BIO: Henry Y. STITZER, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ H. Y. STITZER. An early struggle with adverse circumstances is quite commonly held to be an advantage to an aspirant for success in life; but sometimes, when one sees a gallant effort made against heavy odds, the thought arises that the energy and concentrated will which inspired it, might, under happier conditions, have been applied to other issues, seemingly more important. But if the development of character is the main work of our sojourn upon earth, if "the deed in the doing reaches its aim," then the years spent in overcoming such hindrances are really as rich in fruit as any which win the approving notice of the public. The history of the subject of this sketch, a well-known attorney of Bellefonte, Centre county, possesses the interest which invariably attaches to the life of a self-made man. His paternal ancestors were early settlers in Pennsylvania, and his grandfather, John Stitzer, a native of this State, was for many years the proprietor of the principal hotel in Mifflinburg. William Stitzer, our subject's father, was born in that city May 13, 1811, and was married there September 13, 1833, to Miss Judith Yearick, a native of the same place, born November 23, 1811. After his marriage he moved to Millheim, Centre county, and followed the hatter's trade for some time, but fortune did not smile upon his efforts, and later he became a day laborer at various places in Centre county. His death occurred in Bellefonte, September 17, 1873, at the home of our subject. He was an Old-line Whig in politics in his early years, but after the change in party lines which followed the agitation of the slavery question, he became an Independent, with tendencies toward the Republican party. He and his estimable wife were members of the Evangelical Church. She survived him many years, breathing her last October 24, 1891. They had seven children, whose names with dates of birth are as follows: John, April 16, 1834, is a saddler at Mifflinburg; Lydia, born June 17, 1835, at Millheim, married William J. Bollinger (now of Salt Lake City), and died in 1871 at Illinois; H. Y., our subject, is the next in the order of birth; William D., October 31, 1838, died January 13, 1840; William W., December, 1840, is a farmer in Gregg township, Centre county; Sarah, December 15, 1842, married John Zerby, of Potter township, Centre county; Amelia, August 21, 1844, resides with our subject. H. Y. Stitzer was born February 25, 1837, at Millheim. He had no settled home during his childhood owing to his father's frequent changes of location, and at an early age he was apprenticed to a merchant tailor in Mifflinburg, learning that trade. Despite the difficulties in the way of securing an education, his naturally bright and active mind had enabled him to make fair progress, and inspired by a determination to seek a more congenial field of labor than his trade promised to be, he attended the academy at Mifflinburg for one summer, and in the following winter, when about twenty-one, he began teaching school in Snyder county. In 1861, after several years of successful work in this calling, he was made principal of the High School at Bellefonte, which position he held but a short time when he was admitted to the Bar, having previously studied law under the direction of Judge Hoy, of Bellefonte, and established himself in practice. During the battle of Gettysburg he was one of the Emergency men called out by the Governor, and served for eight weeks in Capt. Boal's company. In 1866 he was elected district attorney and served ably for two terms, but on retiring from office in 1872, he purchased the Livingston Book Store, which he continued until 1895. Since disposing of that he has resumed his practice with gratifying success. He was deputy sheriff under Richard Conley. On December 25, 1867, Mr. Stitzer was married to Miss Hannah M. Hess, a native of Boalsburg, born February, 1837. They have no 458 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. children of their own, but took two, a girl and a boy, into their home, whom they reared and educated; the girl, Mira E. Shaffer, is now the wife of H. A. McKee; the boy, Randolph P. Nightengale, a son of Dr. Nightengale, of Doylestown, Penn., died when nearly twenty years of age. In his younger days Mr. Stitzer took an active part in politics, and has served as chairman of the Democratic Central Committee of the county. Himself and wife are members of the Lutheran Church; they take great interest in Church work, and in the Sabbath-school, of which Mr. Stitzer was for many years the superintendent. 1900 Bellefonte, Centre County census - Henry Y. Stitzer, 63 Hannah Stitzer, 63