Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 7/1957

IN 1810.JOHN WITMER and
his family consisting of his wife
and eight children left Lancaster,
Pa., in a Conestoga wagon with
a four horse team. All their worldly
possessions were in that wagon.
They were bound for the
Niagara Frontier. The trip was
made in late August and early
September and required 18 days.
The route was circuitious until
they reached Batavia from whence
they followed the Buffalo road
to Black Rock and thence down
the river to Devil's Hole where
they took a road which had been
chopped out by Isaac Swain. This
led to his clearing where the Military
road crosses Gill Creek, dose
to the northern boundary of the
Town of Niagara.
Mr. Swain had. partially cleared
the timber from about 40 acres
and erected a good-size log house.
John Witmer had purchased this
100 acre farm of Mr. Swain who
then moved to the Town of Porter
and settled south of Youngstown.
At this period (1810) there was
only one other clearing on the
Military road in the present town
of Niagara.
A short time before John Witmer
brought his family from Pensylvania,
he bad ridden through
on horseback and purchased his
land. When he left his old home
he had cut a slender branch from
a Locust Tree to use as a switch.
When he reached his new home
he planted the switch in the rich
soil in front of the log cabin. The
switch, so the family tell me, took
root and today one may see as I
did, on the east side of the military
road some 25 odd feet north
of the Gill Creek crossing, a large
gnarly old locust tree that has
every earmark of being old enough
to verify the family legend.
* ° *
WHEN THE TOWN of Niagara
was organized in April 1812.
John Witmer was elected one of
the "pathmasters." In 1817 he
built a small sawmill on Gill
Creek near his home and in 1818
began to saw and sell lumber.
"A great many of the first frame
houses in that part of Niagara
and adjacent towns were built of
lumber from his sawmill. Last
week I called on Mrs. -Theresa
Morrison and Miss Serena Witmer
of 1024 Grove Ave., who are great
granddaughters of John Witmer.
They were most hospitable and
very willing to help me complete
this story. One incident they told
me was about Benjamin Witmer
son of John, and their great uncle
who as a boy of 17 during the
War of 1812, ventured down to
the bank of the Niagara opposite
one of the teaters of battle on the
Canadian, side and as he peered
through the bushes a four-pound
cannon ball came whizzing across
the river and took hit hat off his
head. When be had recovered
from the shock he found the cannon
ball imbedded in the earth
and took it home and it is still
kept by these ladies as a memento
of those troublous times of long
ago.
Abram Witmer, a brother of
John, came to the Frontier in
1811 from' the same place in
Pennsylvania. His wife and four
children came with him. Their
trip was similar to John's. They
settled on a tract of land purchased
from the Holland Land
Co. It was on the Saunder's Settlement
road just east of Sugar
Street, and on the west abutted
on the Mile Reserve. He built,
a log house and began to clear
his land. At the first town meeting
in 1812 he was also elected
a pathmaster. When the War
broke out he took his family back
to Pennsylvania. The Witmer brothers
were Mennonites and had
religious scruple against war.
« » *
OUT OF AN estimated total of
337 homes along the Frontier, the
English and Indians looted and
burned all but a few that were
somewhat isolated. Fortunately
Abram Witmer was one of these,
so that when they returned everything
was just as they had left it.
When the weather was too bad
to go to Porter's Grist, Mill at
the Falls they used a hollowed
[out stump and a spring pole with
a stone tied to it for a pestle to
grind their grain.
In the spring of 1836 Benjamin
Rathbun came to Niagara Falls
to invest in real estate and erect
buildings. He heard that Abram
Witmer Jr., had a brick kiln
where he was making brick for
his house. Mr. Rathbun entered
into a contract with father and
son to make 300,000 brick for
him which he would pay for on
delivery. They had made and delivered
about two-thirds of the
contract when Rathbun's business
empire founded more or less on
credit, failed - partly, on account
of the financial panic of
that year and partly because of
unscrupulous deals.
The Witmers lost heavily but
made the best of a bad deal, selling
the bricks left on their hands
wherever they could find a market.
Abram ST., was a carpenter
and cabinet maker as well as a
farmer.
Among documents found in the
old Court House attic were two
legal papers dated 1853 containing
the signatures of Abram 'Witmer
and Tobias, another son.
Abram, ST., died Sept. 4, 1851.
Christian H. Witmer, the oldest
of Abram's seven sons operated
Judge Porter's Grist mill near the
present River end of First street
He also had a mill of his own
somewhat later, on the high bank
of the River near the Whirlpool
Bridge. On Sept. 17, 1859 while
working on the raceway he fell
into the water and was carried
down into the River and to his
death in the Whirlpool.
,* ° *
TOBIAS WITMER was born in
1816 at Bellvue, (Suspension
Bridge). He was one of the first
surveyors of that region, his maps
being still the main reliance for
lot lines, etc. He was quite a
genius, being an inventor, author,
poet and a preacher' besides a
Civil Engineer. One of his inventions
was the bicycle wheel. He
made the spokes of the wires from
an old hoop skirt. He also invented
a corn sheller, an automatic
railroad switch,- pile driver,
portable signal tower for use
in the Army, fire escape, etc.
-He-taught school for a time.
In 1861 although he had a family
of 12 children he enlisted in a
Civil War Regiment He died in
1897 in Williamsville, Erie Co.,
leaving a record of accomplishments
that seldom is equalled.
Elias Witmer, twin brother of
Tobias, finished his schooling at
the Lewiston Academy after which
he learned the tailor's trade. Later
he taught school, but finding his
health impaired he stuck' to farm-
ing the rest of his long life.
Practically all the advancement
of the Niagara Frontier, from its
wild state to the highly developed
status? of 1918, was. encompassed
in his life. In his youth oxteams
were a common sight along Portage
road. He "was in Buffalo oh
Oct 26, 1825, to see the official
opening of the Erie Canal and saw
DeWitt Clintonon the "Seneca
Chief and heard the cannon
"telegraph that carried the notice
of the starting of the Seneca
Chief on its voyage to the Atlantic
Ocean.
# ° °
ELIAS WITMER was greatly
interested in the Niagara County
Pioneer's Assoc, organized in 1877
and was one time vice president
He was a regular attendant at
the Olcott Pioneer's Picnics. In
1914 when he was 98 years old
he planned to attend the picnic,
writing, a card to the Secty., George
S. Gooding in advance signifying
his intentions. He died Feb. 23,
1918, aged 102 years, in the
homestead built by his father in
1821.
On the 1852 map of Niagara
County there are shown nine
families of Witmer's 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.
A few moved out of Niagara
County, but the majority of them
lived and operated various types
of business in this County. The
Witmer road connecting Hyde
Park Blvd. with the Military
road perpetuates the family name.
There are today in Niagara
Falls six families descended from
the two pioneer brothers, .John
and Abram. They are Orlando
B. Witmer, 2215 Pierce Ave.; M.
T. Witmer, 1301 Ferry Ave; Miss
Emma A. Witmer, 1600 Cleveland
Ave.; Christian H. Witmer. 1174
Haeberle Ave.; and my collaborators,
Miss Serena T. Witmer and
Mrs. Theresa Morrison, 1024
Grove Ave. Also a great great
grandson, Robert C. Witmer,
2913 Michigan Ave.

Article by Clarence O. Lewis, Niagara County Historian

ALSO

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.

Family/Spouse: HERSHEY, Barbara. Barbara (daughter of HERSHEY, Christian and HERR, Barbara) was born on 13 Apr 1767; died on 4 Nov 1856 in Town of Niagara, Niagara County, NY; was buried in WItmer Memorial Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buffalo NY Morning Express - 5/16/1881

Benjamin Witmer, one of the first settlers In
Western New-York, died at his residence, four
miles northeast of Niagara Falls, on Tuesday, the
10th inst., aged 86 years, and was buried on Thursday,
the 12th, in the family burying-ground on the
old homestead, where he had resided since 1842.
The Rev. John Strickler, of Clarence, assisted by
the Rev. Mr. Leonard, of La Salle, and the Rev.
Mr. Snyder, a neighbor, conducted the funeral
services, which were attended by a very large concourse
of his relatives and acquaintances, among
whom were many who had known him over half a
century.
Mr. Witmer's ancestors were of those Christians
who are known as Mennonites, from Simon Menno,
a Reformer, cotemporary with Luther, who in the
Netherlands renounced the Roman Catholic Church,
in which he was a friar, and became a leader
among the Ana Baptists, a considerable portion of
whom assumed his name to designate their peculiar
sect. Religious persecution by the Romanists
drove these Mennonite ancestors from their native
countries in Europe, and thousands of their devoted
compeers, in the early part of the sixteenth century,
settled in Lancaster County, Pa., then called the
"Garden of America," where they soon became a
numerous, prosperous, and a happy people, mind-
ing their own business and letting other people do
the same, which sometimes is styled selfishness. In
course of time the more enterprising, among whom
were some styled " Tories " because they would not
fight against King George in the War of
the Revolution, sought homes in Western New-
York and the neighboring province of Up-
per Canada. In August, 1810, John Wit
mer, the father of the deceased, sold out his
home in Pennsylvania, six miles west of Lancaster
City, and with a four-horse team brought
his family via Harrisburgh, past the mouth of
Lycoming Creek, over Williams's road via Block
House and Blossburg, down the Tioga Valley to
Painted Post, thence to Dansville, N. Y.. Batavia,
Black Rock, and down Niagara River to Devil's
Hole, from which Mr. Isaac Swain had cut a road
through the woods to his farm on lots 30 and 34.
which the father purchased of Mr. Swain, and
made it his future home. But war's end again
drove these inoffensive people from their wilderness
homes, and in 1813 John Witmer, the father, and
his brother Abraham Witmer, who had settled on
the adjoining farm, took their helpless families to a
safe reheat in the interior, John going to Dansville,
N. Y., and Abraham returning to Lancaster County.
Benjamin, however, being a lad 17 years old (he
was born in Lancaster County, Pa., March 21.
1795). was employed voluntarily as an artificer in
building the fortifications at Fort Niagara, the
religious tenets of the Mennonites forbidding their
taking up arms, the Government, on the other
hand never requiring them to violate their conscientious
scruples. One day as he was coming
from the fort, up the river to the top of the mountain
at Lewiston, he, with his two companions,
were espied by the men at the battery across the
river on Queenston Heights, and were fired upon,
the cannon ball, a six pounder, burying itself in
the ground near by. The ball was afterwards dug
up by Mr. Witmer and has ever since been kept as
a kind of heir-loom in the family, the children
often amusing themselves by rolling it over
the chamber floor to produce artificial thunder.
After the war was over both families returned and
made permanent homes at the places first purchased.
In 1817 Benjamin built a saw-mill for his father, at
the homestead, on Gill-creek crossing of the military
road. This mill was instrumental in preparing
most of the lumber used for building in that vicinity
for many years, and is still used during the wet
season. He next went to Erie County and built a
saw-mill for Christian Long, one mile north of
Williamsville. He also built another for Joseph
Getz, on Ellicott's creek, and another for Christian
Frick at Skinnersville, now Wolf's.
Here he made the acquaintance of Miss Anna
Maria Heil, daughter of John HeiI, whom he married
in 1835, and settled on his farm, where now
the Lutheran church stands at Eggertsville. Here
five of his children--John in 1835, Mary in 1836,
Sabina in 1838. Barbara in 1830, and Benjamin in
1831-were born. In 1831 he sold out and moved
to the farm next west adjoining the old homestead,
which is now occupied by his son Elder Martin
Witmer, where he lived until the death of the old
grandfather John Witmer, in 1843, when he took
possession of the homestead. His family was increased
by the births of Martin in 1833. Henry in
1835, Elisabeth in 1836, Leonard in 1838, Anna in
1839, Esther in 1841, Simon in 1843, and Elias in
1844. These all survive him except Barbara, who
died in 1864. His wife died in 1871, and is remembered
as one of the most exemplary women.
Mr. Witmer, although of a very unassuming character,
was an active, industrious, frugal and ex
emplary man-a kind though commanding father,
stamping a virtuous and determined character upon
his large family, the good influence of which has
reached out far beyond his own family. He was
respected by all who knew him, and he retained the
vigor of a strong mind to the last day, dying at
peace with all men, and, as the writer is assured
from an Interview had on Saturday before his death,
he died in the full assurunce of the Christian's hope
of eternal lite.
All his children except Leonard, Elias and Esther,
who are living in the far West, were present at the
funeral, and the tears of affection were soothed by
the smiles of Heaven, shed down in ihe blossoms of
promise of the lovely May day, and the kind greet-
Ings of a sympathizing crowd of spectators.
T. W.

Family/Spouse: HEIL, Anna Maria. Anna was born on 26 Oct 1803 in PA; died on 26 Mar 1871 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; was buried in WItmer Memorial Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Samuel married CROUT, Mary on 4 Oct 1832 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. Mary was born on 15 Jun 1801; died on 17 Oct 1867 in Fairfax, IA; was buried in Fairfax, IA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: WISSLER, Jacob. Jacob was born about 1803 in PA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: CROUT, Jacob. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: AXTELL, Lavina P. Lavina was born in 1833 in New York; died on 26 Apr 1914. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: WAGNER, Jacob. Jacob was born about 1827 in PA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: BINKLEY, Elias. Elias (son of BINKLEY, Christian Herr and STIKLY, Katharine) was born on 29 Dec 1824 in PA; died on 11 Nov 1862. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Martin married KING, Elizabeth I about 1860. Elizabeth was born in Feb 1840 in New York; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: BINKLEY, Elizabeth. Elizabeth (daughter of BINKLEY, Christian Herr and STIKLY, Katharine) was born on 31 Aug 1831 in New York; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elizabeth married OSTRANDER, John W in 1865. John (son of OSTRANDER, Thomas and WASSON, Phebee) was born in 1827 in Boston, Erie County, NY; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: ENSMINGER, Anna. Anna was born in Sep 1841 in New York; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Anna married LEHMAN, John B about 1866. John was born on 19 Aug 1840 in PA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: KLINE, Samuel. Samuel was born in Osborn, OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: LEHMAN, Henry. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 10/10/1933

WITMER-At the o l d homestead. 1024,
Grove avenue. Simon, beloved husband
of the late Mary Barbara Witmer, at
1:20 a . m , Oct. 10th, 1933. He is survived
bv six children: Simon C . Chicago.
Ill., Artemas S., Baltimore. Md., Malc
h am T., Orlando B., Theresa M. I Mrs.
Murdo Morrison, and Serena T., all of
t h i s city; six grandchtdren also survive:
Mrs. Charles H. Noe and Fred C. Witmer.
Chicago, til., Robert C. and Ruth
E. Witmer, Wm. Angus and Mary Isabelle
Morrison, all of this city. Funeral
service will be In charge of Rev. J. I.
McCullough, Fredonla, N. Y.. on Friday
at the home at 2 p. m. Burial will be
In Rlverdale cemetery.

Simon married SCHNEIDER, Mary Barbara on 23 Dec 1869 in Niagara County, NY. Mary (daughter of SCHNEIDER, Rev Theobald and GRAUER, Anna Katharina) was born on 28 May 1847 in Ontario, Canada; died on 1 Apr 1927 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; was buried in Riverdale Cemetery, Town of Lewiston, Niagara County, NY - Section 5. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: CANNON, Mary M. Mary was born about 1855 in New York; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Emanuel married PHILIPS, Elizabeth on 9 Aug 1865 in Cedar Rapids, Linn County, IA. Elizabeth (daughter of PHILIPS, David and Mary) was born on 18 Feb 1837 in OH; died in 1918; was buried in Berlin, Ottawa County, MI. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Maria married NEUBAUER, Philipp about 1855. Philipp was born in Oct 1829 in Germany; died between 1900 and 1910. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: KROUT, John. John was born about 1841 in New York; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: ROSE, Frank. Frank was born about 1839 in OH; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1880 Census in Missouri

Family/Spouse: CHASE, Moses. Moses was born about 1824 in NH; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sarah married MAURER, Benedict about 1860 in Sanborn, Town of Wheatfield, Niagara County, NY. Benedict was born about 1827 in Bern, Switzerland; died about 1889. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Mary. Mary was born about 1829 in PA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Mary E. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Otto married Hattie about 1886. Hattie was born in May 1862 in MI; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Benjamin married Belle about 1874. Belle was born in Aug 1853 in IN; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Witmer - On Sept. 27, 1903, Loren T. Witmer, aged 34 years, met a very sad and sudden death caused by coming in contact with a surcharged electric line, causing instantaneous death. He was the son of Martin and Elizabeth Witmer, and great-grandson of John and Barbara Witmer. He leaves a widow, one daughter and a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn his untimely death. "In the midst of life we are in death."

ALSO

Niagara Gazette - 9/28/1903

Loren T. Witmer, a well known resident
of t h e city was electrocuted a t his
home No. 1307 Linwood Avenue early
Sunday morning between the hours of
2 and 3 o'clock. . There was a cross on
the incandescent circuit which caused
tlie switch blocks to spark, and Mr. Witmer
while searching for the trouble
picked up a wire in the cellar and it
is supposed that he received a shocK
of 2,000 volts.
Mrs. Witmer was aroused by the noise
made by the electricity, there being a
buzzing sound. She awakened her husband
telling him there was something
the matter with the electric light system.
He arose from his bed and told
his wife that he would go to the at-
tic to throw off the switch. He returned
In a minute and with his wife went
to the cellar. It was dark and Mrs.
Witmer left him s t a t i n g that she would
go upstairs after a lamp. As she went
up the stairs she heard a groan. "When
she returned she found her husband
lying on the cellar floor apparently dead.
She called to h im and receiving no r e sponse
she hastened upstairs and summoned
Drs. W. H. Hodge and E. O. Mccarty.
Upon the arrival of t h e physicians an
examination was made and although it
seemed hopeless an a t t e m p t was made
to. rescusutate him by artificial respiration.
The physicians worked over
Witmer for an hour and then gave it
up, the .man being beyond medical assistance.
The exact manner in which Witmer
met his. death will never be known. In
the cellar beneath the stairs there was
an Incandescent lamp suspended from
a. hook. The Wire attached to the
lamp was too long and a portion of it
sagged in a loop touching the cellar
floor. At the point of contact with
the floor the insulation was burned
from the wire leaving it bare. It is
supposed that Witmer picked up the
wire at the 'point of contact with t he
floor and received . t h e full force or'
the voltage of the wire with which the
incandescent system was charged. He
was thrown a distance of several feet
from the point where he was .standing
when he picked up t he wire. He
grasped the wire with the left hand
the physicians finding a charred burn
on the wrist and also a burn on the
instep where the charge of electricity
left the body. Witmer was in his bare
feet and the floor of the cellar being
damp the circumstances could not have
been more favorable for him to receive
the full- voltage of t h e crossed wires.
Coroner Slocum was called, made an
examination of the wiring of t he house
with Mr. McDonnell of the Buffalo &
Niagara Fails Electric Light & Power
Company. Everything was found as
i t should be a n d a test of the wires
made by Mr. McDonnell registered a
voltage of 110 a s it should be. .Yes-
terday afternoon the coroner wishing to
be positive went to the Witmer house
with a first-class electrician and made
another examination. The wiring was
pronounced to be perfect.- The only
deduction left was that the incandescent
system was crossed with a wire of
higher voltage and this is t r u e as one
ohe electric light circuits was clossed
down for a short time early 'Sunday
morning in order to locate a cross of the
wires. Just how the electricity entered
the house on the incandescent wire' is
not explained. It is supposed that the
switch was not thrown entirely off or
if the disconnection had been made in
a proper manner that the voltage was
so high that the electricity leaped the
Intervening space and made connection.
Witmer was employed as a bookkeeper
at the plant of the Carter-Grume
and was 31 years old. He was the son
of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Witmer who
formerly resided in this city but who
now reside in Colorado. Besides his
wife and child the deceased is survived
by three sisters.
At 2 o'clock Sunday morning Superintendent
of the Fire Alarm M. J. Donohue
was notified of trouble on the wire,
the fire alarm having sounded several
strokes. The pin on one of the cross
arms of a pole at 18th and Niagara
streets had pulled out allowing the the
a l a rm wire to drop on a n arc wire.
Word was at once sent to the power
house and at 5: 45 o'clock circuit No. 4
was closed clown upon orders of Supt.
Donohue he .believing it to be better
to have the lamps on t h e circuit in
darkness rather than to t a k e a chance,
of someone being killed by a t t e m p t i ng
to send in an a l a rm on circuit No. 2 of
the fire alarm. In t he opinion of Supt.
Donohue if a person attempted to send
in an a l a rm from one of the boxes on
No. 2 circuit with the electricity on the.
No. 4 a r c circuit they would- have received
a shock which would have caused
death Superintendent Donohue had
the system in working order and as
soon as daylight arrived he went to
work and pulled up the wire which
crossed the arc system. Supt. Donohue
is of t h e opinion that one of t h e Wires
of the No. 4 a r c s y s t em was crossed
with the incandescent- system and
caused Witmer's death. He is positive
t h a t death was not the result of the
crossing of the a r c circuit with t he
fire alarm wire at the corner of Niagara
avenue and 18th street where the trouble
was located at daylight.
The only damage caused the fire
a l a rm system by the cross was t he
burning out of a pair of magnet rolls
in box No. 23 and the burning of a shunt
in box No. 27.

Loren married BROOKFIELD, Mary Leonora in 1892. Mary (daughter of BROOKFIELD, Jacob and WOODS, Nellie) was born in Jul 1872 in New York; died on 27 Oct 1949 in Warrens Corners, Niagara County, NY; was buried in North Ridge Cemetery, Town of Cambria, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Alice married RICE, Howard M about 1906. Howard was born about 1878 in New York; died in 1957. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: STUTZMAN, Ephraim E. Ephraim (son of STUTZMAN, Emanuel and Catharine) was born in Feb 1857 in OH; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Hattie M. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 3/34/1909

Alvin Frederick Witmer, a native of
this city, died at Syracuse yesterday after
a long Illness. The deceased was in his
thirty-fifth year and resided here until
about ten years ago when he went to
Syracuse. Eight years ago he married
Miss Gertrude Kimberly, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. O. T. Kimberly, of Second street,
this city. He was a civil engineer and
met with eminent success in the Salt City,
The deceased was the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Simon Witmer of Grove avenue, this
city, both of whom with four brothers
and two sisters survive him. The broth-
ers are Simon, of Chicago, Arthur of
Philadelphia, Malcom of Savannah, N.Y.,
and Orlando of this city. The sisters are
Misses Theresa and Serena, both of this
city.
The funeral services will be held from
his late hom in Syracuse tomorrow after-
noon at 4 o'clock. The remains will be
brought here on Saturday and another
service will be held from the home of
his parents Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'
clock, the Rev. J. F. Franklin, of Tona-
wanda, officiating.

Alvin married KIMBERLY, Gertrude W in 1901. Gertrude (daughter of KIMBERLY, O T) was born in 1878; died in 1960; was buried in Riverdale Cemetery, Town of Lewiston, Niagara County, NY - Section 5. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 3/27/1968

Niagara Frontier Lodge No.
132, F&AM, will hold, a
memorial service for Malcolm
T. Witmer Thursday at 7:30
p.m. at the Gridley Funeral
Home.

ALSO

Niagara Gazette - 3/26/1968

Malcham T.. (M.T.) Witmer, a Niagara Falls lumberman
for more than half a century, died this morning
(March 26, 1968) in Memorial Hospital after a lengthy
illness. He was 94.
Mr. Witmer was president and
treasurer of the Ayers-Witmer
Lumber Co., 200 Portage Road,
the f irm he founded in 1911. He
residede at 1301 Ferry Ave..-
Born in Town of Niagara, Mr.
Witmer was the descendent of a
family which came to the area
at the end of the 18th century.
He w ent to school in the District
No. 3 School and later the
Cleveland Avenue School, which
was then a high school.
He completed his education at
Niagara Business College and
went to work in August 1897
as an office boy and assistant
bookkeeper at Niagara Falls
Lumber and Coal Co.
In 1908, Mr. Witmer and his
wife, the former Clara Carr,
moved to Savannah, N.Y. and
purchased a small lumber yard.
By 1909 Mr. Witmer was mayor
of the town.
He returned to Niagara Falls
in 1911 and purchased the J. J.
Cook lumber yard, which had
been idle for more than five
years.
Mr. Witmer was the last surviving
charter member of the
Niagara Falls Kiwanis Club,
which was founded in 1918. He
was the recipient of a pin for
32 years of perfect attendance.
He was a m ember of the
board of trustees of the Evangelical
United Brethren Church
here for 50 years and Sunday
school superintendent for 39
years.
° He was a charter member of
Niagara Falls YMCA and for
mer vice president of the City
Mission, where he was active
on the board of directors for
many years.
He served as a director of
the Northeastern Retail Lumbermen's
Association and was
one of the founders of the now defunct
Cataract National Bank.
He was a member of Savannah
Lodge No. 764, F. & A.M., Ni-
agara Builders Association, His-
torical Society of Niagara Falls
and Old Fort Niagara Associa-
tion.
Surviving are a son, Robert
C. Witmer, vice president and
secretary of the lumber company;
a daughter, Ruth E, Witmer,
this city; two brothers,
Orlando B. (0. B.) Witmer, this
city, and Artemas S. (Art) Witmer,
Lakeland, Fla.; a sister,
Mrs. Theresa Morrison, this
city; three grandhcildren and
several nieces and nephews.
His wife died, in 1959 at the
age of 80.
The Rev. Ardell G. Gould,
pastor of the Evangelical United
Brehern Church, will officiate
at services Friday at 1:30 p.m.
at the church. Burial will be in
Riverdaie Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may
be may to the City Mission.

Malcham married CARR, Clara Gertrude on 21 Jun 1905 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. Clara (daughter of CARR, Joseph J and Mary) was born in 1880 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; died on 5 Apr 1960 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; was buried in Riverdale Cemetery, Town of Lewiston, Niagara County, NY - Section 8. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Simon married HALL, Nettie in 1905 in IL. Nettie was born in 1880 in IL; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Orlando married WILLIAMS, Elizabeth May on 9 May 1900 in Bulah, MD. Elizabeth was born in 1877 in Federalsburg, Caroline County, MD; died on 15 Feb 1973 in DeVeaux Manor Nursing Home, Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; was buried in Riverdale Cemetery, Town of Lewiston, Niagara County, NY - Section 8. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Artemus married ALEXANDER, Marguerite on 28 Jun 1909 in Wilmington, New Castle County, DE. Marguerite (daughter of ALEXANDER, Mayrice F) was born about 1893 in DE; died in May 1966 in Polk County, FL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 10/23/1968

MORRISON-Theresa M. ot Memorial
Hospital October 22nd, 1968 of 1024
Grove Ave. Wife of the late Murdo
Morrison. Mother of Miss Mary (Isobelle)
Morrison this city. Dr. Wllllom
A. Morrison of Phil., Pa. Sister of
Orlando B. Witmer this city. Art S.
Witmer of Lakeland, Florida. 3 Grandchildren
survive. Funerol from the
Gridley Funeral Home Inc., 750 Main
St. Friday at 1:30 p.m. The Rev. M.
C. Rice & the Rev. W. A. Mason officiating.
Interment in Riverdale Cemetery.
Friends may call Wed., & Thurs.
2-5 & 7-9 p.m.

ALSO

Niagara Gazette - 10/22/1968

Mrs. Theresa M. Morrison,
86, of 1024 Grove Ave., died
today (Oct. 22, 1968) in Memortal
Hospital after a short
Illness.
A native of Niagara Falls,
Mrs. M o r r i s o n was the
daughter of the late Simon
and Mary Whitmer.
Mrs. Morrison was a member
of the Weston Avenue
Free Methodist Church and
the Women's Missionary Society
of that church.
She was the wife of the late
Murdo Morrison, and is survived
by a son, Dr. William
A. Morrison, of Philadelphia,
Pa.; a daughter, Miss Mary
Isabelle Morrison, of Niagara
Falls; two brothers, Orlando
B. Whitmer, this city, and Art
S. Whitmer, of Lakeland, Fla.,
and three grandchildren.
Funeral services will be
heM .Friday at, 1:30 p.m. at
the Gridley Funeral Home
Inc. The Rev. M. C. Rice,
former pastor of the Weston
Avenue Free M e t h o d i st
Church, and the Rev. W. H.
Mason, present pastor of the
church, will officiate. Burial
will be in Riverdate Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funerat
home Wednesday and
Thursday from 2 to 5 p.m.

Theresa married MORRISON, Murdo in 1920. Murdo was born in 1883 in Isle of Lewis, Scotland; died on 14 Jul 1963 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 8/13/1962

Funeral services for Miss
Serena T Witmer. 76. a prominent
business woman, church
leader and descendant of a
local pioneer family, will be
held Wednesday.
Miss Witmer died Saturday
(Aug. 11, 1962) in Memorial
Hospital after being ill for
several days.
Miss Witmer lived at 1024
Grove Ave in a home owned
by her family for more than
60 years.
She started work in 1904
as bookkeeper for Snyder and
Gillette Contracting Co., now
the Concrete Stone and Coal
Co. In 1942 she was elected
secretary. She retired a year
ago For many she kept
the records of Snyder Realty
Co. also located in Gillette
Court in the DeVeaux section
of the city.
Family Here in 1810
Her great great-grandfather.
John Witmer, came here in
1810 and farmed property on
which the Vanadium Corpora-
tion of America plant in Witmer
Road was later bulit.
The Witmer family was act-
ive in the founding of the
Weston Avenue Free Metho-
dist Church, of which Miss
Witmer was a m e m b er
throughout her life She held
many c h u r c h offices and
served on the Official Board
for many years. She taught in
the Sunday School and was
greatly responsible for t h e
opening of a Sunday School
conducted in the Echota area
which grew to become the
Church Avenue Free Methodist
Church. She had charge
of youth work for the church
for many years and held of -
fices in the Woman's Missionary
Society
Rites Wednesday
Surviving are a sister. Mrs.
Murdo Morrison, who also resides
in the family homestead;
three brothers. M. T. Witmer.
president of Avers and Witmer
Lumber Co ; O. B. Wit-
mer, retired Carborundum Co
executive, and Art S. Witmer.
Lakeland. Fla
The funeral will be held
at 1:30 p m. Wednesday at the
Gridley Funeral Home. Rev.:
Myrtus C Rice, pastor of The
Weston Avenue Free Methodist
Church, and Rev. Michael
Salmen. her cousin, of Webster.
NY, former pastor of
the First Evangelical United
Brethren Church here, will
officiate. Burial will be in
Riverdale Cemetery.

Arthur married Leila M about 1908. Leila was born about 1880 in IL; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth Date per census information - 1900 - Colorado

Mary married DUNBAR, Alfred E about 1890. Alfred was born in Oct 1855 in OH; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sarah married MCDONALD, William about 1888. William was born in Dec 1849 in OH; died between 1910 and 1920. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: CARPENTER, Sherman. Sherman (son of CARPENTER, Thomas) was born in May 1865 in OH; died before 1930. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Samuel married JOHNSON, Susan on 22 Jun 1904. Susan was born on 22 Oct 1885 in MI; died on 21 Dec 1955; was buried in Rose Hills Cemetery, Whittier, CA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Maria married HUNT, Alfred Sydney on 14 Jun 1889. Alfred (son of HUNT, John and BARNES, Martha) was born on 6 Feb 1865 in Cheddon, Fitzbane, England; died on 22 Jun 1922 in MI; was buried in Gracelawn Cemetery, Flint, MI. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 2/23/1940

Relatives of Mrs. Mary S. Springer,
65 years old, of 515 Seventyeighth
street, who was fatally Injured
in an automobile accident at
Ionia. Mich., Wednesday night, received
word today that her niece,
Mrs. Grace B. Russell, 44, of Flint,
Mich., died late yesterday from injuries
received In the same accident.
When Mrs. Springer died shortly
after being admitted to an Ionia
hospital, Mrs. Russell's condition
was so serious that no hope for her
recovery was held.
Arrangements for the funeral of
Mrs. Sprlnger, who was A descendant
of one of the oldest families
In Niagara county and was widely
known, were completed todAy. The
body will Arrive At the Seventyeighth
'street add ress tomorrow faternoon
and will be removed to the
First Methodist church, of which
Mrs. Springer was a member of the
board, at 11 a m. Monday. Services
will be conducted In the church by
the Rev. Dr. Melvin J. Hill at 2 p.
m. Monday And burial will be made
In Mountain View cemetery, Pekln.
Mrs. Springer was a daughter of
the late Benedict Maurer and Sarah
Witmer Maurer. Her mothers
family for years occupied one of the
oldest, homesteads In the Saunders
Settlement road

Family/Spouse: SPRINGER. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Susan about 1873. Susan was born in Jun 1847 in VA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]