BIO:  Joseph W. KITTINGER, Hamiltonban Township, Adams County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
Chicago:  Warner, Beers & Co., 1886
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Part III, History of Adams County, Page 442

JOSEPH W. KITTINGER, farmer, Fairfield, is a son of Joseph Kittinger, who was 
born in Lancaster County, of Swiss parents, in 1799, and died in Highland 
Township, this county, in 1882, where his widow now lives with her son, Jacob L.  
When Joseph was eight years of age his father moved to Buffalo, N.Y., and when 
he was sixteen years old he was sent to Franklin County, Penn., to learn the 
trade of a weaver, at which he worked nearly all his lifetime.  Later in life he 
bought and stocked the farm which his sons worked.  He was a self-made and self-
educated man, fitting himself for a teacher, which profession he followed in 
winter for many years.  He was strictly temperate, and, though never an office 
seeker, took a warm interest in public affairs.  In politics he was an ardent 
Republican.  His wife was Susanna Wortz, of Franklin County, born in 1802.  
Three of their children died quite young, and five are now living:  Tirzah, wife 
of George Plank, of Franklin Township, this county; Ephraim, married to Mary 
Cromer and living in Hanover, York County; Joseph W.; Benjamin (first married to 
Christiana Hulsinger, who died shortly after, then to Amanda Diehl; lives in 
Mountpleasant Township, this county); and Jacob L., married to Mrs. Evadne, 
widow of Walter Wellington, of York, and living on the home farm.  Joseph W. was 
born April 25, 1838, on the home farm, where he lived until his marriage, when 
he rented the old Musselman place for two years, and after that the John Waugh 
farm, on which he lived for seventeen years, when he bought his present place, 
of over 150 acres, near the “Company Mill.”  His farm shows the results of 
intelligent care and good management.  December 16, 1862, he was married to 
Hannah M., daughter of Daniel and Martha Plank, of Highland Township, this 
county.  Her father died February 13, 1884, and her mother is now living near 
Gettysburg.  Mr. Plank had been register and recorder of the county; was also a 
teacher, and for the last twenty years of his life kept the gate-house on the 
Chambersburg Turnpike.  Mr. and Mrs. Kittinger have five children:  Minnie May, 
born December 19, 1863, married to Cyrus Grant Musselman, son of Joseph, of 
Hamiltonban Township; Effie Lauretta, born May 12, 1866, William Emory, born 
January 1, 1869, John Waugh, born November 13, 1872, and Martha Plank, born 
September 11, 1875, living with their parents.  Mr. Kittinger is an ardent 
Republican in politics, and has held many township offices.  He had been for the 
past three years tax collector, and for the two years previous was collector of 
school tax.  He and his wife and three of his children are members of the 
Lutheran Church, Fairfield, in which he has been deacon for nine years.