Anna married WITMER, Peter between 1716 and 1752. Peter (son of WIDMER, Johannes and GRABER, Katharina) was born in 1698 in Canton Zurich, Switzerland; died on 28 Jul 1791 in Manor Township, Lancaster County, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - Abt 7/1957

By CLARENCE O. LEWIS
Niagara County Historian
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. AM 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, close
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 Witmcr 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 had 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's 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 Sr., 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, Sr., 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 WITM'ER 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
rairoad 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 on
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.

Johannes married SCHALLENBURGER, Maria about 1755. Maria was born about 1735; died between 1774 and 1840. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He arrives with his parents, brothers and sister, when he was 10 years old. They came aboard the ship, Restauration; James Hall, Capt; from Rotterdam, last from Leith. His parents, born in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, had fled with other Swiss Mennonite families due to religious persecution.

He was a soldier in the Pennsylvania Continental Line during the Revolution. He was also a soldier in the Militia from Northumberland County, PA.

He was a private in a company of the militia active as Rangers against the Indians on the frontier. The Company was commanded by Capt. John Moll of Sunbury, PA.

Peter married SCHUETT, Sarah Maria Salome on 7 Oct 1757 in St Michael's and Zion Church, Philippines., Pa. Sarah (daughter of SCHUETT, Carl Valentine Michael) was born on 4 Oct 1740 in Upper Alsace, France; died in 1800 in Snyder County, PA; was buried in Row's (Salem) Cemetery, Penn Township, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: COFFMAN, Freena. Freena was born about 1740; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

George Witmer, born ca 1740(1774) and died 1780. He resided in Northumberland County, PA. On Easter morning in 1780, as his oldest son, Philip, aged 19, was lighting the fire, the cabin door was broken open by Indians. The Indians tomahawked Philip, and shot George, the father, while he was reaching for his gun. They killed the mother before she got out of bed. Sarah(aged 17), Mary(aged 10), Peter(aged 8), George(aged 6), John(aged 4) and an ..... were carried off. Sarah carried the baby for two days, but it cried and worried so, that an Indian dashed it against a tree and killed it.

Catharine(aged 14) and Ann(aged 12), were in the Sugar Bush at the time of the attack, looking for sap. Seeing the house burning, they hid for three days until the neighbors, fearing some of the family were likely to have been in the Sugar Bush before daylight, looked for and rescued them.

Catharine married a man named Baker and years after went to the Genessee Valley of New York. Ann married an Ermentrout and remained in Pennsylvania.

Tradition states that the Indians divided the captives among themselves. Sarah and George followed the Senecas, Peter and Mary the Mohawks, and John, the Tonawandas. When they were released, the younger children had become so accustomed to savage life that they did not want to stay with the whites. Family legend states that Sarah went to Philadelphia and married Horatio Jones, who had belonged to the Bedford Co. Rangers at the time they were taken by the Indians in 1781; Jones was carried captive to the Gennessee country. It is more than probable that it was there that Sarah met him.

George and his wife were parents of nine children.

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

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:

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]

Christian married MARTIN, Barbara Groff about 1797 in Earl Township, Lancaster County, PA. Barbara (daughter of MARTIN, Martin H and GROFF, Barbara) was born about 1776; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: FUNK, Barbara. Barbara was born on 19 Oct 1782 in PA; died in 1862. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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

Family/Spouse: GROSH, John. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He served as Matross (private) in the Pennsylvania Line, Independant Company of Artillery, Capt. William E. Godfrey's Company, stationed in Philadelphia, June, 1780.

Also with Lieut, Benjamin Hoey at Philadelphia, Nov 1780. He served in Captain John Moll's Company of the Northumberland Co. Militia.

Peter married OVERMEYER, Mary Magdelena on 19 Dec 1787 in PA. Mary was born on 25 Aug 1767 in PA; died on 18 Nov 1839 in Perry County, OH; was buried in New Reading Cemetery, near New Reading, Perry County, OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Maria married THORNTON, John on 24 Nov 1785 in Snyder County, PA. John (son of THORNTON, John and REIFSNYDER, Anne) was born in 1758; died in 1816 in Snyder County, PA; was buried in Greensburg Cemetery, Green Township, Summit County, OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: MOTZ, John. John (son of MOTZ, Johann Casper) was born in 1758 in Berks County, PA; died in 1802 in Woodward, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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

Family/Spouse: COLDREN, Sarah. Sarah was born on 6 May 1776 in Union Township, Snyder County, PA; died on 9 Jun 1848; was buried in Cemetery at Witmer's Church, Union Township, Snyder County, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: HERROLD, Elizabeth. Elizabeth (daughter of HERROLD, Simon) was born on 2 Apr 1781 in PA; died on 4 Sep 1857. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: JONES, Horatio. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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

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

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

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [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]

Notes:

Drowned in Niagara River at foot of his mill. Body found at Lewiston October 26, 1859.

Buffalo NY Daily Courier - 10/27/1859

The BODY OF M R . W I T M E R F O U N D ,-
The Niagara Falls Gazette says: " The body of our
late townsman, Christian H. Witmer, was found a
short distance below Lewiston on Friday. It was
lying in the edge of the water, partly on shore
where It had evidently been driven within a day
or two by the wind! The body was In a very good
state of preservation. The relatives were at once
notified. and readily recognized it. The clothing
was nearly all gone- necktie, one wristband and shoes and stocking being
all that was left.
It will be recollected that Mr. Witmer was
drowned by falling into the river, near Suspension Bridge, on the 17th of September.

Christian married MANN, Maria Schneider on 31 May 1831. Maria was born on 11 Jan 1808 in Columbia, Lancaster County, PA; died on 30 May 1885 in WItmer Rd. near Hyde Park Blvd., Niagara Falls, 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]

David married MARTIN, Fanny on 1 Jan 1839 in Clarence, Erie County, NY. Fanny (daughter of MARTIN, David and FRICK, Veronica) was born on 9 Jul 1815 in Lancaster, Lancaster County, PA; died on 4 Mar 1904 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; was buried in WItmer Memorial Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Living in Niagara, NY at the time of his brother Tobias's death in 1897

Joseph married KAUFFMAN, Catharine on 24 Sep 1846 in Lockport, Niagara County, NY. Catharine (daughter of KAUFFMAN, Michael and NEWCOMMER, Elizabeth) was born on 2 Aug 1825 in Lancaster County, PA; died on 23 Jul 1907 in Town of Niagara, Niagara County, NY; was buried in WItmer Memorial Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

WITMER.-THE FIRST DEATH OF THE HOUSEHOLD. Written on the death of Esther Witmer, who died Jan. 10th, 1834, aged 19 years, 10 months and 20 days.

Oh! many a mournful year hath flown,
Since first amid our family band
Death came and stole our lovliest one,
And bore her to the spirit land
Yet shrined with many a sweet, sad thought,
That loved one's mem'ry lingers still;
For oh! she left a void that nought
But mournful thoughts could fill.

Years have passed by, I said, and yet,
It only seems the other day;
Since round her dying bed we met
With breaking hearts to weep and pray;
Her gentle soul, we strove to think
Would linger yet 'mid earthly flowers;
Even when 'twas trembling at the brink
Of the better world than ours.

Yes, there e'en when all hope had flown,
We wept away each lingering hour,
Until the shades of Death came down
And closed at length the closing flower;
And yet it seemed like sin to grieve
For one so patient and resigned,
For, if she mourned 'twas but to leave
Such breaking hearts behind.

She died! yet death could scarcely chill,
Her smiling beauties, though she lay
With cold, extended limbs, and still
Her face looked fairer than the day;
Those eyes, once elegant with bliss,
Now closed as soft as closing flowers-
Oh! few could bear a sight like this,
But such a sight like this was ours.

How slowly wore that long, long day,
Like spirits in some haunted place;
We'd sit and sigh-then steal away
To look once more on that pale face;
We could not think her soul had passed
The awful bounds of mortal strife,
That that warm heart was cold at last
That loved us more than life.

And when the funeral-rite was said,
They bore her from our happy home,
And left her with the silent dead
A pale-faced tenant of the tomb.
We reared no marble* midst the flowers,
Above her grave--to mark the spot;
Yet many a heart, as fond as ours
Still holds her unforgot.

Months passed, yet still our sorrow gushed;
The free glad laugh no more was heard;
And many a little voice was hushed,
That used to warble like a bird.
And though at times we strove to smile
Serenely for each other's sake,
And wept in secret all the while
As if our hearts would break.

Yet why should death be linked with fear,
A single breath-a low drawn sigh
Can break the ties that bind us here,
And waft the spirit to the sky.
Such was her end-a calm release-
No clinging to this mortal clod;
She closed her eyes and stood in peace
Before a smiling God.

Suspension Bridge. ----- E. Witmer.

*Since, a tombstone has been erected

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 2/23/1943

SAD event of wide interest occurred
here 25 years ago today
when Elias Witmer. Niagara county's
oldest resident, died at his
home in the Saunders Settlement
road, near Sugar street, at the astonishing
age of 101 years and
four months. More remarkable still
was the fact that he died on the
same farm where he was born and
had spent almost his entire life.
A member of a family whose
longevity has become almost a leg-
end in this area, Mr. Witmer was a
son of Abraham Witmer, who had
settled in Niagara county in 1811.
He was of Swiss ancestry. With
the exception of a few years, dur-
ing which he taught school in Buf-
falo, he operated the Saunders Set-
tlement road farm until he retired
near the century mark. Even when
he was crowding 100 he frequently
walked allk the day from his farm to
downtown Niagara Falls. Unmar-
ried, he was survived by 25 ne-
phews and nieces, including Mrs.
Daniel Schmidt, with whom he re-
sided; 166 grand-nephews and
grand-nieces and 35 great grand-
nephews and great-grand-nieces.

ALSO

Buffalo NY Morning Express - 2/23/1918

Niagara Falls, Feb. 23 - Elias Wit-
mer, who was 101 years old on October
6, 1916, died shortly before 5 o'clock
this afternoon at his home on the Sandy
Settlement road a few miles east of this
city. He had been failing all winter.
Two weeks ago he caught cold, but he
was up last Monday. Fifteen minutes
before his death he talked with Andrew
Lauer (sic), a lifelong friend and neighbor,
and showed much interest in the news
of the day.
Mr. Witmer was born in the house in
which he died, a house built in 1811 by
his father, Abraham Witmer. He was
never married, but lived in the old
house with Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Smith,
the latter the daughter of Tobias Wit-
mer, a twin brother of Elias, who died
in 1897 at Williamsville. Abraham Wit-
mer had six sons and a daughter and
Elias was the last.
Elias Witmer was well known in
Western New York. He was a great
walker and visited many places. He
never smoked, shewed or drank, not
because of religious scruples, but be-
cause he thought the habits useless and
unhealthy. He would annoy tobacco
growers in the fields by telling them
their work was a waste of time.
In religion, Mr. Witmer was a Men-
nonite and it was his last request that
Jacob Habecker of a Mennonite settle-
ment in Pennsylvania be asked to offi-
ciate at his funeral. A telegram was
sent to Mr. Habecker and the funeral
will be held next Tuesday at the home.
Burial will be in the Witmer rural
cemetery, which was founded by Abra-
ham Witmer.

ALSO

Niagara Gazette - 10/9/1911

Elias Witmer, the oldest resident of
Niagara county, yesterday quietly observed
his th birthday at the old Witmer
homestead on the Saunders' Settlement
road. Though the aged man has
lost considerable of his former vigor
he Is still active mentally and physically.
>"-".>'°
Mr. Witmer, son of the late Abraham
Witmer, a Niagara pioneer was born
near old village of Suspension Bridge,
on October 8th, 1816, and has lived in
this vicinity all his life. For the greater
part of the time he has been a farmer.
As a young man he started In business
at the-north end of the city, but
his'health failed him and he had to
seek outdoor occupation. There is no
better example in Niagara county of the
value of the outdoor life than Mr. Witmer
There was never a day up up until
within a year that he did not walk from
ten to twelve miles. There was no
more picturesque figure than his with
his fishpole over his shoulder.
Until this year Mr. Witmer never
missed a picnic of the Niagara County
Pioneer's Association. He was very
eager to attend the outing, but he was
not in the best of health at the tlme
and was persuaded to remain at home.
But he is again in first class health
and appears to be well enough to warrant
belief that he will round out the
century.

ALSO

Niagara Gazette - 10/8/1915

Elias Witmer, who will one year from
today, if living then, complete a century
of life's cycle, retains within his time-
shrunken physical frame a soul and intel-
lect which, when given' play in conversa-
tlon, quickly dissipate thoughts of per-
sonal appearance and challenge regard.
Feeble and beset much of the time with
the ills of the aged, Mr. Witmer coura-
g e o u s l y arose and dressed today, walked
about the house a bit and affably greeted
close relatives and neighbors who gather-
ed to cheer him. He resides with his niece
Mrs. Daniel Schmidt, on the Saunders
Settlement road, a few rods beyond Sugar
street.
I feel as well as I could' well expect to
all things considered." declared the near
centenarian to his interviewer yesterday
afternoon. "I believe I shall live for some
years to come, possibly to 125." he added,
and shook hands with quite a firm grip.
The quarter hour's talk that followed was
punctuated with many merry quips and
jests on the part of Mr. Witmer. Much
was confidential, the rest may here be
told.
Born in Log Cabin.
"Yes, I am ninety-nine years old come
tomorrow," he said. "I was born on October
8, 1816, in a log-cabin about five or
ten rods south of this place and I have
always lived in this neighborhood except
during the few years that I traveled
through some of the states. I was spanked
here, I was trained here. I was
schooled here and I always lived here.
The log-house in which I was born has
passed away. It was two stories on the
ground floor and had no upper floors.
"Abraham Witmer was my father and
Barbara Witmer, nee Habaker, my mother.
I had five brothers and several sisters.
They are all dead and I am living
on. I have tried in vain to discover why
I, a man of small stature and not overstrong
should have lived so long and
outlived my larger, sturdier brothers and
sisters. It is a mystery to me so do not
ask me to explain the cause of my long-
evity.
Believes In Good Cheer.
"I was raised here on a farm and as a
youth became a farmer naturally enough.
l continued a farmer until I came to
realize that I was below medium slze and
then I went and learned the tailor's trade.
That I found deleterious to my health so
I sought the farm again and the rest of
my life I got my living from Mother
Earth herself. What I was unable to do
myself I hired others to do and here I
am. Long may you wave, my dear young
sir. You see I am of good cheer. I have
always found it good to keep cheerful,
"I never married. I am what they used
to call a bachelor. Is there any other
name used now that is not so harsh as
that? No? And you say they call them
bachelor girls instead of old maids, now-
adays? Well, that it better, that's a
I much better way to express it-hum, bachelor
girls."
"Well, I grew up under paternal discipline.
After years I volunteered to be
baptized in the church. In polities I have
always been a democratic Republican. and
-put this in capital letters, if you will-I
I'm anti-Masonic. Most of our family
lived to goodly years. My father lived
over eighty years. Have I told you
enough about myself, now?''
H e r e ' s Old Age Recipe.
"What Is your recipe for living to the
age of ninety and nine years?" Mr. Witmer
was asked.
"Well, I have always confined my eating
to a plain farmer diet of wholesome.,
well-cooked food, off my own farm, the
aged.man replied. "I have never used
tobacco and of alcoholic drinks. I never
partook except very sparingly at any
time. Alcohol is injurious to success. As
a medicine, however, I favor its use."
"Are you still able to read?" asked the
reporter.
"Yes," was the reply. "I read some
with these spectacles but the types have
grown pretty dim. I have been able to
read some about the great war in Europe
and have heard some about it- I have
no words to express the horror of it.
I only pray God to favor the right, on
whichever side it may lie. May God direct
it r i g h t"
With the light of happiness over the advent
of another birthday shining from his
wrinkled face, Ellas Witmer waved his
hand in adieu as his Interviewer departed
and down the hall stairs he again piped
shrilly, "Long may you wave."

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:

Living in Excelsior Missouri at the time of her brothers death.

Fanny married LEIB, Jacob S on 13 Mar 1849 in Town of Niagara, Niagara County, NY. Jacob (son of LEIB, Abraham and SCHUH, Elizabeth) was born on 27 May 1824 in York County, PA; died on 30 Apr 1893 in Morgan, MO; was buried in Bethel Church Cemetery, Excelsior, MO. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: METZLER, David. David (son of METZLER, Abraham and GROFF, Christina) was born in 1789; died in 1862. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: MARTIN, Elis.. Elis. was born on 25 Mar 1793; died on 23 Jun 1831. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: STAUFFER, Barbara. Barbara was born about 1795 in PA; died on 19 Jul 1868. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

May 2nd, near Wakarusa, Elkhart County, Ind., of lung fever, CHRISTIAN WITMER, aged 76 years, 10 months and 1 day. He was buried on May 3rd, at Shaum,s burying-ground. Henry Shaum preached a funeral discourse in German, and J. F. Funk in English. He was a member of the Mennonite church; he was born in Lancaster County, Pa., and removed to Ohio in 1834, where he lived 31 years, when he removed to Elkhart County, Ind., where he ended his days.

Christian married RANK, Susanna on 8 Jan 1827. Susanna was born on 9 Nov 1802; died on 31 Aug 1858. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: GEHMEN, Mary. Mary was born about 1804 in PA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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

Family/Spouse: STAUFFER, Anna. Anna (daughter of STAUFFER, David and WEAVER, Anna) was born in 1816 in PA; died in 1886; was buried in Pike Mennonite Cemetery, Lancaster, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: RUTT, Lydia. Lydia was born in 1819 in PA; died in 1901. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He served in War of 1812 in Captain Orth's Company of Lebanon, Berks and Dauphin County Militia.

Jacob married HORNBAKER, Mary between 1806 and 1834. Mary was born about 1790 in NJ; died between 1850 and 1885 in Perry County, OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: MILLER, Sarah. Sarah was born in PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sarah married HOUTZ, Lenord in 1810. Lenord was born on 1 Jan 1784 in Hamlin Berks, PA; died on 8 Jan 1864 in Muscatine County, IA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mary married KING, Peter on 1 Sep 1812. Peter was born on 28 Jun 1782 in Germany; died on 4 Mar 1858 in Thorn Township, Perry County, OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: MITCHELL, Randolph. Randolph was born on 11 Jun 1796; died on 8 May 1847; was buried in Lutheran Cemetery, Perry County, OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: DAVIS, Mary. Mary was born about 1833 in OH; died on 20 Apr 1881. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Peter married DARSHAM, Elizabeth J in 1823. Elizabeth was born on 24 May 1800 in OH; died on 20 Aug 1855 in Perry County, OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Ann. Ann was born about 1816 in PA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: OVERMYER, Sarah Salome. Sarah was born in 1807 in PA; died on 9 Sep 1874. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Daniel married LANTZ, Catherine in 1830. Catherine was born on 15 May 1809; died on 19 Oct 1832. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: ZOLLINGER, John. John was born about 1810 in OH; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: SWARTZ, Catharine. Catharine (daughter of SWARTZ, John and MEISER, Maria) was born on 15 Mar 1788 in Chapman Township, Snyder County, PA; died on 16 Dec 1855 in Summit County, OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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

Notes:

Charlene,

I got your name from Rootsweb.com.

The subject folks are my 3rd g grandfather and 3rd g grandmother.

I am looking for some help. Someone with the e-mail address of
eurotek999@aol.com posted a message on Rootsweb.com that John Swartz (father
of Henry) 1766-1843 was born in Swartzenburg, Baden, Germany.

This person has apparently changed e-mail addresses and I can't contact
them. Have you ever run across this? Do you know who this person is, I need
the origin of this information.

Also, I noticed that you have Elizabeth Thornton as Elizabeth Susan.
Elizabeth and Susan were two different people. I wrote a magazine article on
this which was published in March 2003. If you would like a copy, I will be
glad to send it to you if you give me your mailing address. Thanks.

Ted M. Minier
7168 Herrick Park Drive
Hudson, OH 44236-2314
Phone: 330-655-5547
E-mail tmm@gwis.com

Elizabeth married SWARTZ, Henry about 1820 in PA. Henry (son of SWARTZ, John and MEISER, Maria) was born on 15 Apr 1797 in Snyder County, PA; died on 3 Apr 1872 in Greensburg, Summit County, OH; was buried in Greensburg Cemetery, Green Township, Summit County, OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: KREITZER, Sarah. Sarah was born in 1807 in PA; died on 3 Jan 1887 in Elkhart, Elkhart County, IN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: DILLMAN, Catharine. Catharine was born in 1794 in PA; died in 1866 in OH; was buried in Greensburg Cemetery, Green Township, Summit County, OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: MCBRIDE, Lydia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: SHAFFER, Barbara. Barbara was born about 1806 in PA; died in 1880 in Bourbon Township, Douglas County, IL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: WEAVER, George. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: HESS, Elizabeth. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: HARPER, Rachel. Rachel was born in 1800 in Centre County, PA; died in 1839 in Hamilton County, IN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married FISHER, Elizabeth on 11 Dec 1827. Elizabeth was born on 1 Nov 1800 in PA; died on 31 Jan 1882. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: MARK, Rebecca. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: BARNES, Daniel. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Source Information:
Edmund West, comp.. Family Data Collection - Individual Records [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2000.

Title: g622.ftw
Author: eurotek999@aol.com
Repository:
Call Number:
Media: Other
Text: Date of Import: Sep 12, 1998

Family/Spouse: WIRT, Susanna. Susanna was born about 1807 in PA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Daniel married HERROLD, Catherine on 7 Jan 1841. Catherine was born on 21 Aug 1815 in PA; died on 8 May 1900. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1860 Census shows name as Whitmer

Family/Spouse: Catherine. Catherine was born on 5 Mar 1825 in PA; died on 1 May 1893. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

David married MILLER, Sarah in 1854 in PA. Sarah was born on 27 Oct 1834 in Snyder County, PA; died on 5 Aug 1893 in Snyder County, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jacob married GAUGLER, Polly in 1824 in PA. Polly was born on 8 Feb 1804 in Union Township, Snyder County, PA; died on 16 Jan 1865. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: MILLER, Eliza Ann. Eliza was born on 8 Dec 1811 in PA; died in 1878 in Hillsdale County, MI. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: GARMAN, John Peter. John was born in 1807 in PA; died in 1866. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Lydia married FISHER, John on 19 Sep 1830. John was born on 11 Jan 1800; died on 2 Sep 1861. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Lydia married RITTER, Samuel on 4 Sep 1862. Samuel was born about 1798 in PA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: WINKLEMAN, Christian. Christian was born in 1807 in PA; died in 1871. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: WALBORN, Jacob. Jacob died on 16 May 1863. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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