Call Number:

06

Repository:

Haverford Township Historical Society

Extent:

1.0 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

1854-1923 (inclusive)

Creator:

Lukens, Levi, 1835-1915

Abstract:

Levi Lukens (1835-1915) was a leader in his hometown of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, who helped bring the railroad to the area. He took over the running of his father's farm in the mid-19th century, focusing on dairy farming. In 1884, Levi turned the running of the farm over to his son, John Shaffner Lukens (1867-1936). The Levi Lukens family papers, 1854-1923, consist of a few volumes, largely pertaining to the finances of the Lukens farm. A couple of volumes in the collection are from the Penn Hall Association.

"Levi [(1835-1915)], only son of Nathan and Sarah Naylor (Lincoln) Lukens, was born on the old Butler place in Upper Darby [Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania]... When he had attained his majority, his father turned over to him the farm, and he cultivated a tract of one hundred and seventy-five acres, making a specialty of dairy farming... For years, Mr. Lukens [was] a leader in his township, and was one of the men who [was] instrumental in [obtaining the] railroad facilities for the community. In 1863, Mr. Lukens assisted in raising a company of infantry and was out for six weeks, being attached to the Sixteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was made second lieutenant of this company under Captain Amos Bonsall, of Upper Darby [T]ownship. Upon his return Mr. Lukens resumed his agricultural work. Mr. Lukens married Mary E., daughter of John and Mary E. (Metzger) Shaffner, of Lancaster City, Pennsylvania [in 1860]...Levi and Mary E. (Shaffner) Lukens had [six] children..." (p. 746)

John Shaffner Lukens (1867-1936) was the fourth child of Levi and Mary Lukens. After graduating from Peirce's Business College in 1884, he took over the running of his father's dairy farm. He married Elizabeth Courtney in 1896 and they had four children, the youngest of whom was Marguerite (1906-1990).

Penn Hall was a two-story red brick school house built in 1872 as part of the Haverford Township school district. The first floor of the building was used as a school, while the second floor was used for meetings of various kinds, including a non-denominational Sunday school taught by professors from Haverford College. The school closed sometime between 1910 and 1912.

Bibliography:

Quoted text from: Jordan, John W. A History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and Its People, Volume II. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1914. Accessed on April 28, 2014. http://books.google.com/books?id=_hQVAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=746&f=false.

This collection consists of a few volumes, largely pertaining to the finances of the Lukens farm. A couple of volumes in the collection are from the Penn Hall Association.

The ledgers from the Lukens farm have the heading "Levi Lukens, Esq." and contain farm, household, and personal expenses, 1854-1923. One ledger appears to be a generic account book, 1868-1872, and does not have any labels. The Penn Hall Association volumes date from 1872 to 1920 and contain a small amount of notes and records from the organization.