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 - 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]

Joseph married COOK, Adelaide on 12 Mar 1873. Adelaide (daughter of COOK, William and HAYNES, Nancy J) was born on 11 Nov 1849 in Beamsville, Ontario, Canada; died on 28 Dec 1942 in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, CA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Home in 1920 - Los Angeles, CA

Abraham married COOK, Gertrude M on 26 Jan 1887 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. Gertrude (daughter of COOK and Hortense) was born in Dec 1869 in New York; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Lulu married MURRAY, Dr Harry Wallace on 12 Oct 1904 in Lockport, Niagara County, NY. Harry was born on 30 Sep 1873 in Wooster, Wayne County, OH; died on 12 Feb 1956 in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, CA; was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Pasadena, CA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 4/8/1950

LOCKPORT. April 8-The body of
Roy C. Witmer. 63, former Lockport
resident who rose to become
vice president of the National
Broadcasting company, was laid to
test today In Forest Lawn Memorial
park. Pasadena, Calif. Committal
services will be held at 2
p, m. today.
Word of burial plans was received
by Mrs. Herbert P. Glover,
177 Genesee street, a cousin, from
Mr. Witmer's sister. Mrs. H. Wallace
Murray, Pasadena. Mr. Witmer
died a week ago at Westport. Conn.

ALSO

Niagara Gazette - 4/1/1950

WESTPORT, Conn., April 1
Roy C. Witmer, 63, former vice
President of the National Broadcast
ing company, died early today at his
home here after a long illness.
Witmer, who was vice president
in charge of sales at the time of
his retirement in 1948, was one of
the pioneers of network broadcast
ing and was responsible for much
of the growth of radio during the
past two decades. ° _
Attended, Lockport Schools
Witmer was born at Niagara Falls
N. Y., and received his early schooling
at Lockport. N. Y. After graduating
from Leland Stanford-university
at Palo Alto, Calif. He
worked for a time as an accountant
at the First National Bank of Los
Angeles and then for the southern
California Edison company.
Returning East, he served for 12
years as vice president and general
manager of a manufacturing plant
at Fitchburg, Mass. From Massachusetts
he moved to nearby Norwalk
where he worked as sales manager
of the Norwalk Iron works
Witmer became, associated with
the National Broadcasting company
as a salesman in 1927. He was pro
moted to assistant sales manager in
1928, sales manager in 1930 and vice
president in 1931.
Witmer, after his promotion to
vice president, became mainly re-
sponsible for changing the form of
radio commercials. Asserting that
most advertisers did not know how
to use the radio and that the ma-
jority of listeners did not know how
to listen, Witmer insisted that com-
mercials, to be effective, should be
as entertaining as the rest of the
program.
Private Funeral Monday
"Tiresome advertising has killed
more radio programs than bad
actors and musicians," he said.
To listeners, he said; "Before you
tune in, select a program that suits
your taste, just as you would with
a stage production, then give it
your attention."
Witmer fought constantly for good
taste, interest and honesty in radio
advertising.
He is survived by his widow, Mrs.
Dorothy (Parks) Witmer, daughter
of Robert S. Parks, formerly of
Fitchburg. Funeral plans are in-
complete.
Born in Niagara Falls
Roy C. witmer, the son of Joseph
Witmer, was born in Lockport road,
Niagara Falls. He was the grand-
son of Abraham Witmer and the
descendent of the Witmers who
came to this country from Switzer-
land in the middle of the eighteenth
century.
Roy C. Witmer's ancestors came to
Niagara county from Lancaster
county, Pa., in 1812.

Roy married JENNISON, Marjorie about 1908. Marjorie was born about 1886 in MA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Roy married PARKS, Dorothy on 28 Aug 1923. Dorothy (daughter of PARKS, Robert S) was born on 6 Dec 1896 in Fitchburg, Worcester County, MA; died on 7 Aug 1987 in Sarasota, Sarasota County, FL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Wallace married GLESS, Vivian Rachel on 11 Jul 1931 in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, CA. Vivian was born on 22 Oct 1909 in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, CA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Walter married IRWIN, Frances on 12 Aug 1939 in Westport, CT. Frances was born on 25 Jul 1907 in Philadelphia, PA; died on 14 Mar 1987 in San Diego, San Diego County, CA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Harlan married BROOKS, Marietta Stevens in 1941 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA. Marietta was born on 24 Nov 1924; died in Apr 1975 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Harlan married WALKER, Jane Lillian on 13 Oct 1947. Jane was born on 8 Sep 1915 in Pelham Manor, Westchester County, NY; died on 4 Jan 1974 in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, CA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Harlan married TETOM, March on 16 May 1974. March (daughter of TETOM, John W and Clarabel) was born on 21 Mar 1915 in Allen, OK; died on 13 Oct 1981. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: BULLOCK, Richard. Richard (son of BULLOCK, Brigham Newton and RIPLEY, Flora Belle) was born on 3 May 1892 in Fitchburg, Worcester County, MA; died on 13 Jan 1981 in Fitchburg, Worcester County, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]