My Genealogy Hound

FRANCIS SHENTON, who was formerly engaged in the slate industry, is now retired from active business and makes his home in Slatington. His birth occurred in Derbyshire, England, in 1826, and he is the son of Edward And Elizabeth (Fearn) Shenton, who were both likewise natives of England.

The subject of this narrative passed his boyhood days in the land of his birth, receiving a good common-school education, and becoming familiar with the details of the slate business in England. In 1850 he bade adieu to his native land, later arriving in New York City. He there continued to make his home for two years, thence he went to Fayetteville, N. C., where he remained until 1855. He later removed to Philadelphia, and there remained until the year 1861, when the company with which he was engaged removed to Slatedale, Lehigh County. He had charge of the school slate factory, and later on in his career engaged in business for himself for a number of years. In 1865 he invented a slate frame which he patented and manufactured by contract, reaping a good profit from this source. He has always been of an inventive turn of mind, and when only a youth in England endeavored to construct a machine for smoothing slate, and made other inventions useful in the manufacture and preparation of that commodity.

In England in 1847, Mr. Shenton married Miss Emma Appleby, whose death occurred in 1868. She left seven children, six of whom are still living, Elizabeth, George, Frank, William, Annie and Thomas. Annie is the wife of Frank Peters. Elizabeth became the wife of L. J. Fick, and Robert is deceased. In 1872 Mr. Shenton married Mary H., daughter of John Campbell, and they have two children, Dora and Howard. Mr. and Mrs. Shenton are members of the Presbyterian Church, and in 1861 Mr. Shenton started the Union Sunday-school at Slatedale, of which he was Superintendent for a number of years. On political questions he is not identified with any of the great parties, but is a firm believer in unlimited single tax, having read extensively on the subject, and in general is well informed on the leading questions of the day.