BIO:  John W. Bittenger, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, historical editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, York Borough, Pg 6

JOHN W. BITTENGER, one of the leading attorneys of the York County bar, is a 
descendant of old Pennsylvania ancestry.  His great-grandfather, Capt. Nicholas 
Bittenger, a native and resident of Adams County, was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war.  Upon his mother's side, John Wierman, also a native and 
citizen of Adams County, was a wealthy farmer and, for a number of years, a 
justice of the peace.  His grandparents were Joseph Bittenger, of Adams County, 
and Hon. Daniel Sheffer, a native of York County, who, in early life, was a 
physician.  He became subsequently associate judge of Adams County, and in 1836 
was elected to represent Adams and Franklin Counties in congress, attained 
distinction and became one of the leading political factors of his time in the 
State.  The parents of our subject were Henry and Juliann (Sheffer) Bittenger, 
both natives of Adams County.  The father is now a resident of Hanover.  The 
mother died in 1837, leaving three children:  Mrs. George C. Barnitz of 
Middletown, Ohio, Mrs. Reuben Young of Hanover, and the subject of this 
biography.

JOHN W. BITTENGER, was born in Adams County in the year 1834.  He received a 
good education, attending the academies of Strasburg, Penn., and Rockville, Md., 
supplemented by a partial course at the Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg; 
during the latter he was also a student of law with the late Hon. Moses McClean.  
He subsequently went to Rockville, Md., and finished reading in the office of W. 
Viers Bouic, now judge of the circuit court of that county, being admitted to 
the bar at Rockville, in 1856.  After graduating at the law school, of Harvard 
College, he went to Lexington, Ky., where he entered upon the practical duties 
of his profession, remaining in that State three years.  In 1860 Mr. Bittenger 
became a citizen of York, where he has since been in constant practice.  His 
ability was soon recognized, and in 1862 he was elected district attorney, of 
York County, serving six years.  He has also served as counsel for the county 
commissioners and as attorney for the borough of York.  Mr. Bittenger has 
attained a prominent position among his fellows and was a leading candidate for 
the nomination for county judge in 1881, and in 1885 secured the candidacy.  As 
a citizen he is of the progressive type, and as a politician one of the leaders 
of the Democracy.  Mr. Bittenger is a member of the Masonic order, of the I. O. 
O. F. (Encampment), and the I. O. R. M., also of the York Club.  In 1877 he was 
united in marriage with Miss Anna Brenneman, a native of York County.  They have 
two children living:  Ida May and Julia Ann, and one deceased, John H., who died 
at the age of seven years.