Almira Yonkin
We are indebted to Linda Ryan Crawford for this historical presentation. Please forward comments or corrections to Bob Sweeney at bobs@chall.com.


Hunsinger's Corners in 1906
Cherry Township, East of Dushore, PA
Location of the Kschinka Blackshop for Over 40 Years is to
the Right of this Structure.
 The building shown here housed a sawmill, cider press and store. The man at the left with the number "1"
over his head is Porter Wilson Hunsinger (July 01, 1854-January 09, 1937), husband of Irene Maynard.
Source: Old Photo Reprinted in Sullivan Review, September 28, 2006.

ALMIRA YONKIN AND ROBERT KSCHINKA

ALMIRA YONKIN (Henry, Henry Yonkin) born October 9, 1849; died June 12, 1941; buried in Thrasher's Cemetery, Dushore, Pa.

Married ROBERT C.R. KSCHINKA on July 19, 1868. He was born in 1844; and died February 25, 1936.

Children of Almira & Robert C.R. Kschinka:

1. Llewellyn Rudolph Kschinka, died April 3, 1870

2. Theodore U. Kschinka 1870-1940

3. Maggie Bell Kschinka 1872-1873, aged 5 months & 26 days

4. Albert Kschinka

5. William L. Kschinka 1883-1915

6. C. Raymond Kschinka 1888-1975

The Sullivan Review
June 18, 1941

Mrs. Almira Kschinka, widow of the late Robert C.R. Kschinka, died Thursday, June 12th at the Mills Hospital at Towanda, following a long illness.

Mrs. Kschinka was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry Yonkin, Jr., of Cherry Township. She was born October 9, 1849.

Mrs. Kschinka was a very highly respected citizen, spending most of her life in Cherry Township. In her later life, she and her husband lived in their home on Headley Avenue until after his death. She has since made her home with her son C. Raymond Kschinka.

She is survived by two sons, Theodore Kschinka and C. Raymond Kschinka, a grandson, Charles Kschinka, a law student at the University of Pennsylvania, two granddaughters, Mrs. Fern Miller and Jean Kschinka, and two great grandchildren, Leslie Miller, a student at Pennsylvania State College, and Viola Miller at home.

Funeral service was held Saturday afternoon at the home of C.R. Kschinka. The Rev. Harold G. Deisher, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, of which she was a member, officiated.

Interment in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery.

The Sullivan Review

Robert C.R. Kschinka died Tuesday morning, February 25th at his home on Headley Avenue, at the age of 92 years.

On April 8th, 1933, Mr. Kschinka suffered an accident from which he never fully recovered.

Mr. Kschinka was born in Zerkwitz, Province of Brandenburg, Prussia, in 1844, a son of the late Matthias and Wilhelmina Kschinka, who was a teacher in the schools of Prussia for thirty years. He came to New York City in 1851; at the time Robert was 7 years of age. One year later he purchased a farm in Albany Township, Bradford County, where he made his home.

Robert C. R. Kschinka enlisted in Co. D. 50th New York Volunteer Engineers at the age of nineteen years, under the command of General Warren and served for the duration of the war. He received an honorable discharge at Fort Berry, Va., June 13th, 1865.

Mr. Kschinka came from a line of soldiers; his grandparents on both his father’s and mother’s side were pressed into service under Napoleon in the famous expedition to Russia. His grandfather Kaltz was an officer and his sword is one of the valued possessions of the Kschinka family.

After returning from the war, Mr. Kschinka learned the blacksmith trade in the shop of Jacob Smith of Dushore. After completing his trade he went to Ulster for a time, later returning to Sullivan County and opened a shop at what is known as Hunsinger’s Corners, where he continued in business for a period of upwards of forty years.

Mr. Kschinka was united in marriage to Miss Almira Yonkin, daughter of the late Henry and Barbara Yonkin of Cherry Township, July 19th, 1868. To this union six children were born: Llwewllyn, died at the age of six years; Theodore U.; Maggie B, died in 1873; Albert, died in infancy; William, deceased; and C. Raymond Kschinka.

In politics, Mr. Kschinka was always a staunch Republican, adhering to the principles of Lincoln up to the very end, and made a special effort to attend every election when his health would permit. He was prominently identified with the public affairs while living in Cherry Township in various positions. In 1905 he was elected Associate Judge for Sullivan County, in which place of trust he acquitted himself with honor.

When Sullivan Post, No. 388, G. A. R. was organized, he was one of the Charter members and remained prominently identified with the same until it was disbanded on March 24, 1917, with four comrades still living. He was its commander for many years and was Aid on the staff of the Division Commander, and held other positions of honor under the Grand Army of the Republic, always taking an active part in the arrangements for Memorial Day up to a few years ago. Twenty-one years ago Mr. Kschinka retired from active life and with his wife moved to Dushore, where he spent his declining years in his comfortable home at the corner of Headley Avenue and Carpenter Street.

He is survived by his wife, two sons, Theodore U. and C. Raymond Kschinka, postmaster at Dushore. Four grandchildren: Mrs. Winifred Kent of Miami, Florida; Charles and Jean Kschinka, Mrs. Fern Miller of this place and three great grandchildren. Also a niece, Mrs. A.J. Harman of Sandwich, Mass, and several nieces and nephews in this community.

Funeral service will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock in Zion Lutheran Church at this place, of which he was an active member, Rev. Harold F. Deisher, pastor will officiate, assisted by Rev. Carl F. Gunther.

Interment will be in Zion Lutheran cemetery. Service at the grave will be conducted by Union Lodge, F & A of Towanda and by the World War Veterans.

Theodore U. Kschinka (Almira, Barbara, John Hartzig) born October 14, 1870; died February 10, 1940; buried in Thrasher's Cemetery, Dushore, Pa.

Married Alveretta Connor. She was born January 6, 1877; died April 1956

Children of Theodore & Alveretta Kschinka:

1. Sylvia Fern Kschinka 1897-1971

The Sullivan Review
1940

Theodore U. Kschinka died Sunday, February 10 following an illness of some duration. He was born in Cherry Township, October 14, 1870, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. R. C. R. Kschinka. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Alveretta Conner Kschinka, a daughter, Mrs. Harlan L. Miller, a granddaughter, Viola Miller, a granddaughter Viola Miller, a grandson Leslie Miller, a brother, Sheriff C. Raymond Kschinka, two nieces, Mrs. Winifred Hutchens of Richmond, California and Miss Jean Kschinka of Laporte, and a nephew, 1st Lieut. Charles Kschinka. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Holcombe funeral parlor. Rev. John D. Keener, officiating. Burial in the family plot in Zion Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery.

Sylvia Fern Kschinka (Alveretta, Lucinda, Adam, George Thrasher); born December 19, 1897; died December 27, 1971; buried in Laddsburg cemetery, Laddsburg, Pa. Married Harlan L. Miller on October 12, 1916; he was born April 20, 1893, son of James H. and Ada S. (Brown) Miller; died March 1950; buried in Laddsburg cemetery

Children of S. Fern & Harlan Miller:

    1. Leslie Miller 1922-1994
    2. Viola Mae Miller, born September 23, 1929; died March 22, 2006.

Leslie W. Miller (S. Fern, Alveretta, Lucinda, Adam, George Thrasher); born May 3, 1922; died April 21, 1994; buried in Laddsburg cemetery. Married Rose Marie Smith in September 1943.

Children of Leslie & Rose Marie Smith Miller:

    1. Leslie W. Miller Jr.
    2. Harlowe Rae Miller
    3. Cassandra Jo Miller

The Towanda Daily Review
April 23, 1994

Leslie W. Miller Sr., age 71, of 200 Williams St. Dushore, passed away on Thursday afternoon, April 21, 1994, at the Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre. Les was born May 3, 1922, in Albany Township, Pa., son of the late Harlan L. and S. Fern Kschinka Miller. He graduated from the Dushore High School, class of 1940. He entered Penn State College where he studied engineering. He was drafted out of college in March 1943 and served during WWII with the U.S. Army in the Rhineland and Central European campaigns. He married the former Rose Marie Smith of Lopez, Pa., on Sept. 4, 1943. Les and Rosie celebrated their 50th anniversary this past September. Les succeeded to ownership of Miller Farm Equipment from his father in 1950, merchandising International Harvester and New Holland farm equipment. The business later evolved into the current Miller’s Hardware and Building Supply. In 1979, Les built and was currently operating the Dushore Laundry and Car Wash He was the vice president and director of the First National Bank of Laporte, and was very involved with the planning of its branch in Dushore and later the merger of the Sullivan County National Bank with Citizens and Northern bank of Wellsboro. He was a director emeritus of the Citizens and Northern Bank. He was always active in real estate, having been a representative of Strout Realty for several years. Later he operated his own real estate business. He was also very interested in the environment, spending endless hours planting evergreens throughout Sullivan and Bradford counties and was very active as a tree farmer. Les enjoyed hunting and fishing and traveled throughout the world pursuing this interest. He served as a Dushore school director for many years and was instrumental in the building of the new high school in Laporte. He was also a former member of the Sullivan County School Board. Les was a founding member in 1971 of the Dushore Sewer Authority. He spent limitless time with the other members planning, budgeting, overseeing construction and operating the vital project. He served for 20 years with the authority. He was a member of Zion Chapel, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran church in Dushore. He was a former member of the Church Council. He was a member of the Dushore Lions Club for 38 years. He began the World Series Pool many years ago and the funds raised were donated for Santa’s Christmas party for all the children of the community. Les was a life member of the Dushore Fire Company, and a member of Loyalsock Post No. 996, American Legion, Dushore and a member of A.J. Bird Memorial Post No. 384, V.F.W., New Albany. Les was also a 48-year member of Evergreen Lodge No. 163, F. and A.M., and 32nd degree member of the Williamsport Consistory and Irem Temple Shrine.

Les is lovingly survived by his spouse, Rosie at home; son and daughter-in-law; Leslie Wayne and Kim Miller Jr., Dushore; two daughters and sons-in-law; Harlowe Rae and Dr. Mohamed ElShafie of Camarillo, Calif, and Cassandra Jo and Patrick Phillips of Phoenix, Ariz; sister; Mrs. William (Viola) Wooster, Towanda; 10 grandchildren and three nieces and one nephew. Private memorial services were held on Thursday with Pastor Joseph B. Cotner, officiating. Interment will be in the Laddsburg Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Memorials may be directed to the American Diabetes Association, 63 North Franklin St. Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18701-1311 or to the charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the direction of the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St. Dushore, Pa.

Viola Miller (S. Fern, Alvaretta, Lucinda, Adam, George Thrasher); born September 23, 1929; died March 22, 2006; buried in Laddsburg cemetery. Married H. WIlliam "Bill" Wooster on September 29, 1956. See her ancestral lineage at the end of this page.

Children of Bill & Viola (Miller) Wooster:

    1. Mary Tina Wooster, married Thomas Torsell
    2. Roger W. Wooster
    3. Ivy L. Wooster, married Gerry Scott
    4. Valerie L. Wooster, married Patrick Lozinak

Daily Review
Towanda, PA
March 24 2006

Viola Miller Wooster, 76, widow of H. William “Bill” Wooster of 216 York Ave., Towanda, Pa., passed away early Wednesday morning, March 22, 2006, at the Skilled Nursing Unit, Memorial Hospital, Towanda.

Born Sept. 23, 1929, in New Albany, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Harlan and Sylvia Fern Miller. Viola was a graduate of Dushore High School and Lycoming College. She began her dance career at the age of 5, taking lessons from Mrs. Leonard Frawley in Towanda. She later studied at the Fry-Lyon Dance Studio in Williamsport, Pa., and danced in the Junior League Follies. Viola was crowned Miss Greater Williamsport in the Miss American Beauty Pageant in 1948.

In 1950, Viola opened dance studios in Dushore, Towanda, Wyalusing and Tunkhannock. On Sept. 29, 1956, Viola married H. William Wooster in the Zion Lutheran church in Dushore, PA. For a number of summers she studied and taught in New York City while associated with the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Artists. She continued studies several summers at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn. Viola was very pleased with her many former students who continued with successful careers in dance and found dancing a help and joy in their lives.

She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Towanda and the Beirne-Webster VFW Post ladies Auxiliary, Towanda. Surviving are her children, Mary Tina Torsell and her husband, Tom, of San Pierre, Ind., Roger W. Wooster of Long Island, N.Y., Ivy L. Scott and her husband, Gerry, of Summerville, S.C., and Valerie L. Lozinak and her husband, Patrick, of Trooper, Pa.; her grandchildren, Diane Torsell, Christopher Torsell, Brian Scott Kinkade II, William Lozinak and Austin Lozinak; sisters-in-law, Barbara J. Cobb of Towanda, Eloise Anderson of Troy, Pa., and Rose Marie Miller of Dushore; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, H. William “Bill” Wooster, on April 30, 1999; an infant daughter, and her brother, Leslie Miller.

The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Maryott-Bowen Funeral Home, 217 York Ave., Towanda. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 27, at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Main Street, Towanda, with the Rev. Jira Albers, pastor, officiating.

Interment will be in the Laddsburg Cemetery, Albany Township, Pa. The family suggests that memorial contributions may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, 908 S. Main St., Towanda, Pa. 18848, or to the American Lung Association of Northeast Pennsylvania, 738 S. Main Ave., Scranton, Pa. 18504, in Viola Miller Wooster’s memory.

C. Raymond Kschinka (Almira, Henry, Henry Yonkin) born March 16, 1888; died March 3, 1975.

Married Edna Miller on August 26, 1911. She was born October 26, 1887; died March 20, 1980; buried in Thrasher’s Cemetery, Dushore, Pa.

Children of C. Raymond & Edna Kschinka:

  1. Charles Kschinka 1920-1999
  2. Winifred Kschinka
  3. Jean Kschinka

The Sullivan Review
March 6, 1975

C. Raymond Kschinka, 86, of Headley Ave. Dushore, died at his home Monday morning March 3, 1975.

He was born in Cherry Twp, March 16, 1888, a son of Robert C. R. and Almira Yonkin Kschinka.

A graduate of the Dushore High School in 1905, he then attended Lock Haven State Normal School

For eight years he taught school in Cherry Twp. and Dushore Borough from Sept 1, 1923 until 1935, he was postmaster at Dushore.

In 1943 he was elected Sheriff of Sullivan County and served three consecutive terms from 1944 through 1955 when he retired.

Mr. Kschinka served as auditor of Dushore Borough for eight years, and was a member of the Dushore Borough School Board for two years.

During World War I, he was a member of the Pennsylvania State Council for Public Defense.

A member of the State Republican Committee, he also served as secretary of the Sullivan County Republican Committee for many years.

He was an honorary life member of the Sullivan County Historical Society

Mr. Kschinka was a member of the Dushore Volunteer Fire Co, The Evergreen Lodge No. 163, F. and A.M.; the Dushore Lodge No 494, I.O. O. F. Lodge No 1148 BPOE of Sayre; the Knights of the Maccabees; Cherry Twp. Grange Patrons of Husbandry; Zion Lutheran Church of Dushore.

He was also a member of the Pennsylvania State Sheriff’s Association.

Surviving are his wife, the former Edna M. Miller of Ricketts; one son Charles M Kschinka of Dushore; two daughters Winifred Hutchens, El Centro, California, and Jean Carpenter, Arvada, Colorado; ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held today at 11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Dushore, Rev. Edgar C. Reed will officiate Interment will be in Zion Lutheran cemetery.

Masonic services were held Wednesday at the McHenry Funeral Home Dushore

The Sullivan Review
March 27, 1980

Mrs. Edna M. Kschinka, 92, of Dushore, died March 20, 1980, at the Skilled Nursing Unit of Memorial Hospital Towanda.

She was born in Jamison City, PA, October 26, 1887, the daughter of John C. and Harriet Houck Miller.

She graduated from the Ricketts School and from Bloomsburg Normal School. She taught school in Lopez for several years before her marriage to C. Raymond Kschinka on August 26, 1911.

She was a member of the Zion Chapel Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Dushore.

Burial was in Old Zion Cemetery, Dushore, with the Rev. Richard A. Reeser, her pastor, officiating.

Arrangements were under the direction of P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, Dushore.

Charles M. Kschinka (C. Raymond, Almira, Barbara, John Hartzig) born in 1920; died July 26, 1999

Married Priscilla Wescott on Nov. 25, 1942

Children of Charles & Priscilla Kschinka:

  1. Robert C. Kschinka
  2. Janet Kschinka
  3. Joyce Kschinka
  4. Jill Kschinka
  5. Nancy Kschinka
  6. Bruce Kschinka

The Sullivan Review
August 1999

Charles Miller Kschinka, 79, of Vero Beach, FL, formerly of Dushore, died July 26, 1999, at his home after an illness of several months.

He was born in Athens in 1920 and spent most of his life in Sullivan County. He was a graduate of Muhlenberg College, the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and the U.S. Navy Language School at Boulder, CO. During World War II he served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Japanese linguist in Hawaii, Guam, Iwo Jima, Japan and China.

After the war he practiced law in Sullivan County for 36 years, serving as Sullivan County’s District Attorney for 16 years. He was president of the Sullivan County National Bank until it merged with Citizens & Northern Bank, where he served as a director until his retirement.

He was active in local affairs, especially Dushore Industries, an economic development group which brought new industry to the area.

An avid reader and sportsman, he moved to Vero Beach in 1983 and became a member of Bent Pine Golf Club and the Community Church.

Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Priscilla; and six children: Robert C. of Pinehurst, NC; Janet Bramhall of Acton, MA; Joyce Williams of Harwich MA; Jill Blackmer of Concord, NH; Nancy Kschinka of Elizabethtown; and Bruce A. of Silverdate, WA; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandchild.

A memorial service will be held today, July 29, at 11 a.m. at Grace Chapel, The Community Church, Vero Beach.

Memorials may be directed to a charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach.

Ancestry of Viola Miller Wooster

Copyright © 2002 Robert E. Sweeney and individual Contributors. All Rights Reserved. Prior written permission is required from Robert E. Sweeney and individual Contributors before this material can be printed or otherwise copied, displayed or distributed in any form. This is a FREE genealogy site sponsored through PAGenWeb and can be reached directly at ~Sullivan County Genealogy Project (http://www.rootsweb.com/~pasulliv)