Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 5/31/1931

LOCKPORT, Mar. 31-Word was received
here yesterday that Joseph W.
Witmer, former Lockport resident, observed
his 95th birthday Saturday still
in fine health at his home at 751 Santa
Barbara street, Pasadena, Calif.
He and his wife, Adelaide, 81 years
old, left Lockport for the Pacific coast
36 years ago and have high hopes of
observing their sixtieth wedding annltereary
in 1933.
They have a daughter, Mrs, H. W.
Murray In Pasadena and a son, Roy C.
Witmer of New York City who Is with
the National Broadcasting Company.
Roy Witmer Is well known here where
he graduated from Lockport High
school In 1905 While in school be star-
Ted in baseball.
The Witmers lived many years at 46
Spalding street. Mr. Witmer was formerly
secretary of the Farmers Mutual
insurance Company of Niagara and
Orleans counties.
Mr. Witmer comes from a family
noted for their longevity. His parents,
the late Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Witmer
who lived at 127 Spalding street,
observed their sixtieth wedding annl-
Tersary in 1895, the husband dying that
September In his 87th year.
Mr. Witmer's father had five brothers,
Christian, David, Joseph, Ellas
and Tobias, the latter two twins, who
lived to be over 80 years old except
Christian, a miller, who was drowned
In the Niagara river. Ellas, who never
married, lived to be past 101 years.
Four of the brothers celebrated their
golden weddings and four of them had
children who lived to observe the fiftieth
anniversaries of their weddings.
One of the children Is Mr. Witmer
In California and another is Christian
Witmer of Willamsvllle, son of Tobias
Witmer. The other two have died since
their anniversaries, the late Mrs. J.
M. Kline of this city, daughter of Joseph
Witmer and the late John M. Witmer
of Niagara Falls, son of Christian
Witmer.
The Witmers were early settlers in
ttie town of Niagara and leave many
descendants scattered throughout the
county.

Joseph married MILLARD, Frances M on 10 May 1860. Frances (daughter of MILLARD, Stephen) was born on 8 Jul 1836 in New York; died on 18 May 1872 in Town of Niagara, Niagara County, NY; was buried in WItmer Memorial Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 7/25/1895

Death ol Abraham Witmer.
Abraham Witmer, father of J . S Wit-
rner formerly of this city but now of Lockport,
died In that city this morning at 8
o'clock, aged 97 years.. His wife and one
son survive. the funeral will be observed
at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday from the Church of
Christ.

Abraham married STRICKLER, Catherine on 5 Feb 1835 in Clarence, Erie County, NY. Catherine was born on 22 Nov 1816 in Clarence, Erie County, NY; died on 20 Mar 1903 in Lockport, Niagara County, NY; was buried in WItmer Memorial Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 2/5/1895

THEIR 60TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.

Mr. and Mrs Abraham Witmer ol Lockport Will
Colebrate This Evening

Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Witmer, one of
the. best-known couples in Niagara county,
and popular with a very wide circle of
friends, will celebrate the 60th anniversary
of their marriage, which took place at
Clarence, Erie county, in 1835, at their
home on Spalding street, Lockport, this
evening. They have one son, Joseph S.
Witmer of Lockpori. secretary ol the Orleans-
Niagara Mutual Insurance. Company.
Abraham Witmer, the father of the subject
of this sketch, was born in Lancaster
comity. Pa., and followed cabinet-making
there until be removed.to the neighborhood
of Niagara Falls, in 1812, and settled on a
farm. He "farmed it" and followed cabinet-
making, and "was so successful that in a
few years he became the owner of over 1,-
100 acres of land. He was an old-line
Whig, dlying in 1851 al the age of 80 years.
Abraham Witmer of Lockport was born in
Lancaster county. Pa., in 1808, and. coming
here with his parents, settled down on
the old homestead in Niagara county, where
he followed farming until 1881, when he
retired and moved to Lockport He was originally
a Whig. but became a Republican
iupon the organization ol that party, and is
a prominent member of the Methodist
church. He married Catherine Strickler,
daughter of Ulrlch Strickler, in 1835. Mr.
Slrickler was a native of York county, Pa.,
and removed to Canada about 1800, where
he lived for 15 years, but returning to this
country, being driven from Canada by
Indian depredations, settled at Clarence.
Erie county, where he died, aged 72 years.
Catherine was born in 1816. The Witmers
are of German extraction, their ancestors
having emigrated to Pennsylvania frnm
Switzerland in the 18th century. The
history of Abraham Witmer. senior and
junior, embodies no small part ot the history
of Niagara and Erie counties.

ALSO

Niagara Gazette - 1885 (month unknown)

Golden Wedding of Abraham and Catharine
Wltmer.
The fiftieth anniversary of the mar-
riage of Abraham Witmer and. Catharine
Strickler was celebrated last Thursday
the 5th inst., at their old home in
the town of Niagara, now the residence
of their only child, Mr. J. S. Witmer.
The latter, with the cooperation of his
wife and others, had planned a grand
surprise for his parents, by inviting
them over to dinner on this their anni-
versary, without, of course, attaching
any importance to the occasion other
than a "fat rooster." When everything
was in readiness and the guests had all
arrived. Mr. Witmer drove to the house
of hi3 parents, a 6hort distance, and
brought them over and ushered them
unsuspectingly into the crowded apartments,
where old friends and relatives
were already jubilant over the unexpected
meeting, after years of separation,
The surprise was a complete success.
The astonishment of the old
couple was overwhelming as they received
the shower of congratulations of
their numerous relatives and friends
from every side, nor was it sensibly
abated when a few moments later they
were placed at the head of the festal
board, richly spread with dainties and
beautiful wedding cake. The little
black walnut dining table, at which
they had first presided fifty years ago,
and which was made by his father, was
brought into service and formed the
head of the long board at which they
now found found themselves seated.
On the center-of the table was a large
pyramid cake surmounted by a gilt
cross, with a wreath of delicate flowers
twined about it. Over the cross in the
form of an arch, were the words, "No
Cross no Crown" in letters of gold, and
a wreath of flowers at the base of the
pyramid. Above this, suspended from
the ceiling was a basket of the most
beautiful roses, so arranged as to represent
by their respective colors, red
white and yellow, the first, silver and
golden weddings. At the head of the
table was the brides cake, very finely
ornamented, and at the further end a
very fine cake displayed the dates, 1835
and 1885.
Of the original wedding guests four
were now seated with them, viz.: Mr.
Winner's brothers David and Joseph,
and Mrs. Witmer's brother and sister,
John Strickler and Elizabeth Hershey.
Abraham Witmer was born in Lancaster
Co., Pa., Dec. 18, 1803, and removed
to .Niagara with his parents,
Abraham Witmer and Barbara Habecker,
in 1811. Be was united in marriage
Feb.-6th, 1835, with Catharine Strickler
in Clarence, Erie, Co., N. Y„ where she
was born Nov. 22, 1816. On this fiftieth
anniversary of their marriage, their liv-
ing descendents were all present, viz.:
their son Jos. S. Witmer, and grand
children A. Perrin, and Lulu K. Witmer.
Tho three oldest guests were John
Strickler, aged 81 years; Wm. B. Darti
aged 88 years; and Uncle David,Habecker,
aged 93 years, who is great-great uncle
to A. Perrin and Lulu K. Witmer,
and who on this occasion wrote his
name, place of birth and his age in the
autograph album furnished for the
guests. Among those present were the
brothers of Mr. Witmer, Jos. and David
above mentioned and their wives; and the
children of Joseph Witmer, viz.: Maria
F.,.Etta N., and Elias K. Witmer, Mrs.
J. M. Kline and Mrs, F. Pletcher, with
their husbands and children, also the
twin brothers Elias and Tobias with the
latters wife and their son, Tobias Jr. and
family, and their daughter Mrs. E. A,
Pardee and her husband. Of the late
Christian H. Witmer's family there
were present Jac M„ Elizabeth M., and
John M. Witmer, wife and son;;also Mrs.
A. M.Witmer and daughter, Jennie A.
and Mr. and Mrs, Martin Witmer.
Of the relatives of Mrs.. Witmer there
were besides the brother and sister
above mentioned, Miss Mary A. Strickler,
Mrs.Fanny M. Stafford, Mr. and Mrs.
J. Krehblel, all of Clarence; Mrs. Lena
S. Honn, Corfu, Gen. Co.;and Mr. and
Mrs, Moris Goudcr of Black Crock, Ont.
Tho neighbors present were Miss Sophia
C Garrett, Mr. and Mrs.John Whitney,
Miss Nellie E. and Fred G. Whitney,
Mr. and Mrs. Oliver H. Day, and Mr.
and Mrs. F. O. Todd. Congratulatory
letters were received from 21rs. Sophia
A. Neff of Buffalo, Mrs. Fanny M. Stafford
of Clarence, and Mr. and Mrs. Wm.
Cook of. Beamsville, Out.. Mrs. Fanny
Ewing of Penn., and Mrs. J. S. Witmer's
parents.
During the festivities the following
appropriate lines, written, for the occasion
by Sophia C. Garrett, were read by
little Lulu standing by the side of Uncle
Habecker at the first table.
Dear Grandpa and Grandma; they tell me
That time which roes quiet away,
Has numbered the years you're been wedded,
Until they number fifty to-day.
How long it now seems since you started
a home with but two of you there—
Only two, to sit down to the table.
And two to thank God tor His care.
But you were not left to be lonely,
Another came there of your own,
To help you, and add to your pleasure
In all of the days that are Co-am.
And then, as the years drift onward,
Your home was built out by the road.
While back near the Creek we are living,
With trees all around our abode.
God's mercy has led us all forward.
And spared us to see this fair day;
Some tears have-en shed but more joyful
Hate been all the scenes on the way.
They say that a beautiful region
Awaits us. we know not just where-
Then we shall be perfectly happy,
And free from all sorrow and care.
May this be our home in the future.
When life's weary wheels will stand still.
Not a link in the chain then be missing,
If such be our dear Savior's will.

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]