residence Home Ownership: R; Residence Owns Farm: H; Marital<\/p>\n

My father-in-law’s three maiden aunts lived in the city for scores of years in a fancy house along “Millionaire’s Row<\/a>.” We visited the house in 2015 and I took this photo:<\/p>\n

\"2015-04-12<\/a>
2015-04-12 Harrar House in Williamsport PA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

About<\/h2>\n

Williamsport is a city in and the county seat of Lycoming County, PA. Williamsport was settled by Americans late in the 18th century, and the town began to prosper due to its lumber industry. By the early 20th century, the town reached the height of its prosperity and the population has since declined by about a third from its peak of around 45,000 in 1950. Colonial settlement in what is today Williamsport dates back to 1786 but the area was previously inhabited by the Iroquois. Williamsport was incorporated as a borough on March 1, 1806, and as a city on January 15, 1866. In the late 19th century, Williamsport was known as “The Lumber Capital of the World” because of its thriving lumber industry.<\/p>\n

Postcards<\/h2>\n
\"Williamsport<\/a>
Williamsport station c. 1910<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Fourth<\/a>
Fourth St, Williamsport, PA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My genealogy research has led me to Williamsport, PA, in search of ancestors by the name of Furst, Aitken, and Harrar, particularly the following: Aitken, Elizabeth Rebecca (). Res: 1880 to burial in 1925 Furst, James Chamberlin (). Marr: 30 Apr 1913 Furst, John Shuman (). Marr: 04 Feb 1898; Res: 1900; Age: 24; Marital…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5829,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[76],"tags":[77],"class_list":["post-5827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lycoming-county","tag-postcards"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3viLY-1vZ","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":860,"url":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/stevensburg-baptist-church-tombstone-inscriptions-stevensburg-culpeper-county-virginia\/","url_meta":{"origin":5827,"position":0},"title":"Stevensburg Baptist Church Tombstone Inscriptions – Stevensburg, Culpeper County, Virginia","author":"Karen","date":"June 20, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The following information is available thanks to Teresa Kelley: Stevensburg Baptist Church, founded October 23, 1833, in Stevensburg, Culpeper County, Virginia. Tombstone Inscriptions The following tombstone inscriptions were made on 26 April 1997 and 10 May 1997. Only two stones could not be read: one because it was completely worn\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Churches & Cemeteries"","block_context":{"text":"Churches & Cemeteries","link":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/category\/places\/churches-cemeteries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":648,"url":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/first-presbyterian-church-of-easton-pa\/","url_meta":{"origin":5827,"position":1},"title":"First Presbyterian Church of Easton, Pennsylvania","author":"Karen","date":"June 18, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I visited this church on April 10, 2001. The church doesn't have any old records on file. The Easton Public Library has microfilm copies of the church's session minutes and birth, marriage, and death records. The original books are deposited in the home church in Philadelphia. Some Surnames From My\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Churches & Cemeteries"","block_context":{"text":"Churches & Cemeteries","link":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/category\/places\/churches-cemeteries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Centennial history of the First Presbyterian church of Easton, P","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Centennial-History-of-the-First-Presbyterian-Church-of-Easton-PA-first-church.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Centennial-History-of-the-First-Presbyterian-Church-of-Easton-PA-first-church.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Centennial-History-of-the-First-Presbyterian-Church-of-Easton-PA-first-church.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Centennial-History-of-the-First-Presbyterian-Church-of-Easton-PA-first-church.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Centennial-History-of-the-First-Presbyterian-Church-of-Easton-PA-first-church.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Centennial-History-of-the-First-Presbyterian-Church-of-Easton-PA-first-church.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":677,"url":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/hurt-cemetery\/","url_meta":{"origin":5827,"position":2},"title":"Hurt Cemetery, McLemoresville, Carroll County, Tennessee","author":"Karen","date":"June 18, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"There is a Hurt Cemetery located between Atwood and McLemoresville, Carroll County, Tennessee, about one-half mil south of McLemoresville. It's on private land owned by a Mr. Johnson. It was established in 1827. Tombstones read as follows: Emily, wife of R. M. Hurt D. Aug. 26, 1858? Rebecca Mitchum, wife\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Churches & Cemeteries"","block_context":{"text":"Churches & Cemeteries","link":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/category\/places\/churches-cemeteries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Philemon Hurt Gravestone","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/HURT-CEME.-WEST-TN-1024x682.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/HURT-CEME.-WEST-TN-1024x682.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/HURT-CEME.-WEST-TN-1024x682.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/HURT-CEME.-WEST-TN-1024x682.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7196,"url":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/gibson-county-tennessee\/","url_meta":{"origin":5827,"position":3},"title":"Gibson County, Tennessee","author":"Karen","date":"July 22, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Gibson County in West Tennessee, one of the state's three \"grand divisions,\" was created in 1832 from the Chickasaw Indian Cession, and is named in honor of John H. Gibson. My third great-grandfather, William Jordan, lived there from around 1820 until his death in 1863. Located approximately halfway between Nashville\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Tennessee"","block_context":{"text":"Tennessee","link":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/category\/places\/united-states\/tennessee\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Gibson County Courthouse, Trenton, TN","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Gibson-County-Courthouse-Trenton-TN.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Gibson-County-Courthouse-Trenton-TN.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Gibson-County-Courthouse-Trenton-TN.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":217,"url":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/around-chadds-ford-book\/","url_meta":{"origin":5827,"position":4},"title":"Around Chadds Ford Book","author":"Karen","date":"May 22, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The 20th century was a time of great change for the people of Chadds Ford. The horse and carriage became obsolete as the automobile gained popularity. Dirt roads were paved with concrete and became highways as the automobile replaced the railroad as the main means of transportation. Farmland became housing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Delaware County"","block_context":{"text":"Delaware County","link":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/category\/places\/united-states\/pennsylvania\/delaware-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Brittons-mill-Chadds-Ford-1s08579u-loc-gov-ed-cr-header.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Brittons-mill-Chadds-Ford-1s08579u-loc-gov-ed-cr-header.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Brittons-mill-Chadds-Ford-1s08579u-loc-gov-ed-cr-header.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Brittons-mill-Chadds-Ford-1s08579u-loc-gov-ed-cr-header.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Brittons-mill-Chadds-Ford-1s08579u-loc-gov-ed-cr-header.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Brittons-mill-Chadds-Ford-1s08579u-loc-gov-ed-cr-header.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":71,"url":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/chanceford-presbyterian-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":5827,"position":5},"title":"Chanceford Presbyterian Church","author":"Karen","date":"March 13, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Chanceford Presbyterian Church, established in 1751, is among the oldest congregations in York County, Pennsylvania. \"Nestled in the scenic, rolling hills and farmland of Lower Chanceford Township, the building features some of the most beautiful stained glass windows and unique late 19th century architecture in the county.\" (chancefordpc.org) My ancestor,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Churches & Cemeteries"","block_context":{"text":"Churches & Cemeteries","link":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/category\/places\/churches-cemeteries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lower Chanceford Church","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/1Lower-Chanceford-Presbyterian-ChFarquhar2a.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/1Lower-Chanceford-Presbyterian-ChFarquhar2a.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/1Lower-Chanceford-Presbyterian-ChFarquhar2a.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/1Lower-Chanceford-Presbyterian-ChFarquhar2a.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Fourth-St-Williamsport-PA.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5827","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5827"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5827\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5833,"href":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5827\/revisions\/5833"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5827"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5827"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.karenfurst.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}