BIO:  Peter B. WITMER, Lebanon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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Biographical Annals of Lebanon County Pennsylvania.
Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1904
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Page 30 - 32

PETER B. WITMER, A. M. (deceased).  One of the oldest educators, and proprietor 
of the old, well-known educational institution of Lebanon county – the old 
Palmyra Academy, which he founded – was Peter B. Witmer, A. M., born in Lebanon 
township, Lebanon county, October 25, 1823, son of Michael and Anna (Burkholder) 
Witmer.

The origin of the Witmer family in America is as follows:  In the year 1733 four 
Witmer brothers sailed for America on the ship "Hope of London," Daniel Reed, 
master.  They arrived in Philadelphia the latter part of August, and on the 28th 
of that month the elder brothers took the oath of allegiance.  They were all 
natives of Canton Zurich, Switzerland, and were of the Reformed faith.  The four 
brothers, Michael, Ulrich, Peter and John, settled in Lancaster county, Pa.  The 
ancestor of Peter B. was Peter, father of Peter, father of Michael, our 
subject's father.

Michael Witmer, father of our subject, was born in South Lebanon township, 
Lebanon county, January 13, 1796, and died December 31, 1877.  He married, in 
April 1821, Anna Burkholder, of South Annville township, who was born June 25, 
1797, and died April 25, 1869, their children being:  Abraham, born February 10, 
1922; Peter B., born October 25, 1823; Rosanna, born October 1, 1825; Anna, born 
October 6, 1827; Maria, born December 24, 1829; Jeremiah, born December 19, 
1832; Uriah, born November 6, 1834; John B., born April 1, 1838; and Michael, 
born September 15, 1842.

The early life of Peter B. Witmer was spent on the farm.  At the age of 
seventeen years he entered a private school at Columbia, Lancaster county, Pa., 
and later attended Fairview Academy in Adams county, Pa.  When nineteen years 
old he became a pupil at Mount St. Mary's College, Emmitsburg, Md., and later 
entered Princeton College (now Princeton University).  He received his degree, 
A. M., from Franklin and Marshall College, and began teaching independently 
August 3, 1846, in Lebanon county, and subsequently in Bernville, Berks county, 
after which he removed to Annville.  Later he removed to Myerstown, remaining 
seven years in the latter town, removing to Palmyra in 1857 and there founding a 
select boarding school, which was known as the Palmyra Academy, which he 
conducted until 1894, when the school was abandoned.  His death occurred 
September 11, 1899.

Mr. Witmer married, in May, 1850, Mary Ann Bachman, who was born January 29, 
1829, in South Annville township, Lebanon county.  Their children are:  Rose; 
Anna; John B., who died July 6, 1901, was an attorney; Emma J. married Dr. H. B. 
Felty, now of Abilene, Kans.; Charles K.; Peter B.; also four others, who are 
deceased.

John B. Witmer was born in Palmyra October 3, 1857, and was educated at the 
Palmyra Academy and Mt. St. Mary's College, Md., graduating from the latter 
place in 1877.  He spent several years in teaching in the Palmyra Academy.  He 
read law in the office of the late Grant Weidman, Sr., of Lebanon, and was 
admitted to the Lebanon County bar in 1882, practicing until his death.

CHARLES KILLINGER WITMER was born in Palmyra January 18, 1867.  He was educated 
at the Palmyra Academy under his father, and at Franklin and Marshall College, 
graduating from there in 1888.  He taught in the Palmyra Academy for one year, 
following which he was for a year principal of the grammar school department of 
Waynesboro, Pa.  He next became instructor in science in the Hannibal (Mo.) high 
school, for three years, and then became principal of the Lebanon high school, 
continuing in that position for eight years, resigning in 1901 to enter the Law 
Department of the University of Pennsylvania.  He is at present completing his 
course in the Law Department of Yale University.

Peter B. Witmer, JR., M. D., graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 
1892, Jefferson Medical College in 1896, was connected with the Methodist 
Episcopal hospital of Philadelphia for eighteen months as resident physician, 
and then went to Abilene, Kansas, where he commenced the practice of medicine 
with his brother-in-law, Dr. Felty.