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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published by Biographical Review Publishing Company in 1896.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JOHN H. WIETHAUPER, superintendent of the L. L. Brown Paper Company Mills of West Cummington, was born in Morristown, N.J., August 20, 1846, son of August G. and Mary (Corrington) Wiethauper. Mr. Wiethauper’s father was a native of Germany, who, after serving seven years in apprenticeship at hand paper-making, emigrated to the United States in 1838, and settled in Morristown, N.J. He subsequently moved to Bloomfield, N.J., where he was employed as superintendent, and in 1861 to Dalton, Mass., to fill a similar position in Crane & Co.’s paper-mills, which he held until 1877. He died at the age of sixty-nine years. August Wiethauper was an expert in his calling and a highly esteemed citizen. His wife died at the age of fifty-one.

John H. Wiethauper was educated in the public schools of Morristown. After graduating from the high school, he commenced work in the paper-mills. In 1866 he entered the employ of Crane & Co. at Dalton, where under his father’s direction he passed through the different branches of the trade, and became proficient in every detail of the business, from the manufacturing of the ordinary grades to the production of the finest bond and linen papers, and continued in the employ of the above company until in 1881 he was appointed superintendent of the L. L. Brown Paper Company Mills in West Cummington, a position which he has since filled with marked ability. These mills were erected in 1856 by J. D. Nelson; and in 1860 they came into the possession of the present company, of which C. C. Jenks is president, and A. B. Daniels is treasurer. The plant contains all modern improvements in the way of machinery; and, although water is depended upon for power, they have in reserve a one hundred horse -power engine, with a one hundred and fifty horse-power boiler, which can furnish steam-power in case of accident or the failure of the water supply. They have a large reservoir upon the mountain for the purpose of supplying water to their tenants and to the town in case of fires. The company employs from twenty-five to thirty skilled operatives, and owns a number of tenement-houses. The mills produce a superior quality of both bond and linen papers, which are widely known, and command a ready sale. The entire enterprise is under the direct supervision of Mr. Wiethauper, who, aside from overseeing the work of manufacturing, has found time to effect a great deal of outside improvement in the way of grading and laying out of lawns and roads.

Mr. Wiethauper married Sophronia Comstock, of Great Harrington, daughter of William Comstock. They have three children: J. Russell, Frank C., and John H., Jr. Mr. Wiethauper is a member of Berkshire Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Adams. He attends the Congregational church.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published in 1896. 

View additional Hampshire County, Massachusetts family biographies here: Hampshire County, Massachusetts Biographies

View a map of 1901 Hampshire County, Massachusetts here: Hampshire County Massachusetts Map

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