BIO: John WITHERRITE, Centre County, PA

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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.
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  JOHN WITHERRITE was called from this life June 11, 1896, and was laid 
to rest in Messiah Cemetery, Boggs township, Centre county.  He was 
born in that township, June 27, 1821, and with its interests was 
closely identified throughout his entire life.  He was one of the 
family of seven children born to Michael and Mary (Dickson) Witherrite, 
natives of Pennsylvania, the others being: William, Michael, Isaac and 
Elizabeth (twins), James and George.  All are now deceased with the 
exception of James, who makes his home at Julian, Pennsylvania.
  Our subject was entirely a self-made man, having started out in life 
with no capital save a pair of willing hands and a determination to 
succeed.  His early days were spent in the coal

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  329

mines and in chopping wood, but later in life he turned his attention 
to general farming and by perseverance, industry and economy succeeded 
in accumulating a good property, owing at the time of his death a fine 
farm of ninety-four acres.  His political support was ever given the 
Democratic party and its nominees.
  On February, 20, 1845, Mr. Witherrite was united in marriage with 
Miss Mary Swagret, who was born October 6, 1818, in Huntingdon county, 
Penn., a daughter of Peter and Catherine {Walker) Swagret.  Her parents 
spent their entire lives in that county, where the father engaged in 
farming, and in religious belief they were Dunkards.  The mother died 
in 1819, at the age of twenty-six years, and the father in 1850.  Mrs. 
Witherrite was the only child born of their union, and was reared by 
her maternal grandparents, Jacob and Margaret Walker, natives of 
Germany and Scotland, respectively.  On coming to America they located 
in Huntingdon county, where they continued to live until their deaths.  
Her paternal grandparents, John and Christina Swagret, were both born 
in Germany, and on coming to the New World made their home in Mifflin 
county, Pennsylvania.
  Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Witherrite, as follows: (1) 
Martha J., born November 30 1845, was married in September, 1873, to 
Samuel Furl, a farmer of Boggs township, and they have five children - 
Sarah, John, Clara, Alfred and Michael. (2) Alfred, born March 3, 1848, 
was married January 18, 1888, to Ellen Holderman, and they make their 
home in Boggs township. (3) Mary M., born December 7, 1849, was married 
August 7, 1879, to Charles Hall, of Centre county, and they have seven 
children - Betsy, Carrie, Jessie, Polly, Toner, John B. and Clara. (4) 
Michael, born November 3, 1852, was married March 14, 1889, to Cora 
Clark, and they have one son - Arburtis H., born October 29, 1893; they 
make their home in Centre county. (5) Clara E., born July 17, 1865, was 
married March 19, 1886, to Harry Bottoff, of Centre county, and they 
have one daughter - Elsie V., born December 9, 1891.
  Mrs. Witherrite is a woman of more than ordinary business capacity, 
and manages her farm with excellent skill, displaying sound judgment 
and careful consideration.  Since girlhood she has been interested in 
bee culture, upon her place has fifty hives, and three years ago she 
secured 1,000 pounds of honey.  In early life, like her husband, she 
endured many hardships and trials, and upon their marriage they started 
out in very humble circumstances, their household effects consisting of 
a bed and a skillet which she borrowed.  They had no chairs and neither 
knives nor forks, but together they worked, persistently and earnestly, 
until they had secured a good home neatly and tastefully furnished.  
Mrs. Witherrite has often split rails, which she carried up the 
mountain, and even now she is a great worker.  On removing to her 
present farm it was still an unbroken wilderness, and her home was a 
small cabin, which in 1853 was replaced by her present comfortable 
residence.  It is picturesquely located in a valley between two 
mountains, and on the farm are several elegant springs, and a beautiful 
stream which runs through its entire length.

1870 Boggs Township, Centre County census -
John Witherite, 49  
Mary Witherite, 51  
Martha J. Witherite, 24  
Alfred Witherite, 21  
Mary M. Witherite, 19  
Michael W. Witherite, 17  
Clara E. Witherite, 4