BIO:  WILLIAM WILT, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 805-806
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/

 
    WILLIAM WILT (deceased). For many years the late William Wilt was one of
  the most highly respected citizens of Cumberland county, Pa. He was a
  self-made man, starting out in life as a poor boy and gaining an ample
  fortune and the esteem of all who knew him, entirely through his own efforts.

    Mr. Wilt was born Nov. 3, 1823, in Manchester township, York Co., Pa., a
  son of John and Julia (Mosey) Wilt, farming people and natives of York
  county. When he was eight years of age, his parents moved to a farm near
  Yocumtown, York county, and here he had very few educational opportunities,
  starting to work when a mere lad. This was before the day of railroad
  transportation through this section and much necessary teaming was done to
  Baltimore. It was no unusual sight to see William Wilt starting off for the
  long journey over dangerous roads, with a valuable cargo in charge, and there
  is no recorded instance when he did not return with business satisfactorily
  attended to.

    On March 5, 1846, Mr. Wilt was united in marriage with Sarah Smith,
  daughter of Michael and Catherine (Miller) Smith. They located first on Dr.
  Young's farm in Cumberland county, but later went back to York county and
  some years after, Mr. Wilt bought the Michael Smith farm of 150 acres, and
  here Mrs. Wilt died, July 8, 1882. She was a member of the Lutheran Church.

    In 1885 Mr. Wilt removed to New Cumberland, where he resided until his
  death, April 2, 1903. For a number of years he had lived retired. He was
  identified politically with the Republican party for many years but latterly
  had voted with the Prohibitionists. He was a consistent member and liberal
  supporter of the Lutheran Church.

    Mr. Wilt was married (second), May 9, 1893, to Catherine Miller, born in
  Silver Spring township, Cumberland county. She

    806  CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

  is a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Steen) Miller. Daniel Miller was born
  May 14, 1800, in Silver Spring township, and died June 8, 1876, one of the
  most highly esteemed citizens of his community. The mother of Mrs. Wilt was
  born Feb. 16, 1802, at New Holland, Lancaster Co., Pa., a daughter of John
  and Margaret Steen, an old and honorable family of that locality.

    The children of Mr. and Mrs. Wilt were: Catherine died in childhood; John,
  who married a Miss Chapman, was accidentally killed at Steelton; Joseph,
  residing on the home farm, married a Miss Beckley; Julia married Lewis
  Kilmore, of York county; Harry married a Miss Gross and is in business at
  Steelton; and Ella is the wife of Jacob Lefever, of New Cumberland.