BIO: JACOB W. WITMER, 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 384-385
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/

  
    JACOB W. WITMER (deceased), a lifelong resident of Middlesex township,
  Cumberland county, was born there Feb. 23, 1815, son of Joseph and Catherine
  (Eberly) Witmer. The former, one of the old settlers of the township, lived
  and died on the farm which was his home for so many years.
    
    Jacob W. Witmer was given a good education, and when old enough to begin
  life on his own account received a little help from his father in
  establishing himself, from which modest beginning he worked his way steadily
  to the possession of a fortune. He married, May 17, 1842, Miss Hannah
  Senseman, who was born in Lancaster county, Aug. It, 1819, daughter of John
  and Hannah (Brenizer) Senseman, the former a miller of Lancaster county; in
  1820 he removed to Cumberland county, settling near Kingston, and for the
  rest of his life was engaged in farming. Mr. Senseman was buried on his
  eightieth birthday, while his wife lived to be eighty-three years old. Four
  children came to Mr. and Mrs. Witmer, namely: Catherine Hannah, born June 24,
  1843, became the wife of J. S. Zearing, of Middlesex township, and died
  February 2, 1881; John Adam, born April 25, 1845, and Mary Rebecca, born Oct.
  23, 1847, both died
    
    CUMBERLAND COUNTY.	385
    
  in infancy; Robert Samuel, born Dec. 9, 1850, was one of the prominent
  citizens of the county and died May 21, 1898. They also took into their
  family Tena Pope, then a child of eight years, whom they brought up like
  their own daughter. Her parents both died in Baltimore, and when, soon after,
  she was brought to Pennsylvania by an Evangelical preacher, Mr. Boas, Mr. and
  Mrs. Witmer offered to give her a home. She has remained in the family ever
  since, a source of comfort and support in sickness, old age and time of
  death. Miss Pope is a member of the Evangelical Church.
    
    After his marriage Mr. Witmer settled on a farm near Shippensburg and lived
  there for thirteen years. He then spent one year on the old Hettrick farm,
  near the village of Middlesex, and, following that, located on the farm where
  he was living at the time of his death. In 1861 Mr. Witmer abandoned the
  active work of farming for a year, and during that time lived in Carlisle,
  but after this brief interlude he resumed his former work and spent eight
  years operating a farm owned by his wife. Meantime he built the handsome
  family mansion which now adorns his own place, and in 1870, on its
  completion, took up his residence there. His death occurred four years later,
  Nov. 15, 1874. Mrs. Witmer is still living, and though now at the advanced age
  of eighty-five, is remarkably well preserved and able to enjoy life.
    
    Mr. Witmer was an earnest Republican in his political views, but never an
  active politician, although he always displayed an intelligent interest in
  public questions and was ever ready to do his part in advancing the
  community's interests. He was a devout Christian, a member of the Lutheran
  Church of Carlisle, and not only took a prominent part personally in its
  work, but also contributed generously toward its support. In all ways he was
  a prominent man in the township, and was widely known and respected.