Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Witwer, Clement S ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 6, 2008, 11:51 pm Author: Past and Present Will County IL; 1907 Clement S. Witwer, as president, treasurer and general manager of the Joliet Manufacturing Company, is prominently connected with an enterprise which has direct bearing upon the commercial prosperity and industrial activity of the city, in which connection he has kept in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress in the business world and manifested an aptitude for successful management that has made the concern of which he is the head a profitable industry. Mr. Witwer was born in Ashland county, Ohio, in 1862, and is a direct descendant of the sturdy race that more than two hundred years ago inhabited the two provinces on the banks of the upper Rhine, in Germany, which has become memorable in the annals of the two worlds. The Witwer and Sensenig connections were among the first settlers in Earl township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, having located there in 1730. The township of Earl and the county of Lancaster were organized in 1729, and among the papers of Mr. Witwer's father was found a deed in which the name Michael Witwer appears, "From William Penn to William Sensenig," bearing date A. D. 1734. In 1863 Clement S. Witwer accompanied his parents on their removal to La Porte county, Indiana, and in 1867 to Hamilton, Missouri, where he acquired his early education. His father conducted a general store, also handling implements and vehicles, being one of the first agents of the Studebaker Brothers' Manufacturing Company in the west. He was also a minister of the gospel and was frequently called away from home to preach, thus rendering it necessary for his boys to work into the business when young. From the time that Clement Witwer was old enough to perform any sort of business service he either assisted his father in the store or herded cattle, and when fifteen years of age he was given five hundred dollars in cash by his employers, Dwight & Booth, of Hamilton, Missouri, and sent twenty miles on horseback to purchase cattle. Making the purchase, he drove the cattle five miles, weighed them, paid for them and drove them back to Hamilton for shipment. In 1879 he removed to South Bend, Indiana, and from that time until September, 1881, was employed by the Studebaker Brothers in the stock room and superintendent's office. In 1881 and 1882 he pursued a preparatory course in what is now Depauw University at Green Castle, Indiana, and it was the desire of his uncle, Clement Studebaker, who was paying his tuition in school, that he should continue there until his graduation, but Mr. Witwer was ambitious to make a start in the business world and left school before the completion of the regular course. He then accepted a position in the lumber department of the Studebaker Brothers' Manufacturing Company, remaining there until the fall of 1883, when he accepted a position with his brother, John S. Witwer, of Dallas, Texas, as head salesman. In 1886, however, he returned to South Bend, Indiana, and made arrangements whereby he went upon the road for Studebaker Brothers, remaining with that house until the fall of 1887. About that time Mr. Witwer was united in marriage to Miss Mary Elizabeth Shreffler, the only daughter of Andrew H. Shreffler, who was at that time the president, treasurer and principal stockholder of the Joliet Manufacturing Company, while at the time of his death he was the oldest manufacturer of Will county. Two children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Witwer: Irene, who was born July 17, 1890, and died September 30, 1891; and Andrew Hafer Shreffler Witwer, who will be thirteen years of age on the 21st of February, 1907. Mr. Witwer removed to Joliet, Illinois, in October, 1887, became interested in the Joliet Manufacturing Company and from that date until 1896 was the general superintendent. In 1896 the president, Mr. Shreffler, died and at his request Mrs. Witwer assumed the title of president and treasurer of the company, although the active business of the concern was performed by Mr. Witwer, who after Mr. Shreffler's death was made vice president and general manager. Mrs. Witwer died October 20, 1905, and the present officers of the company are C. S. Witwer, president, treasurer and general manager; T. W. Witwer, vice president; Floyd W. Mohler, secretary; and W. J. Steekel, superintendent. Mr. Witwer was a member of the South Bend Light Guards in the early '80s, being mustered in by Captain J. G. Greenwald, who swore the troops into service for three years. He is also a member of the Union League and the Commercial Clubs of Joliet and the Hamilton Club of Chicago. He has never united with any church but is a regular attendant at divine service and is a trustee of the Ottawa Street Methodist Episcopal church of Joliet, while to various churches and benevolent institutions he is a liberal contributor. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he cast his first presidential ballot for James G. Blaine in 1884 he has been a stalwart republican. He has never held a political office, although urged frequently by his friends to accept honors from his party, and at different times has been strongly spoken of by party leaders in Joliet in connection with the nomination for mayor. He has declined all political honors, however, because of personal interests, believing he could better serve his fellow countrymen by promoting material prosperity and creating employment for labor. Additional Comments: PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/witwer2594nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 6.2 Kb