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- Niagara Gazette - 2/5/1895
THEIR 60TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.
Mr. and Mrs Abraham Witmer ol Lockport Will
Colebrate This Evening
Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Witmer, one of
the. best-known couples in Niagara county,
and popular with a very wide circle of
friends, will celebrate the 60th anniversary
of their marriage, which took place at
Clarence, Erie county, in 1835, at their
home on Spalding street, Lockport, this
evening. They have one son, Joseph S.
Witmer of Lockpori. secretary ol the Orleans-
Niagara Mutual Insurance. Company.
Abraham Witmer, the father of the subject
of this sketch, was born in Lancaster
comity. Pa., and followed cabinet-making
there until be removed.to the neighborhood
of Niagara Falls, in 1812, and settled on a
farm. He "farmed it" and followed cabinet-
making, and "was so successful that in a
few years he became the owner of over 1,-
100 acres of land. He was an old-line
Whig, dlying in 1851 al the age of 80 years.
Abraham Witmer of Lockport was born in
Lancaster county. Pa., in 1808, and. coming
here with his parents, settled down on
the old homestead in Niagara county, where
he followed farming until 1881, when he
retired and moved to Lockport He was originally
a Whig. but became a Republican
iupon the organization ol that party, and is
a prominent member of the Methodist
church. He married Catherine Strickler,
daughter of Ulrlch Strickler, in 1835. Mr.
Slrickler was a native of York county, Pa.,
and removed to Canada about 1800, where
he lived for 15 years, but returning to this
country, being driven from Canada by
Indian depredations, settled at Clarence.
Erie county, where he died, aged 72 years.
Catherine was born in 1816. The Witmers
are of German extraction, their ancestors
having emigrated to Pennsylvania frnm
Switzerland in the 18th century. The
history of Abraham Witmer. senior and
junior, embodies no small part ot the history
of Niagara and Erie counties.
ALSO
Niagara Gazette - 1885 (month unknown)
Golden Wedding of Abraham and Catharine
Wltmer.
The fiftieth anniversary of the mar-
riage of Abraham Witmer and. Catharine
Strickler was celebrated last Thursday
the 5th inst., at their old home in
the town of Niagara, now the residence
of their only child, Mr. J. S. Witmer.
The latter, with the cooperation of his
wife and others, had planned a grand
surprise for his parents, by inviting
them over to dinner on this their anni-
versary, without, of course, attaching
any importance to the occasion other
than a "fat rooster." When everything
was in readiness and the guests had all
arrived. Mr. Witmer drove to the house
of hi3 parents, a 6hort distance, and
brought them over and ushered them
unsuspectingly into the crowded apartments,
where old friends and relatives
were already jubilant over the unexpected
meeting, after years of separation,
The surprise was a complete success.
The astonishment of the old
couple was overwhelming as they received
the shower of congratulations of
their numerous relatives and friends
from every side, nor was it sensibly
abated when a few moments later they
were placed at the head of the festal
board, richly spread with dainties and
beautiful wedding cake. The little
black walnut dining table, at which
they had first presided fifty years ago,
and which was made by his father, was
brought into service and formed the
head of the long board at which they
now found found themselves seated.
On the center-of the table was a large
pyramid cake surmounted by a gilt
cross, with a wreath of delicate flowers
twined about it. Over the cross in the
form of an arch, were the words, "No
Cross no Crown" in letters of gold, and
a wreath of flowers at the base of the
pyramid. Above this, suspended from
the ceiling was a basket of the most
beautiful roses, so arranged as to represent
by their respective colors, red
white and yellow, the first, silver and
golden weddings. At the head of the
table was the brides cake, very finely
ornamented, and at the further end a
very fine cake displayed the dates, 1835
and 1885.
Of the original wedding guests four
were now seated with them, viz.: Mr.
Winner's brothers David and Joseph,
and Mrs. Witmer's brother and sister,
John Strickler and Elizabeth Hershey.
Abraham Witmer was born in Lancaster
Co., Pa., Dec. 18, 1803, and removed
to .Niagara with his parents,
Abraham Witmer and Barbara Habecker,
in 1811. Be was united in marriage
Feb.-6th, 1835, with Catharine Strickler
in Clarence, Erie, Co., N. Y where she
was born Nov. 22, 1816. On this fiftieth
anniversary of their marriage, their liv-
ing descendents were all present, viz.:
their son Jos. S. Witmer, and grand
children A. Perrin, and Lulu K. Witmer.
Tho three oldest guests were John
Strickler, aged 81 years; Wm. B. Darti
aged 88 years; and Uncle David,Habecker,
aged 93 years, who is great-great uncle
to A. Perrin and Lulu K. Witmer,
and who on this occasion wrote his
name, place of birth and his age in the
autograph album furnished for the
guests. Among those present were the
brothers of Mr. Witmer, Jos. and David
above mentioned and their wives; and the
children of Joseph Witmer, viz.: Maria
F.,.Etta N., and Elias K. Witmer, Mrs.
J. M. Kline and Mrs, F. Pletcher, with
their husbands and children, also the
twin brothers Elias and Tobias with the
latters wife and their son, Tobias Jr. and
family, and their daughter Mrs. E. A,
Pardee and her husband. Of the late
Christian H. Witmer's family there
were present Jac M Elizabeth M., and
John M. Witmer, wife and son;;also Mrs.
A. M.Witmer and daughter, Jennie A.
and Mr. and Mrs, Martin Witmer.
Of the relatives of Mrs.. Witmer there
were besides the brother and sister
above mentioned, Miss Mary A. Strickler,
Mrs.Fanny M. Stafford, Mr. and Mrs.
J. Krehblel, all of Clarence; Mrs. Lena
S. Honn, Corfu, Gen. Co.;and Mr. and
Mrs, Moris Goudcr of Black Crock, Ont.
Tho neighbors present were Miss Sophia
C Garrett, Mr. and Mrs.John Whitney,
Miss Nellie E. and Fred G. Whitney,
Mr. and Mrs. Oliver H. Day, and Mr.
and Mrs. F. O. Todd. Congratulatory
letters were received from 21rs. Sophia
A. Neff of Buffalo, Mrs. Fanny M. Stafford
of Clarence, and Mr. and Mrs. Wm.
Cook of. Beamsville, Out.. Mrs. Fanny
Ewing of Penn., and Mrs. J. S. Witmer's
parents.
During the festivities the following
appropriate lines, written, for the occasion
by Sophia C. Garrett, were read by
little Lulu standing by the side of Uncle
Habecker at the first table.
Dear Grandpa and Grandma; they tell me
That time which roes quiet away,
Has numbered the years you're been wedded,
Until they number fifty to-day.
How long it now seems since you started
a home with but two of you there
Only two, to sit down to the table.
And two to thank God tor His care.
But you were not left to be lonely,
Another came there of your own,
To help you, and add to your pleasure
In all of the days that are Co-am.
And then, as the years drift onward,
Your home was built out by the road.
While back near the Creek we are living,
With trees all around our abode.
God's mercy has led us all forward.
And spared us to see this fair day;
Some tears have-en shed but more joyful
Hate been all the scenes on the way.
They say that a beautiful region
Awaits us. we know not just where-
Then we shall be perfectly happy,
And free from all sorrow and care.
May this be our home in the future.
When life's weary wheels will stand still.
Not a link in the chain then be missing,
If such be our dear Savior's will.
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