Excerpt page 763
Biographical Annals of Lancaster County, PACONTAINING BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLERS
PUBLISHERS: J. H. BEERS and CO. 1903
AUTHOR: begun BY JOHN F. MEGINNESS
(Date of printing 1903)Henry H. Witmeyer
Henry H. Witmeyer, a general merchant and representative citizen of Penryn, PA, is a descendent of one of the old and honored families of Lancaster county.
David Witmeyer, the great-grandfather of Henry H., was an emigrant to America from Germany, and he founded the family in Lancaster County. His son, David, was born in the western part of this county, Jan. 31, 1800, and became a carpenter by trade, and also understood the intricacies of watchmaking. The greater part of his life was spent in carpenter work, and his death occurred April 7, 1851. He married Miss Elizabeth Hummer, and they were the parents of eight children: John, deceased; David; Jacob; Aaron, a watchmaker in Indiana; Elizabeth, the wife of Dr. Shaffer, of Shafferstown; Pricilla, the wife of Jacob Shue; Catherine, wife of Samuel Plasterer; and Anna, who died at the age of twenty years.
David Witmeyer, the father of Henry H., was born on April 13, 1832, and early in life learned the trade of watchmaking, following this all his life, and being recognized as a very skillful workman. His death occurred on July 28, 1861. His wife, Susanna Hummer, bore him three children, the oldest one dying in infancy; Jeremiah H, a miller in Whiteoak, Pa. and Henry H.
Henry H. Witmeyer was born at Penryn, Nov. 17, 1857. When he was four years old, his father died, and he lived with his mother until he was twelve years of age, attending school. At this time he began to learn the cigarmaking trade with David Kauffman, continuing for one year. From there he went to Manheim, where he worked at cigarmaking for three years during the summer seasons and attended Manheim high school during winter seasons. At this time he accepted a position as clerk in the general store at Cornwall, conducted by David Kauffman. Here he remained for two years, and spent the two following years at Millway, in the store of Simon Eisenberger, going from there to Clay, where he was the valued clerk for George Steinmetz for three years.
Mr. Witmeyer then returned to his native place and embarked in the cigar business, also opening up a mercantile line, three years later purchasing the business where he is now located. His long experience in the mercantile business, under wise and successful merchants, enabled My Witmeyer to become thoroughly instructed in the business, both as to buying and selling. This has been demonstrated by his success, and he has now one of the most complete general store stocks in the county, and a lucrative trade. In politics Mr. Witmeyer is an ardent Republican, and in 1889, he was appointed post-master, efficiently filling the office at the present time, holding also the position of deputy coroner. Mr. Witmeyer is one of the most progressive citizens of this community, taking a just pride in adding to the prosperity of this section, in proof of which, he has erected some ten of the finest residences in the town, worthy in every way to decorate a much larger borough.
The marriage of Mr. Witmeyer was to Miss Dora A Gross; to them were born six children: David, who died at the age of fourteen years; Sadie S.; Elsie G.; Gertrude G.; Chester G; and Harry G.; a family of beautiful and intelligent young people who reflect credit not only upon their parents, but also upon the prosperous village of their birth.
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