BIO:  J. Stewart WITHEROW, Hamiltonban Township, Adams County, PA

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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 451

J. STEWART WITHEROW, farmer and surveyor, P. O. Fairfield, is of Scotch-Irish 
descent, his grandfather, John Witherow, having emigrated when a young man and 
settled in Frederick County, Md., shortly afterward returning to his old home, 
and bringing out the rest of the family.  His children were John, William, 
David, Samuel, Jane, Sarah, Elizabeth and Margaret (all deceased).  David, the 
father of J. Stewart, was born in Frederick County, Md., where he lived until 
1812, when he and his brother, Samuel, bought a mill property on Marsh Creek, 
Cumberland Township, this county, where he lived for two years, when he 
purchased the farm where J. Stewart now lives.  He retained his interest in the 
mill, but his brother having failed, his title was sold, and the purchaser 
claimed the entire property.  This claim was resisted, and after forty years’ 
litigation, was decided in favor of the heirs of David, who still hold the 
property.  While at the mill, David Witherow was married to Nancy Walker.  He 
died in 1847, aged sixty-two years, and his widow in 1878, aged seventy-six.  
They had six children:  Harriet (who died unmarried), Joseph (married to Miss 
Ridinger; he is a farmer and owns property in Cumberland Township, formerly 
owned by his great-grandfather on his mother’s side, his house being divided by 
the Mason and Dixon line), Washington (married to Mary Crooks, they live at the 
old mill), Elizabeth (wife of James J. Hill, of Path Valley, Franklin County), 
Sarah (wife of William G. Black, of Cumberland Township), and J. Stewart (born 
July 8, 1830, on the place where he now lives).  Our subject learned surveying 
of his father, which he has practiced ever since, and has been for years the 
only surveyor in this locality.  In 1856 he acquired possession of the farm, 
which he has also carried on.  May 7, 1857, he was married to Sarah, daughter of 
Thomas White, of Hamiltonban Township, this county.  To this union nine children 
were born, three dying in infancy, and the eldest son, Willie, when he was 
twenty years old.  The survivors are Nannie E. (wedded to Joel B. Musselman, of 
Hamiltonban Township, this county); Mary C., H. Belle, Mattie W. and Flora W., 
who live with their parents.  Mr. Witherow was county surveyor for three years, 
and is now county jury commissioner.  He is a member of Valley Home Lodge, No. 
740, I. O. O. F., of which he has been secretary for years, and he is likewise 
District Deputy Grand Master.  All the family are members of Marsh Creek 
Presbyterian Church, of which, for thirty years, he has been a trustee.  In 
politics he is a Republican.