He lived in Luzerne County and was a carpenter. From 1882 to 1889 he was a postmaster.
He married Mary E. Keiser on Oct. 12, 1856 in Ashley, Luzerne County, PA.
At the beginning of the Civil War, he enlisted for three months' service and again at SCranton on September 4, 1864 in Company E, 188th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was a private and was discharged at Fort Munroe in June 1865.
According to cemetery records he was interred June 28, 1915 in Lot 111B. Later censuses agree that he was born June 1831.
According to the 1916 Wilkes-Barre Record Almanac of Fatal Accidents in 1915:
John W. Colborn of Ashley, 84 years, of injuries sustained in an automobile accident, June 27. There are several articles mentioning the accident:
John was traveling with his son-in-law, Rev. James Benninger, who was driving his new Reo. John's daughter and a friend's son were also in the car. They were coming back from a visit to the grave of John's wife in Ashley cemetery. One article says they were driving on the Port Blanchard Viaduct - Wilkes-Barre Pittston Road. Benninger was driving his new Reo and apparently tried to pass another car, swerved and lost control of the vehicle. John was thrown from the back seat to the front and suffered severe internal injuries, dying the next day, Saturday, June 26, 1915 at West Side Hospital in Scranton. His daughter sustaines cuts to the head from broken glass while the other two passengers were uninjured. Several people attended his funeral service.
Earl Parker, a Colborn descendant, recalls "I remember [being told] he was killed when a car went off a bridge over the RR tracks on Rt11 just north of the General Hospital in Wilkes Barre when I was a babe in arms...1921-22." He has the year wrong but the basic details fit.
Transcript of one obituary:
WELL KNOWN WEST SCRANTON MAN DIED SATURDAY AFTERNOON - WAS IN CAR WITH SON-IN-LAW WHEN ACCIDENT HAPPENED
John W. Colburn of 133 North Hyde Park Avenue, father-in-law of Rev. James Benninger, pastor of the Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church, died in the West Side hospital Saturday from injuries received in an automobile accident at Port Blanchard, south of Pittston, on Friday afternoon. He was eighty-four years old, a veteran of the Civil War and a former postmaster of Ashley.
Mr. Colburn was riding with his son-in-law and Mrs. Benninger, the party returning from Ashley. When their car drove upon the Port Blanchard viaduct, Mr. Benninger steered to the side to permit another car to pass him. His machine skidded and crashed into the viaduct guard rail. Mr. Colburn was rendered unconscious and in this condition was brought to Scranton and taken to West Side Hospital.
NATIVE OF LYCOMING
Mr. Colburn was born in Lycoming County on June 10, 1831. He learned the trade of carpenter and in 185[1?] moved to Ashley where he assisted in building the first breaker in that town. He continued at his trade, in Ashley, until the outbreak of the war, when he enlisted as a "three-month man," and re-enlisted in Scranton as a private of Company E, One Hundred and Eighty-First Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was discharged at Fortress Monroe in June 1865.Returning to Ashley he resumed carpentry work until 1882, when he was appointed postmaster, filling that office until 1885, and getting a reappointment in 1889.
Mr. Colburn was married in 185[6?] . His wife died in 1890. Surviving him are three sons, Dr. Robert M. Colburn, of Newark; Dr. Charles W. Colburn of Carbondale; William T. Colburn of Ashley, a druggist; Sarah G. Colburn of Scranton and Mrs. James Benninger, daughters. Two brothers, Frank Colburn of Forest City, and William E. Colburn, of Virginia and one sister Mrs. W.H. Firlman of Philadelphia, also survive.
The funeral service was held this morning at the Benninger residence on North Hyde Park Avenue. Rev. L.C. Murdock, superintendent of the Wyoming conference, offered prayers and read the ritual. The body was then taken to Ashley, where further services were held this afternoon in the Centenary Episcopal Church. Interment was made in the Ashley Cemetery. Members of the Grand Army and Odd Fellows attended.
The History of Luzerne County Pennsylvania has a biographica sketch of John and his son, Isaiah - https://archive.org/details/historyofluzerne00brad
He married Mary E. Keiser on Oct. 12, 1856 in Ashley, Luzerne County, PA.
At the beginning of the Civil War, he enlisted for three months' service and again at SCranton on September 4, 1864 in Company E, 188th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was a private and was discharged at Fort Munroe in June 1865.
According to cemetery records he was interred June 28, 1915 in Lot 111B. Later censuses agree that he was born June 1831.
According to the 1916 Wilkes-Barre Record Almanac of Fatal Accidents in 1915:
John W. Colborn of Ashley, 84 years, of injuries sustained in an automobile accident, June 27. There are several articles mentioning the accident:
John was traveling with his son-in-law, Rev. James Benninger, who was driving his new Reo. John's daughter and a friend's son were also in the car. They were coming back from a visit to the grave of John's wife in Ashley cemetery. One article says they were driving on the Port Blanchard Viaduct - Wilkes-Barre Pittston Road. Benninger was driving his new Reo and apparently tried to pass another car, swerved and lost control of the vehicle. John was thrown from the back seat to the front and suffered severe internal injuries, dying the next day, Saturday, June 26, 1915 at West Side Hospital in Scranton. His daughter sustaines cuts to the head from broken glass while the other two passengers were uninjured. Several people attended his funeral service.
Earl Parker, a Colborn descendant, recalls "I remember [being told] he was killed when a car went off a bridge over the RR tracks on Rt11 just north of the General Hospital in Wilkes Barre when I was a babe in arms...1921-22." He has the year wrong but the basic details fit.
Transcript of one obituary:
WELL KNOWN WEST SCRANTON MAN DIED SATURDAY AFTERNOON - WAS IN CAR WITH SON-IN-LAW WHEN ACCIDENT HAPPENED
John W. Colburn of 133 North Hyde Park Avenue, father-in-law of Rev. James Benninger, pastor of the Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church, died in the West Side hospital Saturday from injuries received in an automobile accident at Port Blanchard, south of Pittston, on Friday afternoon. He was eighty-four years old, a veteran of the Civil War and a former postmaster of Ashley.
Mr. Colburn was riding with his son-in-law and Mrs. Benninger, the party returning from Ashley. When their car drove upon the Port Blanchard viaduct, Mr. Benninger steered to the side to permit another car to pass him. His machine skidded and crashed into the viaduct guard rail. Mr. Colburn was rendered unconscious and in this condition was brought to Scranton and taken to West Side Hospital.
NATIVE OF LYCOMING
Mr. Colburn was born in Lycoming County on June 10, 1831. He learned the trade of carpenter and in 185[1?] moved to Ashley where he assisted in building the first breaker in that town. He continued at his trade, in Ashley, until the outbreak of the war, when he enlisted as a "three-month man," and re-enlisted in Scranton as a private of Company E, One Hundred and Eighty-First Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was discharged at Fortress Monroe in June 1865.Returning to Ashley he resumed carpentry work until 1882, when he was appointed postmaster, filling that office until 1885, and getting a reappointment in 1889.
Mr. Colburn was married in 185[6?] . His wife died in 1890. Surviving him are three sons, Dr. Robert M. Colburn, of Newark; Dr. Charles W. Colburn of Carbondale; William T. Colburn of Ashley, a druggist; Sarah G. Colburn of Scranton and Mrs. James Benninger, daughters. Two brothers, Frank Colburn of Forest City, and William E. Colburn, of Virginia and one sister Mrs. W.H. Firlman of Philadelphia, also survive.
The funeral service was held this morning at the Benninger residence on North Hyde Park Avenue. Rev. L.C. Murdock, superintendent of the Wyoming conference, offered prayers and read the ritual. The body was then taken to Ashley, where further services were held this afternoon in the Centenary Episcopal Church. Interment was made in the Ashley Cemetery. Members of the Grand Army and Odd Fellows attended.
The History of Luzerne County Pennsylvania has a biographica sketch of John and his son, Isaiah - https://archive.org/details/historyofluzerne00brad
He lived in Luzerne County and was a carpenter. From 1882 to 1889 he was a postmaster.
He married Mary E. Keiser on Oct. 12, 1856 in Ashley, Luzerne County, PA.
At the beginning of the Civil War, he enlisted for three months' service and again at SCranton on September 4, 1864 in Company E, 188th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was a private and was discharged at Fort Munroe in June 1865.
According to cemetery records he was interred June 28, 1915 in Lot 111B. Later censuses agree that he was born June 1831.
According to the 1916 Wilkes-Barre Record Almanac of Fatal Accidents in 1915:
John W. Colborn of Ashley, 84 years, of injuries sustained in an automobile accident, June 27. There are several articles mentioning the accident:
John was traveling with his son-in-law, Rev. James Benninger, who was driving his new Reo. John's daughter and a friend's son were also in the car. They were coming back from a visit to the grave of John's wife in Ashley cemetery. One article says they were driving on the Port Blanchard Viaduct - Wilkes-Barre Pittston Road. Benninger was driving his new Reo and apparently tried to pass another car, swerved and lost control of the vehicle. John was thrown from the back seat to the front and suffered severe internal injuries, dying the next day, Saturday, June 26, 1915 at West Side Hospital in Scranton. His daughter sustaines cuts to the head from broken glass while the other two passengers were uninjured. Several people attended his funeral service.
Earl Parker, a Colborn descendant, recalls "I remember [being told] he was killed when a car went off a bridge over the RR tracks on Rt11 just north of the General Hospital in Wilkes Barre when I was a babe in arms...1921-22." He has the year wrong but the basic details fit.
Transcript of one obituary:
WELL KNOWN WEST SCRANTON MAN DIED SATURDAY AFTERNOON - WAS IN CAR WITH SON-IN-LAW WHEN ACCIDENT HAPPENED
John W. Colburn of 133 North Hyde Park Avenue, father-in-law of Rev. James Benninger, pastor of the Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church, died in the West Side hospital Saturday from injuries received in an automobile accident at Port Blanchard, south of Pittston, on Friday afternoon. He was eighty-four years old, a veteran of the Civil War and a former postmaster of Ashley.
Mr. Colburn was riding with his son-in-law and Mrs. Benninger, the party returning from Ashley. When their car drove upon the Port Blanchard viaduct, Mr. Benninger steered to the side to permit another car to pass him. His machine skidded and crashed into the viaduct guard rail. Mr. Colburn was rendered unconscious and in this condition was brought to Scranton and taken to West Side Hospital.
NATIVE OF LYCOMING
Mr. Colburn was born in Lycoming County on June 10, 1831. He learned the trade of carpenter and in 185[1?] moved to Ashley where he assisted in building the first breaker in that town. He continued at his trade, in Ashley, until the outbreak of the war, when he enlisted as a "three-month man," and re-enlisted in Scranton as a private of Company E, One Hundred and Eighty-First Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was discharged at Fortress Monroe in June 1865.Returning to Ashley he resumed carpentry work until 1882, when he was appointed postmaster, filling that office until 1885, and getting a reappointment in 1889.
Mr. Colburn was married in 185[6?] . His wife died in 1890. Surviving him are three sons, Dr. Robert M. Colburn, of Newark; Dr. Charles W. Colburn of Carbondale; William T. Colburn of Ashley, a druggist; Sarah G. Colburn of Scranton and Mrs. James Benninger, daughters. Two brothers, Frank Colburn of Forest City, and William E. Colburn, of Virginia and one sister Mrs. W.H. Firlman of Philadelphia, also survive.
The funeral service was held this morning at the Benninger residence on North Hyde Park Avenue. Rev. L.C. Murdock, superintendent of the Wyoming conference, offered prayers and read the ritual. The body was then taken to Ashley, where further services were held this afternoon in the Centenary Episcopal Church. Interment was made in the Ashley Cemetery. Members of the Grand Army and Odd Fellows attended.
The History of Luzerne County Pennsylvania has a biographica sketch of John and his son, Isaiah - https://archive.org/details/historyofluzerne00brad
He married Mary E. Keiser on Oct. 12, 1856 in Ashley, Luzerne County, PA.
At the beginning of the Civil War, he enlisted for three months' service and again at SCranton on September 4, 1864 in Company E, 188th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was a private and was discharged at Fort Munroe in June 1865.
According to cemetery records he was interred June 28, 1915 in Lot 111B. Later censuses agree that he was born June 1831.
According to the 1916 Wilkes-Barre Record Almanac of Fatal Accidents in 1915:
John W. Colborn of Ashley, 84 years, of injuries sustained in an automobile accident, June 27. There are several articles mentioning the accident:
John was traveling with his son-in-law, Rev. James Benninger, who was driving his new Reo. John's daughter and a friend's son were also in the car. They were coming back from a visit to the grave of John's wife in Ashley cemetery. One article says they were driving on the Port Blanchard Viaduct - Wilkes-Barre Pittston Road. Benninger was driving his new Reo and apparently tried to pass another car, swerved and lost control of the vehicle. John was thrown from the back seat to the front and suffered severe internal injuries, dying the next day, Saturday, June 26, 1915 at West Side Hospital in Scranton. His daughter sustaines cuts to the head from broken glass while the other two passengers were uninjured. Several people attended his funeral service.
Earl Parker, a Colborn descendant, recalls "I remember [being told] he was killed when a car went off a bridge over the RR tracks on Rt11 just north of the General Hospital in Wilkes Barre when I was a babe in arms...1921-22." He has the year wrong but the basic details fit.
Transcript of one obituary:
WELL KNOWN WEST SCRANTON MAN DIED SATURDAY AFTERNOON - WAS IN CAR WITH SON-IN-LAW WHEN ACCIDENT HAPPENED
John W. Colburn of 133 North Hyde Park Avenue, father-in-law of Rev. James Benninger, pastor of the Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church, died in the West Side hospital Saturday from injuries received in an automobile accident at Port Blanchard, south of Pittston, on Friday afternoon. He was eighty-four years old, a veteran of the Civil War and a former postmaster of Ashley.
Mr. Colburn was riding with his son-in-law and Mrs. Benninger, the party returning from Ashley. When their car drove upon the Port Blanchard viaduct, Mr. Benninger steered to the side to permit another car to pass him. His machine skidded and crashed into the viaduct guard rail. Mr. Colburn was rendered unconscious and in this condition was brought to Scranton and taken to West Side Hospital.
NATIVE OF LYCOMING
Mr. Colburn was born in Lycoming County on June 10, 1831. He learned the trade of carpenter and in 185[1?] moved to Ashley where he assisted in building the first breaker in that town. He continued at his trade, in Ashley, until the outbreak of the war, when he enlisted as a "three-month man," and re-enlisted in Scranton as a private of Company E, One Hundred and Eighty-First Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was discharged at Fortress Monroe in June 1865.Returning to Ashley he resumed carpentry work until 1882, when he was appointed postmaster, filling that office until 1885, and getting a reappointment in 1889.
Mr. Colburn was married in 185[6?] . His wife died in 1890. Surviving him are three sons, Dr. Robert M. Colburn, of Newark; Dr. Charles W. Colburn of Carbondale; William T. Colburn of Ashley, a druggist; Sarah G. Colburn of Scranton and Mrs. James Benninger, daughters. Two brothers, Frank Colburn of Forest City, and William E. Colburn, of Virginia and one sister Mrs. W.H. Firlman of Philadelphia, also survive.
The funeral service was held this morning at the Benninger residence on North Hyde Park Avenue. Rev. L.C. Murdock, superintendent of the Wyoming conference, offered prayers and read the ritual. The body was then taken to Ashley, where further services were held this afternoon in the Centenary Episcopal Church. Interment was made in the Ashley Cemetery. Members of the Grand Army and Odd Fellows attended.
The History of Luzerne County Pennsylvania has a biographica sketch of John and his son, Isaiah - https://archive.org/details/historyofluzerne00brad
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