BIO:  Henry W. WITMORE, Franklin 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 415

HENRY W. WITMORE, merchant, Mummasburg, was born near Emmittsburg, Md., November 
12, 1811.  In August, 1822, his parents moved to near Biglerville, and in April, 
1823, took up their residence in the frame building still standing opposite the 
store of our subject.  They had one daughter, who died in infancy.  The father 
was a shoe-maker, which trade Henry W. learned from him, and together they 
worked at it.  For forty years the father was better known in his part of the 
country than any other man of his day.  His death occurred after the marriage of 
his son, our subject, with Henrietta Rex, which took place May 3, 1838.  She was 
born in 1811, and died April 18, 1854.  To this union was born one son, who died 
in infancy.  His second marriage took place November 22, 1855, with Miss Lucy A. 
Crum, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Jacob Zeigler; she was also the 
mother of one son, who died in infancy.  Mr. Witmore erected his present 
residence in 1853, and his mother lived several years in her new home prior to 
her death.  In 1840 Mr. Witmore formed a partnership with Caspar Stick, in the 
grocery and produce trade, and established a store in Mummasburg; eight years 
later this partnership was dissolved, and, with the exception of one year, Mr. 
Witmore has since been engaged alone in mercantile trade.  During the second 
administration of President Lincoln he was commissioned postmaster, which 
position he has retained to the present time.  He was a great sufferer by the 
war, his store being completely gutted by the Rebels, and he had much other 
property taken.  Commencing life with less than $50, he has from that beginning 
amassed a competency, and during the lifetime of his aged parents kept them in 
ease, as became a dutiful son.  Both he and his wife are members of the Reformed 
Church at Arendtsville, and are people of the sterling worth.  For sixty-three 
years Mr. Witmore has been a representative business man of Franklin Township, 
and to-day is, perhaps, the oldest man in the county engaged in active business.