Ralph married PARKS, Anna M on 7 Feb 1909 in Caldwell, ID. Anna was born about 1888 in Caldwell, ID; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. WITMER, Virginia May was born about 1911 in New York; and died.
2. WITMER, Margaret Florence was born about 1913 in ID.

Notes:

(Amherst Bee - February 25, 1939 -
"The last Civil War Veteran in Williamsville,
Christian F. Witmer, 99, died Thursday night at his home in 179 Cayuga St.
after an illness of several weeks.
Mr.Witmer, a member of a pioneer Amherst family homesteaded in the area where the
Snyder section subsequently was developed. His father, Tobias Witmer, one of the first engineers
and surveyors in Amherst, went to war with his son when President Lincoln
called for volunteers. they served the 50th New York Engineering Division."

I was born April 11, 1840, Previous to reaching my majority I was engaged mostly on work on the farm and attending school, and assisting my father in making surveys. My first venture in the way of business for myself was teaching the public school in what was known as the "Good District" in the town of Clarence for the winter term of 1860 - 1861.
At the close of the school term I took a course in Bryant and Stratton Merchantile College in Buffalo, graduating in the spring of 1862.
Enlisted in the 50th N.Y. Volunteers Engineers, August 22, 1862 and was honorably dischardged from the army service at the close of the War. The next few years were devoted to teaching schools during the winter in Levanworth, KS, and Easton Missouri, and on government surveys in the western part of Kansas, during the summer.
Those were interesting times for me as you may judge from the fact that my flagman, John Roach, a Cavalryman was killed by Roman Noses' band of Cheyenne Indians while we were engaged in locating a township line on the plains.
In 1868, I returned to New York State and took over my fathers business of surveying and insurance. I married Mary S. COTTON of Elma, Sept. 04, 1878. Two sons and three daughters were born of this union. Daughter Grace, born June 24, 1879, and died Sept. 01, 1916. There survive, sons Ralph, with two grandchildren.

Christian married COTTON, Mary Sophia on 4 Sep 1878 in East Aurora, Erie County, NY. Mary (daughter of COTTON, Elisha Labon and BRUNELL, Mary) was born on 27 Nov 1848 in Binghamton, Broome County, NY; died on 15 Sep 1939 in Williamsville, Erie County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Born Oct. 08, 1816 in Niagara, NY, he worked on his fathers several hundred acre farm, attended the district school, and took a course of study at the Lewiston Academy. He next engaged to teach district school in what is now (1923) as the Synder District in Amherst, Erie County, NY. While teaching there he met, wooed and won his bride Anna FRICK daughter of Christian FRICK and Elizabeth LONG, who resided in a farm near by opposite the school house.
Tobias WITMER was a Surveyor and Civil Engineer. he was the author and publisher of maps of the town of Niagra, city of Tonawanda, Village of Williamsville and Deed Atlas of the County of Erie. etc..
He served for three years as a Sergent in the 50th Regiment of the New York Volunteers (Engineers), and on one occasion was in charge of several companies of the regiment putting in abatis in advance of one of our forts opposite of Petersburg, VA. The emeny observing and not approving of this began cannoning during the war he and his son Christian F. WITMER ( the author of the article) were deatiled to make surveys amont the forts at Washington D.C. and in the vincity of Falmouth VA.
Returning at the close of the War he resumed his former occupation of Land Surveying and took over the Agency of the Agricultural Insurance company, which has been in the family to the present time (1923),
He was active in the Church of Christ, also one of the founders of the Williamsville Classical Institute, and at one time its principal teacher, who finally donated their stock for Public School purposes. It was his ambition to equip each of his children with a good education rather than material wealth, on the theory that riches have wings, but that knowledge is life-long capital. Of his sons and daughters ten have served as teachers. He died in the family home Aug. 14, 1897.

ALSO

Buffalo NY Morning Express - about 1897

Pioneer, Patriot, Genius.
THE LATB TOBIAS WITMER WAS ALL
OF THESE, AND A MAN OF CHRISTIAN
LIFE AND GOOD INFLUENCE-
AN INCIDENT OF THE WAR.
Tobias Witmer, who died at his home near
Willamsville, August 14th, was a man whose
career was so prominently linked with the history
of Western New-York and Buffalo, that
it merits a somewhat detailed record.
He was a genius. There was nothing In
wood or metal that he could not make. He
was an inventor, as the records of the Patent
Office will show. He was the originator of
the bicycle wheel, and the family still have in
their possession a model of this wheel, made
years before the bicycle came into popular
favor In this model the spikes were made
from the wires of an old hoop skirt. Unfortunately
he never applied for a patent. Among
his inventions were a corn-sheller, a railroad
switch (automatic), a pile driver, a pall table
signal tower for use in the army, and a fire-escape,
of which thr presant Hayes ladder is
claimed to be an infringement. Another of
his inventions was a simple contrivance to
teach the transposition of the scale for the use
of music teachers.
He was a writer of considerable ability in
prose and poetry and was equally at home in
English. German, or the dialect of the "Pennsylvania
Dutch." A new system of phonetic
spenning which received the commendation
and endorsement of much high authority as
the late Prof a.0. Haldeman of the University
of Pennsylvania. was his work.
He was a patriot, having enlisted on his 45th
birthday. at which time he had twelve ctilldren.
A daughter was born on the day he
was is the Battle.of Fredericksburg and an
other after his return from the War. The
latter died after reaching her majority and
that was the only death in a family of fourteen children.
Mr Witmer celebrated his golden wedding
November 13, 1887, and had he lived until
November 13th this year. he would have celebrated
the 60th anniversary of his marriage.
His twin brother, Elias Witmer, still lives on
the old homestead east of Suspension Bridge
on which their father settled before the War
of 1812
A remarkable circumstance happened in
connection with Mr. Witmer s departure to
and return from the War. Accompanied by by
eldest son, Christian F., they took the old
Williamsville and Buffalo Octibus (sp?) and found
nine other recruits from Clarence and sur-
rounding towns going to the seat of war. Although
widely dispersed during the three years
of service on their return home after the close
of the War the original eleven men found
themselves traveling on the same omtiibus,
homeward bound.
Mr. Witmer was one of the founders of the
Williamsville Academy, an institution which
at one time had an attendance of 600 students.
He was also the principal of the institution
for a short time.
But his chief work was in the church For
many years he was an elder" in the Christian
Church (Disciples) at Williamsville. He established
numerous Sunday schools in Niagara
County and the towns of Amherst and Cheektow
aga.
His humble efforts in this direction were the
direct cause of the establishment of the Christian
church at Suspension Bridge. Through
the efforts of Mr. Hensler of Tonawanda and
himself. St. James Hall in this city wans rented
and religious meetings were held which finally
required in the establishment of the Christian
Church in Buffalo. At first services were held in
the old French Church at the corner of Tupper
and Ellicott streets Subsequently the Church of Christ (Disciples) on Tichmond Avenue was built and later a branch on Jefferson Street.
An artisan, inventor, civil engineer, author, poet, patriot and preacher, his unassuming superiority endeared him to all.

Tobias married FRICK, Anna Long on 24 Nov 1837 in Skinnersville, Town of Amherst, Erie County, NY. Anna (daughter of FRICK, Christian and LONG, Elizabeth) was born on 18 May 1819 in Skinnersville, Town of Amherst, Erie County, NY; died on 14 Sep 1908 in Skinnersville, Town of Amherst, Erie County, NY; was buried in Williamsville, Erie County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Anna married a Tobias Witmer, and had fourteen children. Tobias contributed to the information in the FRICK Bio. in George Prowell's book.

Anna Frick Whitmer (from published story by son Christian F. WHITMER), was born May 18, 1819, the only child of Christian FRICK and Elizabeth LONG FRICK, Their first farm was on a farm of several hundred acres at Skinnersville what is known now as Wolf's Mills, in the town of Amherst, Erie County, NY. Which was purchased by her grandfather (CHRISTIAN H> FRICK) about the year 1807. When she was about five years old the family moved to another farm purchased by Mr. Frick of the Holland Land Co. and situated on the south side of now what is known as Main St., about two miles west of Williamsville. This is where she married Tobias Witmer and raised her five sons and nine daughters, the farm is now know as Audubon Terrace South.

At the time of her death 11 of the 14 children are still living.

INTERESTING SKETCH OF HER LIFE.

Mrs. Anna Witmer, daughter and only child of CHRISTIAN FRICK and ELIZABETH LONG, and widow of TOBIAS WIITMER (who died Aug. 14, 1897), was born at Skinnersville, now commonly known as Wolfs Mill, in the town of AMHERST, Erie County, NY., May 18, 1819, and died at the Witmer homestead where she had lived for eighty-five consecutive years, Sept. 14, 1908.
About the year 1828, her father purchased of the Holland Land Company by "Article," 136 acres on the south side of Main Street, two miles west of Williamsville, the present WITMER homestead; and moved there with his family. The premises were at that time mostly dense forest which was being slashed, burned or being converted into charcoal; and the subject of this sketch spent many a day in childhood making miniature charcoal pits within sight of what is now Main Street, but at which time was a corduroy road made over a swampy ground. Her father built the house in which she lived for 85 years, in which she was married , as were all her daughters; and which her parents, two of her daughters, her husband and she herself died. In this house also in 1887 was celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of her marriage in the presence of a large company of friends, relatives, children, grand-children of whom there were twenty three living then, and among the guest a number of those present at her marriage fifty years ago , including the original bridesmaid and groomsman.
She was married November 16, 1887. Her husband TOBIAS WITMER, was born in the town of Niagara, about 3 1/2 miles northeast of the falls. His father Abraham WITMER, emigrated from Pennsylvania and built the house, still standing, where his family was born and reared. Tobias WITMER was a civil engineer, always actively employed. When the call came for volunteers to defend the Union, Mr. Witmer and his eldest son Christian F. WITMER responded and went to the front in the engineering service and continued until the restoration of peace. During their absence Mrs. Witmer evidenced
her patience by sustaining for three years the burdens of management of the household and farm, and the same day they were taking part in the battle of Fredericksburg, her daughter Clara was born and received the second name of Fredericka in honor of that event.
Mrs. WITMER was eminently a home keeper. The achievements of her life were all comprised within the realm where woman is divinely ordained to reign. She was the mother of an unusually large family, all of whom were brought up under her wise training to be honorable and useful members of society.
She was noted for her unvaryingly even temper, cheerful disposition, good sense, charity and hospitality. She was always hopeful and courageous, looking on the bright side and seeing the best instead of the worst.

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 9/13/1882

Married.
On Tuesday, September 5, 1882, a t the
home of the bride's parents, in Amherst,
Erie county, N. Y „ Rev. Edgar A. Pardee,
pastor of the Christian Church, in
Williamsville, N. Y.. with Miss May E.
Wilmer, daughter of Tobias Witmer,,
Esq., and Anna Frick Witmer.
The ceremony was performed by Rev.
G. L. Wharton, late pastor of the Christian
Church at Buffalo, on the evening of
his departure for India as Christian missionary
to the heathen.
There were present on this happy occasion
tho bridegroom's parents; the bride's
parents; her grandfather and grand-
mother on t h e mother's side; her uncle
Eiias Witmer.twin brother of her father;
besides nieces and nephews " t o numerous
to mention," with a friendly delegation
of "cousins," all enjoying the fes-
tivities of that bright September day,
long to be remembered in the family
circle.
After dinner the party were escorted,
amid ....... showers of salt, hoes, etc.
to the station, just in time to take the
train, and some of the young folk
wishes they might "go too," but feared
to launch away. May joy to and return
with them. W.

Elisha + BRUNELL, Mary. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Abraham Witmer was a pioneer settler from Lancaster County, PA, who settled on a farm of several hundred acres about one mile northeasterly from the old suspension bridge in the town of Niagara., NY


Tonawanda News - 7/18/1970

By WILLARD DITTM AR
President
Historical Society
of the Tonawandas
Witmer Road, connecting
Niagara Falls Boulevard
and River Road in North
Tonawanda, was named for
a family of early frontier
settlers.
In 1810, John Witmer and
his family, consisting of his
wife and eight children, left
Lancaster, Pa., and settled
on a 100-acre farm on
Military Road, which he had
purchased from one Isaac
Swain. At that time there
was only one other clearing
on Military Road.
Abram Witmer, a brother
of John, came to the Niagara
Frontier in 1811 from the
same place in Pennsylvania
with his wife and four children.
They settled on a tract
of land purchased from the
Holland Land Co. on
Saunders Settlement Road.
When the War of 1812 broke
out, Abram took his family,
which had grown larger,
back to Pennsylvania. The
Witmer brothers were
Mennonites and had
religious scruples against
war.
Tobias Witmer, one of
Abram's seven sons, was
born in 1816 at Bellevue
(Suspension Bridge) and
became one of the first
surveyors of the region. He
made several maps of early
Tonawanda which are still
the main reliance for lot
lines and street boundaries.
On an 1852 map of Niagara
County there are shown
nine families of Witmers
living at different points in
the Town of Niagara. The
two first Witmers. John and
Abram. reared 17 children,
most of whom survived and
married.

Abraham married HABECKER, Barbara on 8 Oct 1804 in Columbia, Lancaster County, PA. Barbara (daughter of HABECKER, Christian and HERR, Esther) was born on 23 Oct 1782 in Manor Township, Lancaster County, PA; died on 6 Jul 1859 in Witmer Homestead, Town of Niagara, Niagara County, NY; was buried in WItmer Memorial Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

FRICK - On the 27th of March, near Williamsville, Erie County N.Y., Christian Frick, aged 90 years, 11 months and 16 days. Buried at Eggertsville on the 29th. Funeral services by Jacob Hahn. Text, James 4:14. He was a member of the Mennonite Church.

Christian married LONG, Elizabeth in 1818 in Lancaster County, PA. Elizabeth was born on 13 Feb 1797 in PA; died on 22 Dec 1883. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elisha + Sophia. Sophia was born on 29 Mar 1785; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]