Esther Doyle Read, Copyright 30 August 2005
New 30 August 2005
READ FAMILY CONNECTIONS
FRANK LESLIE COURSEN, Sr.5
608. FRANK LESLIE COURSEN, Sr.4 (Jacob Harvey Coursen4, Hannah Coursen nee Read3, John Read2, Joseph Read1), was born 9 March 1880 in Blairstown Township, Warren County, New Jersey and died 1 December 1957 in Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania (Murcko 1996-98). Frank appears on the the 1880 census as a three month old child, born in March of that year. He lived with his parents and paternal grandmother Hannah Read Coursen on the family farm in Frelinghuysen Township, Warren County (1880 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 193, Frelinghuysen Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 319B, 4 June 1880). Frank was basically an only child while he was growing up. His sister Mae was not born until August 1896. Frank was 16 years old when she was born.Frank attended Blair Presbyterial Academy (now Blair Academy) in Blairstown between 1893 and 1898. His address in the student directory was given as Marksboro (Anon 1898:71). The Coursen farm was located near Kerrs Corner in Frelinghuysen Township, just to the south of Marksboro. Marksboro was probably the Coursen's post office. The family farm was probably the same one as listed for his father in the 1874 Beers
County Atlas of Warren County New Jersey. On the 1900 census, Frank was listed as a resident of the Coursen household. However, he was 20 that year and was away at school (1900 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 184, Frelinghuysen Township, Warren County, New Jersey, sheet 5A, 12 June 1900).Frank married Elizabeth "Bessie" Griffith on 6 March 1906. She was the daughter of David D. Griffith and Jane Williams. Bessie was born 24 July 1878 in Pennsylvania and died unknown (Griffith 2001). They resided in Blairstown, Warren County, New Jersey for awhile after their marriage. By 1908, they lived in Pennsylvania. Their first daughter Jane was born in that state in that year. In 1910, Frank, Bessie and Jane lived in a rented house at 153 Philadelphia Avenue in West Pittston, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The household included Frank and Bessie, the couple's two year old daughter Jane, and Bessie's 28 year old sister Nellie Griffith. Bessie and Nellie's father was a native of wales and their mother was a native of Pennsylvania. The census gave Frank's occupation as "Hardware Store," he was the owner of Coursen Hardware Company in Pittston. Frank was the first president of the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce (1910 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 127, West Pittston Borough, District 7, 8 and 9, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, page 9B, 21April 1910; Murcko 1996-98).
By 1918, Frank and Bessie had bought a building at 30 North Main Street in Pittston. Frank's hardware business was on the first floor and the family lived over the business. Frank gave this address as his home address when he registered for the draft on 12 September 1918. He was 38 years old and had a 9 year old daughter. He named his wife, Elizabeth Coursen, as his neasrest relative. Frank stated that he was self employed as a merchant at 30 North Main in Pittston. The draft registration desribes him as tall and stout with blue eyes and dark hair (World War I Draft Registration Card C, 786/420). The family still lived at 30 North Main Street with their 11 year old daughter Jane when the census was enumerated in January 1920. Frank still owned and operated Coursen's Hardward in Pittston. Bessie was expecting her second child when the census was enumerated. A daughter named Anna was born in July of 1920 (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 156, 7th Ward, Pittston City, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, page 1A, 2 January 1920). A third child, Frank, Jr. was born two years later in February 1922 (Murcko 1996-98).
The family moved from Pittston to Dallas in Luzerne County between 1920 and 1930. In 1930, Frank and Bessie lived with their three children—Jane, Anna and Frank, Jr.—at 26 Lake St. in Dallas. The family owned the house, which as valued at $12,000. They did not own a radio. Frank was still the owner of a hardware store. Jane was 22 and was unemployed. Anna and Frank were in school (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 40-16, Dallas Borough, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, page 1B, 3 April 1930). Some time after 1930, Frank and Elizabeth moved to Tunkhannock in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania (Wyoming County is adjacent to Luzerne County). They were were members of the Tunkhannock Presbyterian Church. Frank died in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania in 1957 (Murcko 1996-98).
Frank's name is inscribed on his parents monument in Marksboro Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Marksboro, Frelinghuysen Township, Warren County, New Jersey. However, Frank and Bessie lived most of their married life in West Pittston, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Frank died in 1957 in Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania (Murcko 1996-98)—Wyoming County is adjacent to Luzerne County. It is highly unlikely that he is buried in Marksboro. Bessie's name is not inscribed on the Marksboro monument. The Coursen monument in Marksboro was visited on 14 April 2005 (use photo album link above to view a photograph of the monument).
Children of Frank Leslie Coursen and Elizabeth Griffith |
CHILDREN OF FRANK LESLIE COURSEN AND ELIZABETH GRIFFITH:
1276. (i.) JANE C.COURSEN6, was born 22 August 1908 in Pennsylvania, probably in Luzerne County and died 2 May 1988 in Pennsylvania (Murcko 1996-98; Social Security Death Index, the index gives her birth date as 23 August 1907). In 1910, Jane lived with her parents and Aunt Nellie Griffith at 153 Philadelphia Avenue in West Pittston, Luzerne County (1910 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 127, West Pittston Borough, District 7, 8 and 9, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, page 9B, 21 April 1910). By 1918, her parents had purchased a building at 30 North Main Street in Pittston. Jane's father's hardware store was on the first floor and the family home was on the second floor (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 156, 7th Ward, Pittston City, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, page 1A, 2 January 1920; Murcko 1996-98; World War I Draft Registration Card C, 786/420). Jane was single and unemployed in 1930. She lived at home with her parents and her two younger siblings at 26 Lake St. in Dallas, Luzerne County. Her younger brother and sister were born in 1920 and 1922. Jane's family moved to Dallas sometime after 1920 (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 40-16, Dallas Borough, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, page 1B, 3 April 1930). Jane married Bradley W. Lewis after the 1930 census (Griffith 2001). He was born 1 July 1911 and died 10 December 1990 (Social Security Death Index). Bradley was the son of Henry M. Lewis and Mildred Jayne. He appears on the 1920 census as an 8 year old school boy living at 73 West Tioga Street in Tunkhannock. Bradley lived with his parents, his maternal grandfather Joseph Jayne and his older sister Josephine Lewis. Bradley's father was an insurance agent in 1920, by 1930 he was employed as a lawyer. The Lewis family still lived at 73 West Tioga Street in 1930. However, only Bradley and his parents were resident of the home. Bradley was still in school in 1930 (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 139, Tuckhannock Borough, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, page 12A, 20 & 21 January 1920; 1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 66-21, Ward 2, Tunkhannock Borough, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, page 8B, 14 April 1930). Bradley and Jane probably met after the Coursen family moved to Tuckhannock. This move occurred sometime after 1930. Jane died 2 May 1988. Her social security number was issued in Pennsylvania in 1973, Bradley's was issued before 1951. Jane resided in Willow Grove, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania at the time of her death. Her younger sister Anna also resided in Willow Grove. Anna had been living in Virginia earlier, possibly with her brother Frank, Jr. (Social Security Death Index).
1277. (ii.) ANNA COURSEN6, was born 11 July 1920 probably in Pittston City, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania and died April 1979, probably in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (Murcko 1996-98; Social Security Death Index gives her birth date as 14 July 1920). She was born six months after the 1920 census taker enumerated her parent's household, hence she does not appear on the 1920 census (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 156, 7th Ward, Pittston City, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, page 1A, 2 January 1920). She does appear on the 1930 census. By that time her parents had moved to Dallas in Luzerne County. Anna lived with her parents, her sister Jane and brother Frank at 26 Lake St. in Dallas. Although both Anna and Frank were of school age, Anna was not in school in 1930. According to the census, she could neither read nor write (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 40-16, Dallas Borough, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, page 1B, 3 April 1930). Her social security number was issued in Virginia in 1973. Anna died unmarried in 1979. Her final residence was Willow Grove, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Her older sister Jane also lived in Willow Grove (Social Security Death Index).
1278. (iii.) FRANK LESLIE COURSEN, Jr.6, was born 14 February 1922 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania and died May 1984 in Virginia (Murcko 1996-98; Social Security Death Index gives his birth date as 17 February 1923). In 1930, Frank lived with his parents and two older siblings at 26 Lake St. in Dallas. He was the only Coursen child in school in 1930 (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 40-16, Dallas Borough, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, page 1B, 3 April 1930). Frank's social security number was issued in Pennsylvania before 1951 (Social Security Death Index). However, he had moved to Virginia by the early 1970s. He was the President of the Capital District Kiwanis in Suffolk, Virginia during the period 1973 through 1974 (Kiwanis n.d.). Frank's final residence was Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach County, Virginia (Social Security Death Index).
PRIMARY SOURCES
Census
Maps
Beers, F.W.
Military Records
Social Security Death Index
SECONDARY SOURCES
Anon
WEB SITES
Griffith, Reese, DDS
Kiwanis
Murcko, Stephen J.
Go to Top of Page
Return to Main
This web site was produced
by Timothy Doyle 5/5/98,
Questions regarding content should be directed to Esther Doyle Read readgen@adelphia.net