Maj. John Couch Backus and Mary Sartwell

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Husband Maj. John Couch Backus ¹

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           Born: 13 Mar 1817 - Lee, Berkshire Co, MA 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 26 Oct 1888 - Smethport, McKean Co, PA 2
         Buried: 

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         Father: Thomas L. Backus (1785-      ) 3
         Mother: Rebecca Couch (      -      ) 3

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       Marriage: 1857 4

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   Other Spouse: Mary Almira Windsor (1842-Aft 1913) 5 - 18 Jun 1860 2

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Wife Mary Sartwell ⁵

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 1860 4
         Buried: 

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         Father: Solomon Sartwell (      -      ) 6
         Mother: Sarah "Sally" King (1802-Bef 1913) 6

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Children

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1 M Frank Backus ⁴

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: in infancy
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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2 F Cora Backus ⁴

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 1880 4
         Buried: 

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General Notes: Husband - Maj. John Couch Backus

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He was born in Massachusetts, but in his fourth year his parents moved to Lansing, New York, where his childhood and youth were spent and early education obtained. He was a graduate of Oberlin College (Ohio), and began life fully equipped educationally. After attaining his majority he engaged with his brother, Seth A., in the lumbering business at Wellsville, New York, and in 1845 moved to Tuttle Point, McKean County, Pennsylvania. There they purchased a sawmill and combined their lumbering operations until 1848, when becoming tired of the business and aspiring to a professional career, John C. moved to Smethport and began the study of law with N. W. Goodrich, then a prominent lawyer of the county. In 1851 Mr. Backus was admitted to the McKean county bar and in 1856 to practice in the supreme court. He at once began the practice of his profession in Smethport and for over twenty-five years was engaged in nearly every important case tried in the county. At the time of his death he had been in practice longer than any other lawyer. He also took an active part in politics. He was a life-long Democrat and in 1851 was elected register and recorder of McKean county; was a member of the state legislature in 1875 and 1876, and for ten years was chief burgess of Smethport. He was a veteran of the civil war, enlisting in 1861, and in December of that year was commissioned captain of Company E, Fifty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He fought in all the battles participated in by his regiment until compelled by his failing health to resign. He had risen through successive promotion, and at the time of his resignation was holding the rank of major. In 1877 he formed a law partnership with Sheridan Gorton, of Friendship, New York, which continued until the death of Major Backus. He was a member of the Episcopal church, McKean Lodge, No. 338, Free and Accepted Masons, and of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Major Backus was noted for his generosity, and none ever appealed to him in vain. Positive and energetic by disposition, he pursued with untiring zeal every cause he championed and every work he undertook. He held a high place in the esteem of his townsmen and ever labored for the welfare of Smethport and its inhabitants. He was a prominent member of the Masonic order and was buried by his brethren according to the beautiful Masonic ritual. No more fitting tribute can be paid to his memory than that tendered by one of his brethren of the bar: "In him his country has lost one who proved by his acts that he fully appreciated the duty of a good citizen and a true patriot. In him his wife lost a kind husband, children, an indulgent father, and kin of every degree a generous friend." He always held his army comrades in highest regard and was a charter member of the Smethport Post, Grand Army of the Republic, which post passed fitting resolutions of respect to his memory. [GPHNP, 61]

1 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Northern Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 58, 61.

2 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Northern Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 61.

3 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Northern Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 58.

4 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Northern Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 62.

5 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Northern Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 60.

6 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Northern Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 60, 92.