Howard Ross Hankins - Late 1880s

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 This photograph of Howard Ross Hankins was taken in Owego, Tioga County, New York. The dark color of the card indicates it was taken in the late 1880s, which is consistent with what is known about Howard's life and when he was in Tioga County. 

On the back, the photo is identified as Howard Hankins in an unknown person's handwriting. 

The photo has been digitally enhanced. 



Howard Ross Hankins, son of Lucas Wurtz Hankins (1831-1910) and Mary Ellen Ross (1835-1914), was born 4 August 1863 in Manchester, Wayne County, Pennsylvania. He married Emma Chappius (1862-1889), daughter of Mark Chappius (1827-1918) and Mary (1835-1883) on 6 March 1888 in Berkshire, Tioga County, New York. Howard and Emma had a daughter Mabel (1889-1890). On 26 May 1907, Howard married Martha M. Hanning (1874-1960), daughter of John Hanning (1842-1929) and Martha (1845-1918) in Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York. Howard died in Los Angeles on 27 March 1922. 

Newspaper accounts link Howard to Tioga County in the late 1880s. On 4 November 1885, he was the groomsman at his second cousin Charles Dabron's wedding in Newark Valley, Tioga County. [1]  His uncle, John Ralph Hankins, had a general store in Newark Valley until July 1886, when he moved to Pennsylvania. [2] His first wife, Emma Chappius, lived in Newark Valley for several years until her marriage in 1888. [3] By May of 1889, Howard and Emma lived in Berkshire, Tioga County. [4] By October 1889, they were living in Binghamton where Emma died. She was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Berkshire. [5] Finally, in June 1890, Howard visited in Newark Valley, as he traveled from Binghamton to Auburn, where he was taking a job at the prison. [6]



[1] “Newark Valley,” Tioga County Record (New York), 14 November 1885, unumbered, 3rd page, column 6, Howard Hankins.

[2] “Forest City,” The Carbondale Leader (Pennsylvania), 27 July 1886,  unpageinated, 4th page, column 4.

[3] “Berkshire News,” The Owego Record (New York), 11 October 1889, page 2, column 2, Mrs. Howard Hankins.

[4] “Harford Mills,” The Dryden Herald (New York), 15 May 1889, page 8, column 2, Mr. And Mrs. Howard Hankins.

[5] “Harford Mills,” The Dryden Herald (New York), 16 October 1889, page 8, column 3, Mrs. R. F. Chappuis.

[6] “The Chair Business,” The Auburn Bulletin (New York), 25 June 1890, unpaginated, 5th page in issue, column 2. 





Location: Owego, NY 13827, USA

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