Harry Llewellyn Backus and Lillian Winifred Shattuck

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Husband Harry Llewellyn Backus ^{1 2}

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           Born: 13 Sep 1872 - Smethport, McKean Co, PA 1 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 9 Jan 1924 3
         Buried: 

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         Father: Frank Ward Backus (1842-Aft 1913) 1 2
         Mother: Flora Asenath Hamlin (1852-      ) 1 2 4

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       Marriage: 11 Sep 1907 1 3

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Wife Lillian Winifred Shattuck ^{1 3}

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           Born: 22 Dec 1883 - Wellsville, Allegany Co, NY 1 3
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           Died: 
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         Father: Frederick J. Shattuck (1862-      ) 1 3
         Mother: Clarissa Richmond (1863-      ) 1 3

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Children

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1 F Clarissa Grace Backus ^{1 3}

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           Born: 26 Sep 1909 - Smethport, McKean Co, PA 1 3
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2 M Harry Llewellyn Backus ^{1 3}

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           Born: 25 Nov 1911 - Smethport, McKean Co, PA 1 3
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           Died: 
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3 M William Frederick Backus ³

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           Born: 25 Jan 1914 - Smethport, McKean Co, PA 3
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General Notes: Husband - Harry Llewellyn Backus

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He was educated in the Smethport, Pennsylvania, public schools, and when fifteen years of age was obliged to leave school and go to work. In June, 1888, he began learning typesetting and printing in the office of the McKean County Miner, then under the editorship of Colonel Lucius Rogers, who founded the Miner in 1863, but later disposed of it to Bert Olson. Mr. Backus continued with the Miner several years, then spent one year on the McKean County Democrat, then returning to the Miner. He thoroughly mastered the mysteries of the printer's art and continued an employe in various capacities until February 1, 1900, when he purchased the entire Miner plant and became sole owner and editor. Under his management the paper was not only a financial success, but took a high position among the papers of northern Pennsylvania. The politics of the paper reflected the personal views of its owner, and was a tower of strength to the Republican party of McKean County. Was later Progressive.
Mr. Backus was interested in other Smethport enterprises and served as a director of the Backus Novelty Company. Originally a Democrat, he lost faith in that party during the Cleveland administration and panic of 1892-96 and allied himself with the Republican party, and supported the Republican party up to the time of the Republican national convention in Chicago in June, 1912; could not stand for this convention and joined the Progressives. In 1905 he served as secretary of the judiciary general committee, continuing one term, and was later chief burgess of Smethport. He stood high in the Masonic order, belonging to McKean Lodge, No. 388, Free and Accepted Masons, and holding all degrees of Coudersport Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, including the thirty-second degree. He was also a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, belonging to Zem Zem Temple, Erie, Pennsylvania. He was a member of Bradford Lodge, No. 284, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was a member of the Smethport fire department and was an exempt in that organization, also a member of the Central Club. He was also a charter member of the beneficial order, Modern Woodmen of America. In religious faith he was an Episcopalian, having been baptized in that faith in early boyhood.

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General Notes: Wife - Lillian Winifred Shattuck

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She was educated at Cherry Creek, New York, and Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Oberlin, Ohio. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star and of the Presbyterian church.

1 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Northern Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 59.

2 George P. Donehoo, Pennsylvania - A History (NW) (New York, NY; Chicago, IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1926), Pg 249.

3 George P. Donehoo, Pennsylvania - A History (NW) (New York, NY; Chicago, IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1926), Pg 250.

4 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 185.