My Genealogy Hound

HENRY WITMER. Among the residents of Silver Spring township, Cumberland county, who spring from old substantial families, is Henry Witmer, who was born Feb. 16, 1840, son of John Witmer.

John Witmer was born in York county, near York, but settled in Cumberland county, and followed the occupation of farming. He married Miss Lydia Lefevre, of York county, and they had a family as follows: David married Sarah Landis of York county, and had five children; Henry is our subject; Leah married John Stauffer, of York county; Catherine married Andrew Coulson, of Adams county, and had children. John, William, Frank, Milton, Mary, Sarah and Eliza; Eliza married Israel Flohr, of Adams county; Lydia married Daniel Landis, of York county, who died, and she later married Levi Becker, of York county; Daniel married Lydia Rhodes, of York county, and they had five children, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and two whose names are not known; Abram married Lizzie Hikns, of York county, and they had six children; Samuel married Barbara Hostetter, of York county, and they were the parents of four children; and two died in infancy.

Henry Witmer attended the common schools of York county until he was eighteen years of age, after which he learned the trade of blacksmithing, and followed it for about two and a half years. He then worked on a farm for about a year, when he bought a farm, and he now owns 216 acres of excellent land, all of which is under cultivation, and well improved.

In October, 1861, he was married to Miss Mary Kunkle, daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Myers) Kunkle, of Silver Spring township. Two children were born to them: Daniel, who married Clara Babble, daughter of Henry C. and Isabella (Wertz) Babble, of Middlesex township, and they had ten children, Howard, Florence, John, Glenn, Mary, Lee, Foster, Ernest, and two who died in childhood; John Witmer, the second child of Henry Witmer, married Annie Wertz, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Foose) Wertz, of Perry county, living in Middlesex township, and they had ten children, Lloyd (married Hetty White, of Sandwich, Ill., and they live in Kane county, Ill., near Elgin), Herbert, Esther, Mabel, Henry, Beatrice and a baby all at home, and three who died in childhood. In religious matters Mr. Witmer is a consistent member of the United Brethren Church, of which he is a trustee. He has been a Democrat all of his life, and heartily supports the candidates of that party. He is an industrious, upright man, an excellent farmer, and a man who is most highly respected wherever known.