BIO:  William WITMAN, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, Wrightsville Borough and Hellam Township, Pg 82

WILLIAM WITMAN was born in Dauphin County March 8, 1839.  His parents were John 
and Mary (Koutsman) Witman, of Dauphin County, and of German and English 
descent.  They had twelve children, of whom William W. was the eighth.  He was 
brought up on the farm, and spent ten years of his minority in making bricks.  
At twenty years of age he learned the trade of wheelwright, at which he worked 
for two years.  He then spent seven years on the Northern Central Railroad as 
conductor and division foreman.  In 1868 he engaged in the dry goods business 
with Jacob Gohn, at Wrightsville, but dissolved partnership in 1876.  In company 
with a brother he then bought out a mercantile establishment at Wrightsville, 
which they conducted together two years and a half; his brother then retiring, 
he has carried on the business by himself since.  In 1862 he was married at 
Chambersburg, Penn., to Kate Deck, daughter of Christian Deck, of Chambersburg, 
Penn., and has had born to him four children, three of whom are living:  William 
F., Ida May and Horace M.  Mr. Witman is Past Grand of the Odd Fellows, and he 
and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, while he is superintendent of same 
Sabbath-school, and elder in church council.