John Satterlee
John Franklin Satterlee (Sr.) was born in 1787 or 1788 in Kingston, Luzerne county, the eldest of three children of Elisha Francis Satterlee (1760-1826) and Cynthia Stevens (1768-1848), both natives of Connecticut. Elisha Satterlee was a brother of Elizabeth Satterlee Mathewson, whose portrait is in the North room of this museum. Elisha and Cynthia Satterlee came to Athens shortly after John was born.
Julia Prentice and John Franklin Satterlee were married on Christmas Day, 1808, in Athens.
John F. Satterlee opened a mercantile business in the Prentice home at "Spring's Corners." Louise Welles Murray wrote:
He had a keen sense of wit, as shown in a few of his letters that have been preserved. His daily diary must have been excellent reading. Unfortunately, that and many other papers were lost in the fires which destroyed two successive Satterlee homes. Even business was humorously transacted by John F., as shown in a letter to Stephen Tuttle in 1813:
"Dear Sir, Yours came to hand last mail, covering a ps [sic] of democratic paper on which I had the honor of writing a note for $500 - dear paper - which is inclosed. The other day had to pay only $15 for the privilege of retailing goods
under the mild administration of King James - God and Congress only know what will come next."
About 1815 he decided to buy the old tavern built by James Irwin…
Irwin's tavern was "on the second lot north of the Academy" in Athens. (Murray) The Athens Academy was across Main St. from the Spalding Library and Tioga Point Museum.
John F. and Julia Satterlee had at least five children, all born in Athens:
Orrin Day Satterlee (1811-1892), presumably named after Orrin Day of Catskill, supplier to his father's tavern; married Adeline B. Winslow (1828-1916); lived and probably died in Lock Haven, PA
Elisha Satterlee (1815-1888) married Emily Briggs (1819-1890); lived and probably died in Lock Haven, PA
Anna Prentice Satterlee (1817-1889) married Horace Kinney (1813-1867); lived in Sheshequin and was a member of the Universalist church there; died in Barclay township; buried in the Sheshequin Valley Cemetery
Cynthia Lemira Satterlee (1819-1887) married Edward R. Ovenshire (1817-1860); lived in Athens until at least 1870; lived with her daughter Mary in Detroit, MI, in 1880, and may have died there or in Minneapolis; buried in the Sheshequin Valley Cemetery
Julia Margaretta Satterlee (1821->1860) married George P. Stephens (1797-1863), a son of Athenians Ira Stephens and Sybil Ransom, in East Palmyra, NY; live in Palmyra and later in Michigan
Julia Prentice Sattlerlee died on Dec. 12, 1823. She was buried in Tioga Point Cemetery.
John F. Satterlee married Elizabeth Marshall in 1825. Elizabeth was born in 1794 in Sheshequin, the third of six children of Josiah Marshall (1762-1804) and Sibyl Brown (1772-1851). They had at least five children:
Sarah Jane Satterlee (1827-1900) married James Lemon (1817-1897); lived in Barton, NY; buried in Glenwood Cemetery in Waverly
John Franklin Satterlee (1829-1905) married Lucy Elizabeth Booth (1833-1914); lived in Monroe township; buried in Tioga Point Cemetery
Elizabeth Satterlee (1830-1894) married Dr. James A. Thomson (1823-1889); died in Wrightsville, York county, PA
Lucy Satterlee (1833-1848) died at age 15
Marion W. Satterlee (1835-1910) married William R. Schuyler (1834-1908); lived and died in Philadelphia
In 1837 John F. Satterlee built a stately home on present-day Pleasant Valley Rd., on the east bank of the Susquehanna River.
He was an active member and financial supporter of the Athens Presbyterian church. He also contributed to the Athens Academy (which his son John F. Jr. attended).
John F. Satterlee died on Feb. 11, 1856, in Athens. He was buried with both of his wives in Riverside cemetery in Athens.
References:
Murray, Louise Welles. A History of Old Tioga Point and Early Athens. Raeder Press, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 1908
Heverly, Clement C. Pioneer and Patriot Families of Bradford County. Bradford Star Print, Towanda, PA, 1913 & 1915
KSR 9/11/25
Comments