Copyright 2005, Esther Doyle Read

New 17 May 2005

KENNETH JAY HARTUNG⁷

3414. KENNETH JAY HARTUNG⁷ (Jay Johnson Hartung⁶, Hulda Smith⁵, Elizabeth Read⁴, Isaac Read, III³, John Read², Joseph Read¹) was born 29 March 1916 in Northampton County, Pennsylvania and died October 1993 (Anon 2001; Long Island 2005; Loughborough 2001; Social Security Death Index). Kenneth's family lived in Northampton County until at least 1924. In 1920, Kenneth lived on his parents's farm in Washington Township, Northampton County. According to the census he was 3 years and nine months old. His sister Doris was also a resident of the household, according to the census she was a five month old infant (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 159, Washington Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, sheet 4A, 14 January 1920). All three of Kenneth's sisters were born in Northampton County between 1919 and 1924. His mother Anna Sarson Hartung was a Sunday School teacher at the Christ Luthern Church in Stone Church, Northampton County. A souvenir pamphlet published in 1924 for the church's 150th anniversary lists "Mrs. Jay J. Hartung, Teacher Young People's Bible Class" (Anon 1924:5). By 1930, the family had moved to North Coventry Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Kenneth lived with his parents in the township and attended school with his sisters Doris, Edna and Lucille. His father Jay Hartung was employed as a commerical salesman in the feed industry. The family owned their home, which was valued at $8,000 (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 15-54, North Coventry Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, sheet 26B, 2 May 1930). Kenneth graduated from North Coventry High School in 1934 (Pottstown Mercury, 13 July 1953).

Kenneth married on 25 November 1937 in Pottstown, Chester/Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Abel, the daughter of B.F. Abel and Louisa Boehnke. She was born 30 July 1915 and died unknown (Anon 2001; Long Island 2005; Loughborough 2001; Pottstown Mercury, 29 April 1947; Social Security Death Index). Kenneth and Elizabeth had three children between 1938 and 1946: Jay, Frank and Nina. The family made its home outside of Pottstown, Chester County, Pennsylvania. The Pottstown Mercury, reported on the family's participation in family and community events. During the period 1947 through 1953 they appear in at least ten articles or announcements in the paper. Most of these were family events which included the 40th anniversary party of Elizabeth's parents in April 1947 and a visit she and her sister-in-law made to relatives in Mountville, Lancaster and Honey Brook, Pennsylvania the following month (Pottstown Mercury, 29 April 1947, 7 May 1947). There were also reports in the society pages of the paper associated with the wedding of Kenneth's youngest sister Lucille Hartung to Donald Schaeffer in the spring of 1948. The night before the wedding (20 March 1948), they attended a dinner party given in Lucille's honor by Kenneth's other sister Doris Hartung Knauer. The couple's son Jay was Lucille's ring bearer and Kenneth was an usher for his sister (Pottstown Mercury, 20 March 1948, 22 March 1948). Elizabeth Hartung was active in the school life of her children. She visited the school during events hosted by her children's class and volunteered to work for the PTA. In December 1952, she served as a dinning room waitress for the North Coventry Township PTA's annual Yule dinner and festival (Pottstown Mercury, 7 May 1952, 27 November 1952). Kenneth worked as an organizer for his high school class, helping to plan the annual class picnic in 1953. Unfortunately the picnic hosted at Sunnybrook Park on 9 August 1953 was rained on during the meal. However, the sun came out for the afternoon games. Jay, Elizabeth and all three chldren attended the picnic together (Pottstown Mercury, 13 July 1953, 7 August 1953, 10 August 1953).

CHILDREN OF KENNETH JAY HARTUNG and ELIZABETH ABEL:

3458. (i.) JAY KENNETH HARTUNG⁸, was born between 1938 and 1946 in Pennsylvania. Jay is mentioned as a guest at the 40th wedding aniversary of his maternal grandparents, B.F. and Louisa (Boehnke) Abel of North Coventry. The party took place in late April 1947. At that time, Jay lived with his parents and two younger siblings on Pottstown RD 1 (Pottstown Mercury, 29 April 1947). Jay was the ring bearer for his Aunt Lucille Hartung when she married Donald Schaeffer on 21 March 1948 (Pottstown Mercury, 20 March 1948, 22 March 1948). Jay married Michelle Tarnopokli (Anon 2001; Long Island 2005; Loughborough 2001).

3459. (ii.) FRANKLIN SARSON "Frank" HARTUNG⁸, was born between 1937 and 1946 in Pennsylvania. Frank is mentioned as a guest at the 40th wedding aniversary of his maternal grandparents, B.F. and Louisa (Boehnke) Abel of North Coventry. The party took place in late April 1947. At that time, Frank lived with his parents, brother and sister on Pottstown RD 1 (Pottstown Mercury, 29 April 1947). Frank married twice. His wives were Mary Gartman and June Atckinson (Anon 2001; Long Island 2005; Loughborough 2001). Frank resides in Pottstown, Pennsylvania (phone book).

3460. (iii.) NINA FAY HARTUNG⁸, was born 24 December 1946 and died 17 April 1992. (Anon 2001; Long Island 2005; Loughborough 2001; Social Security Death Index). Nina is mentioned as a guest at the 40th wedding aniversary of her maternal grandparents, B.F. and Louisa (Boehnke) Abel of North Coventry. The party took place in late April 1947. Nina was an infant at the time lived with her parents and two older brothers on Pottstown RD 1 (Pottstown Mercury, 29 April 1947). Nina also appears in the paper in May 1952. She and her mother attended an open house for the sixth grade class of one of her older brothers (Pottstown Mercury, 7 May 1952). Nina's social security number was issued in Pennsylvania in 1964. She died unmarried in 1992 at the age of 45 (Social Security Death Index).

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