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WITMER, PETER, Bachmansville, Pa.,
was born in Dauphin county, Pa., June 25, 1821; son of Peter and Esther
(Burkholder) Witmer. He acquired his education in the subscription schools of
Dauphin and Lancaster counties, and completed his course before the public
schools were established. He learned the trade of cooper, at which he served an
apprenticeship of one year and then worked at the trade in the winter months for
ten years, working at farm work in the summer months. He was married, November
20, 1851, to Miss Nancy Lehman, by whom he has four children: Elizabeth, wife of
Jacob G. Brandt; John L.; married Miss Eliza Shenk, resides in Lancaster county;
Hettie L., wife of Christian G. Brandt; Aaron L., married Miss Elizabeth Lehman,
residing on the old homestead. In 1839 Mr. Witmer went to Lancaster county,
where he was engaged in farming for nineteen years,and has spent in all
thirty-three years in that county. In 1872 he returned to Dauphin county and
occupied the farm on which he has had his residence since that time. Mr. Witmer
is a good Republican in his political views, and in 1875 was elected a school
director of Conewago township, in which office he has served for nine years. In
religious fellowship and faith he is associated with the Mennonite church.
The parents of Mr. Witmer were natives of Dauphin county. His father was a farmer and also owned a grist mill. He married Elizabeth Lehman, daughter of Jacob and Maria Lehman. They had eight children, seven of whom survive: Henry, Nancy, Barbara, Polly, Elizabeth, Katie, Daniel and one child died young. The mother died at the age of forty-two years. The father then married Mrs. Nancy Birks, widow of John Birks, by whom he had eight children: Annie; Sarah, wife of Rev. Henry Bucher; Daniel; Peter; Susan, wife of Daniel Longenecker; David; Lydia, deceased; and Mattie, deceased. The father died, aged seveny-nine years. His widow still survives and resides in Franklin county. |