Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

WITHERS, ELI
M.

p. 864

Surnames: WITHERS, GRAYBILL, MOYER, HEIDLER, KALBACH, LOEWEN,
KLOHS, GASS, LERCH, BOONE, MADEIRA, MERKEL, SCHWEITZER

Eli M. Withers, a farmer of Spring township, Berks county, residing
along the Tulpehocken creek, is a native of Lancaster county, Pa.,
born Oct. 7, 1841, in East Cocalico township. He comes of a family
of Scotch origin, his paternal great-grandfather having come to
America from Scotland.

George Withers, the grandfather of Eli M.
Withers, was born in Virginia, and when a young man came to
Lancaster county, Pa., where he passed the remainder of his life.
He engaged in farming and distilling, owned three large farms in
East Cocalico township, and was a man of great influence in his
section because of his wealth and standing. He died between 1845
and 1850, and is interred in a private burial ground on one of his
farms. His wife was a Graybill, and they had three children:
George, Curtis and John.

John G. Withers, father of Eli M. Withers, was
born Nov. 26, 1798, in Lancaster county, where he spent the greater
part of his life. He was an energetic man and enterprising in
business. For many years he was engaged in boating, owning
twenty-six Pennsylvania canalboats, which were operated by his sons
and other help. He also followed droving, handling many cattle
yearly, and was successful in both lines. Moving from Lancaster to
Berks county in 1851, he bought the farm now owned and occupied by
his son Eli M., living there until his death, which occurred June
13, 1867. He is buried at the Kissinger Church, of which he is a
member and whose building he helped to erect.

On Feb. 18, 1823, Mr. Withers married Catharine
Moyer, who was born Feb. 3, 1806, daughter of Johannes and
Elizabeth Moyer, of Millbach, Lebanon Co., Pa., and died a few
years before her husband, passing away Feb. 6, 1863. To Mr. and
Mrs. Withers were born nine children, six sons and three daughters,
namely: Dr. Franklin, born Feb. 19, 1824, died March 20, 1858;
Eliza, born Dec. 2, 1826, m. Martin Heidler, Esq., and died Nov.
17, 1897; George, who lived at Hamburg, where he was constable for
many years, m. Joanna Kalbach; Rebecca m. R. Lando Loewen, of
Reading; John M., born in 1832, was a resident of Reading, and died
Oct. 24, 1881; Martin, born Oct. 18, 1836, m. Emeline Klohs, of
Muhlenberg township, lived in Reading, and died March 17, 1884;
Samuel M., born July 24, 1839, never married, and was making his
home with his brother Eli at the time of his death, April 23, 1904;
Eli M., is mentioned below; Catharine M., born Aug. 10, 1844, m.
Henry Gass, of Ontelaunee township, and died March 22, 1878.

Eli M. Withers lived with his parents until they
died, moving with the family in 1851 to Spring township, where he
has ever since made his home. He was his fathers mainstay for many
years, learning the boating business in early youth on the
Pennsylvania canal, and following it from the tender age of nine
years until 1867. During this period he boated on the following
canals: Union, Pennsylvania, Juniata, West Branch, North Branch,
Tidewater, York Extension, Erie, Raritan, Morris & Essex, Bald
Eagle, Schuylkill, Chesapeake and Delaware. He had many thrilling
experiences in his career as a boatman, and barely escaped drowning
on several occasions. He was obliged to be out in all kinds of
weather, and had to undergo many hardships from exposure, falling
overboard twice when in spite of the cold weather and water he was
obliged to go on with his work, letting his clothing dry on his
body. In 1867 Mr. Withers was employed in the hardware store of
George Lerch, at the southeast corner of Fifth and Penn streets,
Reading, and the next spring (1868) he bought the flour, feed, coal
and wood yard located at the southwest corner of Washington street
and Madison avenue (formerly called Ash street) form his brother
Samuel, who succeeded our subject in Mr. Lerchs hardware store.
After carrying on the business for eighteen months, Mr. Withers
sold out to Samuel Boone.

In 1872 Mr. Withers began to follow farming on
his own account, near Adamstown. With a partner he engaged in the
ice business in 1880 on his farm, but after a year he bought out
his partners interest, and then sold a half interest to his
brother Samuel. In 1886 they erected additional buildings so that
they could store four or five thousand tons of ice annually. They
carried on business under the name of “Tulpehocken Ice Company,
operated by Withers & Bro.” In 1892 Mr. Samuel Withers sold his
interest to another party, and in 1894 Mr. Eli M. Withers bought
out that partners share, and ran the business along until 1899,
when he leased the ice plant to the Reading Cold Storage Ice
Company for a term of ten years. He then entered the racing
business (in which his brother Samuel had been engaged for thirty
years) as his brothers partner, and they followed the races all
through Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Virginia, and Mr.
Withers is still interested in it, owning at the present time six
good horses.

In 1882 Mr. Withers purchased his fathers farm
in Spring township from his brother John, who bought his brothers
and sisters interests, their father having died intestate. It
comprises about fifty acres of good land, located along the
railroad and Tulpehocken creek, and has been greatly improved
during Mr. Withers ownership by the erection of substantial
outbuildings, etc. He also owns a farm of eighty-three acres in
North Heidelberg township, one-half mile south of Bernville on the
road leading from the latter place to Robesonia. This farm he
rents. Mr. Withers has a valuable tract of five acres, at Glenside,
in Bern township, and, as may be inferred, he is in comfortable
circumstances, as the result of industry and intelligent
management. He has a good income from the sienna mine upon his home
farm, which is one of the most valuable mines of the kind in the
country, and was discovered by the family while digging for iron
ore. It is operated by the Keystone Ocher Company of Philadelphia,
who have five men in their employ at this point.

Mr. Withers was married March 5, 1870, to Ella
S. Madeira, who was born Feb. 24, 1848, daughter of Frank and
Caroline (Merkel) Madeira, of Muhlenberg township, and
granddaughter of Jacob Madeira. Mrs. Withers died June 15, 1898. To
this union came but one son, John M., born March 21, 1871, who
lives with his father and conducts the home place. He is married to
Kate Schweitzer, and they have had children as follows: Samuel E.,
Mame, John C., Nora, Catharine and Helen.

Mr. Withers is a Reformed member of Kissingers
Church, in Spring township, with which his family have also been
identified. He is treasurer of the cemetery company, in which
office he has given much satisfaction.

WITHERS, MARTIN W.

p.
723

Surnames: WITHERS, MOYER, KLOHS, KERST, SCHNABLE

Martin M. Withers (deceased), who was for many years a prominent
citizen of Reading, Berks county, was born in Lancaster county in
1839, son of John G. and Catherine (Moyer) Withers, and grandson of
George Withers, a native of Virginia, who removed to Lancaster
county when a young man, following agricultural pursuits until his
death.

John G. Withers, father of Martin, was born in
Lancaster county, Nov. 26, 1798, and was a life-long farmer. He
married Catherine Moyer, born Feb. 3, 1806, who died Feb. 6, 1863.
he died June 16, 1867. They had children as follows: Franklin;
Elizabeth; George; John; Rebecca; Martin M.; Samuel; Elias, who is
still living and resides in Spring township, Berks county; and
Catherine.

Martin M. Withers received his education in the
schools of Lancaster and Berks counties and his early life was
spent in agricultural pursuits. After locating in Reading he worked
on the old Union Canal until 1869, but the latter part of his life
was spent in retirement. He was married April 13, 1867, to Miss
Emeline Klohs, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Kerst) Klohs, and two
children were born to this union: Mary Catherine, who died aged
five months; and William, who is employed in the U.S. postal
service as a city letter carrier in Reading, and who married
Rebecca J. Schnable, and has two children- C. William S. and Stuart
S. In religious belief Mr. Withers was a member of St. John’s
Reformed Church. His political views made him a Democrat.

WITMAN,
EPHRAIM

p. 841

Surnames: WITMAN, SHELL, YERGER, CONRAD, DUNDORE, SHERK, MISSIMER,
ANDREWS, BERTRAM, HARNER, EMBICH, AUMAN, SWEIMLER, WILCOX, BOHN,
DIETRICH, BOYER.

Ephraim Witman, for twenty-four years a successful grain, coal and
lumber merchant at Wernersville, is a native of Berks county, born
at Bernville, Jan. 11, 1840, son of Henry and Mary (Shell) Witman,
and grandson of Jonathan and Mary (Yerger) Witman.

Jonathan Witman carried on the business of
coppersmith and tinsmith at Reading until 1850, when he went to
Bernville to make his home with his son Henry. He married Mary
Yerger of Reading, who was born in 1781, and who died in 1863. They
had four sons, one of whom died young, the others being Henry,
Edward and John.

Henry Witman, son of Jonathan, was born in 1799,
and in his youth he learned the tinsmith’s trade, which he carried
on until 1832, when he removed to Bernville, formed a
co-partnership with his son-in-law, Joseph Conrad, for the grain,
coal and lumber business, and under the firm name of Witman &
Conrad this was carried on successfully, until 1831. Mr. Witman was
prominent in the town’s affairs, serving as chief burgess in 1834,
and also as councilman for some time. He married (first) Mary
Shell, daughter of Henry Shell, of Bern township, and she died in
1834, aged fifty-one years. Of the ten children of this marriage,
five died young; the others were: Maria (m. Joseph Conrad); Ellen
(m. Samuel K. Dundore); Rebecca (m. John M. Sherk); Ephraim, and
Catharine )m. John H. Missimer).

Ephraim Witman received his education in the
local school and at Myerstown Academy. Form 1855 to 1858 he devoted
himself assiduously to learning the tinsmith’s trade, and having
then completed his apprenticeship he entered the employ of Witman
& Conrad in their general store, grain, coal, and lumber
business. Here he continued until his marriage in 1861, when he
took his father’s place in the firm, and the name was changed to
Conrad & Witman. This firm prospered for twelve years, and then
Mr. Witman purchased Mr. Conrad’s interest and carried the business
on alone until 1885. By that time trading conditions in that
section had changed for the worse on account of the suspension of
the Union canal, along which this stand was located-a condition
brought about by the establishment of the Lebanon Valley railroad
in 1857. Mr. Witman then moved to Wernersville, and established
himself in the same business, continuing to conduct it successfully
to the present time.

Mr. Witman is public-spirited and progressive,
and while in Bernville he officiated as chief burgess in 1873, and
for several terms was school director.

In 1861 Mr. Witman married Catharine Andrews,
daughter of Abraham Andrews and his wife, Mary Bertram (daughter of
Daniel Bertram of Penn township). Abraham Andrews was a carpenter
by trade, and he and his wife had three children: Charles (m. Emma
Harner); Isabella (m. John Embich); and Catharine (Mrs. Whitman).
To Mr. and Mrs. Whitman ten children were born: Harry (m. Annie
Auman); Annie (died unmarried aged thirty-seven); Miss Mary ;
Morton (m. Susan Sweimler); Ella (m. Arthur Wilcox); Miss
Catharine; Ephraim (m. Laura Bohn); Rachel; and two died young.
Mrs. Whitman died in 1882, aged forty-three years. Mr. Whitman m.
(second) Rebecca Dietrich, widow of Isaac Dietrich and daughter of
Samuel Boyer.

WITMAN, JOHN
F.

p. 1115

Surnames: WITMAN, LUTZ, SHEARER, LANTZ, BEAVER, RHOADS, ALEXANDER,
McNALL

John F. Witman, a popular and very well-known resident of Reading,
who is serving in the capacity of ticket agent at the main station
of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, is a native of this
city, born Dec. 22, 1841, son of Edward and Elizabeth (Lutz)
Witman.

Edward Witman was for many years, well known as
a leading business man of Reading, having for a time a tailoring
establishment on Penn street, where the Y. M. C. A. building now
stands, and a hotel at Fifth and Franklin streets. Edward Witman
died in 1876, age seventy-five years, after having retired from
active business in 1857, the same year that his wife passed away.

John F. Witman received his education in the
public schools of Reading and was a member of the third class to be
graduated from the Reading high school, only two of the class of
seven now living. Soon after leaving school Mr. Witman secured a
position as clerk with the Reading Hardware Company, Harbster
Brothers, later going to Robesonia, Berks county, as a clerk with a
Mr. S. Shearer. Returning to Reading, Mr. Witman was employed as a
newsboy, running on the Daily Times, his next position being in the
book store of Mr. H. A. Lantz, on Penn street. In August, 1861,
John F. Witman entered the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading
Railroad, as a brakeman, then as baggageman, and later as a
conductor of passenger train, continuing in the latter capacity
until May, 1874, when he was made assistant ticket agent at the old
frame outer depot, moving into the new depot in September of the
same year. On April 1, 1887, Mr. Witman was appointed ticket agent,
and has been in charge of the office since that time. His kindly,
genial and courteous manner has made him very popular with the
patrons of the railroad. This is also one of the best posts of the
company lines, and as it is also one of the busiest it is necessary
that a man of ability be in charge. Mr. Witman has always proved
himself worthy of the charge and of the confidence placed in him by
his employers.

Mr. Witman married Miss Helen Beaver, daughter
of the late D. L. Beaver, M. D. , of Reading, Pa., and to this
union have been born: Prof. Harry L., the well known music teacher
of No. 719 Penn street; Mrs. C. B. Rhoads, of Reading; and J. Fred,
Jr., a civil engineer of Reading.

Mr. Witman is a veteran of the Civil war, at the
outbreak of which he enlisted for three months service in Company
G, 1st P. V. I., Captain George W. Alexander, and after the
expiration of his term of enlistment , veteranized in Co. B, 128th
Pa. V. I., Captain William McNall, with the nine months men,
becoming sergeant, and being promoted to sergeant major. He is a
member of Camp No. 61, P. O. S. of A., and past master of Lodge No.
62 F. & A. M., of Reading. In politics he is a Republican, in
religious belief a Lutheran. Mr. Witman resides with his family at
No. 536 Buttonwood street.

WITMAN, WILLIAM ABBOTT

p. 1699

Surnames: WITMAN, SMITH, MILLER, BOHLER, HEILMAN, ABBOTT, EDE,
SHICK, CRAWFORD, KOCH

William Abbott Witman, former councilman and extensive contractor
of Reading, was born in this city Oct. 19, 1860, son of Hamilton
Witman and grandson of Henry Witman, both natives of Reading.

Henry Witman made his home on the south side of
Eighth street, between Franklin and Chestnut streets, for many
years. He was a shoe merchant, but for some years prior to his
death he lived retired. He m. Mary Smith, a native of Reading, who
died in 1893, aged eighty-one years. He died about 1876, at the age
of seventy. They were the parents of fourteen children, of whom
five died young. Those reaching mature years were: Hamilton;
Abraham; Samuel; Henry; Jonathan; Frederick; Louisa, who died
unmarried; Mary m. to William Miller; and Anna m. (first) to a Mr.
Bohler, and (second) to Monroe Heilman.

Hamilton Witman, son of Henry, was born in
Reading Feb. 28, 1829, and died Oct. 6, 1898. He was a master
mechanic in the employ of the Reading Railway Company many years,
and was much esteemed by the men under him. He was retired for
several years before his death. He married Leopoldina Abbott,
daughter of William and Charlotte (Ede) Abbott, natives of London,
England, who came to America about 1845, locating at Reading. Mrs.
Witman died advanced in years and is buried at the side of her
husband in the Charles Evans cemetery. Of their ten children four
died small, the others being: William Abbott; Linda Alwera,
deceased; Henry; Jonathan A. of Reading; Mary, m. to H. T. Shick, a
mechanical engineer at Reading; and Charlotte E., m. to Thomas F.
Crawford, of Philadelphia.

William Abbott Witman has been the promoter of
many successful enterprises, and is an extensive contractor, giving
employment to many men. At the present time he is engaged in the
construction of the Circus Maximus, at the corner of Eleventh and
Exeter streets, Reading. This pleasure ground, when completed, will
be one of the finest sporting grounds in this part of the country.
In 1907 and 1908 he erected the famous Japanese pagoda at the head
of Penn street, on Mount Penn, at a cost of $33,000. He has
executed many municipal contracts in Reading and other cities. Mr.
Witman was a member of the councils from the Thirteenth ward, and
there fathered the bill that gave the City of Reading the Spring
street subway, thus earning his title “Father of the Subway.” He
served many yeas in both the common and the select councils, and
was one of the members most active in the interests of the
citizens. In 1908 he was a candidate for mayor but was defeated
after a bitter contest, and at one time he was the Democratic
nominee for lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth.

Mr. Witman is one of the best known sportsmen in
eastern Pennsylvania, and promoted one of the baseball leagues. He
resides in a pleasant home at the corner of Marion and Locust
streets which he himself erected.

Mr. Witman married Catharine Koch, daughter of
Henry Koch, a shoe merchant on Penn street for many years. They
have one son, William Abbott, Jr., a graduate of the University of
Pennsylvania, and now an attorney at the Reading Bar.

WITMOYER,
JOHN

p. 1220

Surnames: WITMOYER, KIRCHNER, REYNOLDS, IAAGER, WEBER, BENDER

John Witmoyer, in whose death the city of Reading lost one of its
valued citizens, was born Dec. 13, 1843, in Cumru township, Berks
county, son of Daniel and Sarah (Kirchner) Witmoyer.

Daniel Witmoyer passed his early years in Cumru
township, but later in life removed to Reading, where he died. He
married Sarah Kirchner, and they had these children: John, Charles,
William, Isaac, and Harrison, who lived in Indiana, all being
deceased except Harrison.

John Witmoyer came to Reading with his parents
as a boy, and here attended the public schools. When the Civil war
broke out he enlisted, at the age of eighteen years, and served in
Company H, 88th Pa. V. I., his regiment being attached to the
Second Brigade, Second Division, First Corps, Army of the Potomac,
under General Reynolds. Mr. Witmoyer participated in over thirty
engagements, including Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg,
Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, while his company was capturing
two of the Confederate flags. At the end of his three -year
enlistment he re-entered the army and was in Grant’s last campaign,
which saw the surrender of General Lee. Before this campaign,
Private Witmoyer was promoted to lieutenant, for bravery in the
action. On his return from the war he secured employment on the
Reading Railroad, as baggage master, running between Pottsville and
Philadelphia for twenty-five years, and retired in 1893. He was a
member of St. James Lutheran Church, the Masons, Castle No. 51, K.
G. E., and the Union Veteran Legion. In political matters he was
independent. Mr. Witmoyer owned the old home in Penn township, a
tract of seventy acres. He died in his pretty, green-stone-front
residence at No. 336 North Ninth street, Friday, March 15, 1907,
and his widow still makes her home there.

On Nov. 16, 1872, Mr. Witmoyer was married by
Rev. Thomas T. Iaager, to Elizabeth Weber, daughter of George and
Magdalena (Bender) Weber, of Penn township, and granddaughter of
George Weber, also of Penn township. To this union there were born
six children: Louisa, Elizabeth, Sophia, Maria, George and Emma.

WITTICH,
ARTHUR

p. 531

Surnames: WITTICH, PFEIFER, GOELZ, PEIFER, GERDEMANN, FETTER,
SCHRADER

Arthur Wittich, a dealer in pianos and organs, and a prominent and
representative man of Reading, Pa., doing business at No. 116 South
Sixth street, was born in Reading, Berks county, July 2, 1860, son
of John D. and Harriet (Peifer) Wittich.

John Wittich, our subjects grandfather, lived
in Hesse Cassel, Germany, all of his life, was a general merchant
there and quite a prominent man. He and his wife, whose name is not
known, were the parents of seven children, five sons and two
daughters, and of these four came to America, their names being:
Henry, George, John D., and Margaret, the latter of whom married
Henry Goelz and resided in Reading.

John D. Wittich came to America in 1842, and
settled first in Philadelphia. He had learned the shoemaking
business in his native country, and was also a musician of some
note, as well as a composer of much ability. He resided in
Philadelphia for about five years and there gave instructions on
the violin and other instrument. He settled in Reading in 1847 and
upon making this his home, took charge of the leading orchestras of
the city, conducting them for the following thirty years. His wife
was a daughter of Henry Peifer, also a native of Germany, where a
part of his family was reared, his two youngest children, however,
being born in this country. The eight children born to Mr. and Mrs.
John Wittich were: Margaret (m. John W. Gerdemann, and resided in
Philadelphia); George (deceased); Anna (died young); Catherine (m.
Rev. N. C. Fetter, and lives in Doylestown, Pa.); Elizabeth and
Stricklin (deceased); Arthur; and Valeria (living in Reading at the
old Wittich homestead, No. 310 South Fifth street). The Wittich
family were members of the Reformed Church, while the Peifers were
Lutherans. In politics Mr. Wittich was a Democrat, but took no
active interest in party work.

Arthur Wittich received his education in the
schools of Reading, and after graduating from the Reading high
school entered the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music form which he
was graduated. He was the instructed by some of the best and most
noted masters of Europe and America, and the following twenty-five
years were devoted exclusively to teaching music, in which
profession he was very successful. He bears the reputation of being
an expert in this and other branches of his art. Since practically
giving up the instruction of music he has devoted his time to
selling pianos and player pianos. He is well know in Berks and
adjoining counties, and goods purchased from him can be relied upon
to be just as represented. He has one of the best equipped show
rooms in the city, located at No. 116 South Sixth street, where
first-class salesmen are constantly on hand to display goods. His
store is well stocked with the leading makes of pianos, among them
being the Steinway, Kranich & Bach, Hardman, Packard,
Harrington, McPhail and Sterling.

Mr. Wittich married, in 1882, Miss Kate
Schrader, daughter of Charles E Schrader, of the firm of Schrader
& Kline, and three children have been born to this union: Otto,
Carl and Leon. The family are Lutherans. In politics Mr. Wittich is
a Democrat. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum.