Daniel was just ten years of age when his father died. His mother, Mary Sensenig Witwer, must have been a very strong woman because she managed the farm, mill, and household, and even acquired property to expand the millrace, and did so during a turbulent period of history.
When Daniel came of age in 1789, the estate could finally be divided according to Michael Witwer's will. Daniel received the "middle lands" consisting of 126 acres, and including the "mansion house."
On October 26, 1790, shortly after coming of age, Daniel married Anna Reiff. Together they had nine children. Anna died on January 27, 1818, leaving 6 children under the age of 21, including 4 under 15. Daniel needed to remarry, and he did so quickly. The widow Maria Wenger became his wife on December 9, 1818, after executing a lengthy prenuptial agreement.
Less than two months into the marriage, Daniel died. His estate was considerable for the time, totalling over $25,000. However, later that year came the Panic of 1819, when cash was short and land values deflated. Sons Isaac and Daniel divided the property, with Issac inheriting the mansion house.
Isaac must have had trouble paying off the other heirs and maintaining the property, because he began petitioning to convert the house into an inn. In 1824 Isaac sold out to a cousin, Daniel Holl. On a map by Joshua Scott published the same year, the house is noted as the Spread Eagle Tavern. Daniel Jr. also gave up farming to become a doctor of "physic" in the Manheim area.
Daniel was a preacher of the Mennonite congregation. His daughters followed the conventional lives expected of women in that day and age. However, his sons seem to have been imbued with the spirit that prompted their grandfather, Hans Wittwer, to strike out for the new world.
For a comprehensive study of Daniel Witwer see Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 30:3 (July 2007), pp. 8-25, The Witwer Family of Earl Township: Part 4, Michael Witwer's Family.
--bio © Denise Witwer Lahr
When Daniel came of age in 1789, the estate could finally be divided according to Michael Witwer's will. Daniel received the "middle lands" consisting of 126 acres, and including the "mansion house."
On October 26, 1790, shortly after coming of age, Daniel married Anna Reiff. Together they had nine children. Anna died on January 27, 1818, leaving 6 children under the age of 21, including 4 under 15. Daniel needed to remarry, and he did so quickly. The widow Maria Wenger became his wife on December 9, 1818, after executing a lengthy prenuptial agreement.
Less than two months into the marriage, Daniel died. His estate was considerable for the time, totalling over $25,000. However, later that year came the Panic of 1819, when cash was short and land values deflated. Sons Isaac and Daniel divided the property, with Issac inheriting the mansion house.
Isaac must have had trouble paying off the other heirs and maintaining the property, because he began petitioning to convert the house into an inn. In 1824 Isaac sold out to a cousin, Daniel Holl. On a map by Joshua Scott published the same year, the house is noted as the Spread Eagle Tavern. Daniel Jr. also gave up farming to become a doctor of "physic" in the Manheim area.
Daniel was a preacher of the Mennonite congregation. His daughters followed the conventional lives expected of women in that day and age. However, his sons seem to have been imbued with the spirit that prompted their grandfather, Hans Wittwer, to strike out for the new world.
For a comprehensive study of Daniel Witwer see Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 30:3 (July 2007), pp. 8-25, The Witwer Family of Earl Township: Part 4, Michael Witwer's Family.
--bio © Denise Witwer Lahr
Daniel was just ten years of age when his father died. His mother, Mary Sensenig Witwer, must have been a very strong woman because she managed the farm, mill, and household, and even acquired property to expand the millrace, and did so during a turbulent period of history.
When Daniel came of age in 1789, the estate could finally be divided according to Michael Witwer's will. Daniel received the "middle lands" consisting of 126 acres, and including the "mansion house."
On October 26, 1790, shortly after coming of age, Daniel married Anna Reiff. Together they had nine children. Anna died on January 27, 1818, leaving 6 children under the age of 21, including 4 under 15. Daniel needed to remarry, and he did so quickly. The widow Maria Wenger became his wife on December 9, 1818, after executing a lengthy prenuptial agreement.
Less than two months into the marriage, Daniel died. His estate was considerable for the time, totalling over $25,000. However, later that year came the Panic of 1819, when cash was short and land values deflated. Sons Isaac and Daniel divided the property, with Issac inheriting the mansion house.
Isaac must have had trouble paying off the other heirs and maintaining the property, because he began petitioning to convert the house into an inn. In 1824 Isaac sold out to a cousin, Daniel Holl. On a map by Joshua Scott published the same year, the house is noted as the Spread Eagle Tavern. Daniel Jr. also gave up farming to become a doctor of "physic" in the Manheim area.
Daniel was a preacher of the Mennonite congregation. His daughters followed the conventional lives expected of women in that day and age. However, his sons seem to have been imbued with the spirit that prompted their grandfather, Hans Wittwer, to strike out for the new world.
For a comprehensive study of Daniel Witwer see Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 30:3 (July 2007), pp. 8-25, The Witwer Family of Earl Township: Part 4, Michael Witwer's Family.
--bio © Denise Witwer Lahr
When Daniel came of age in 1789, the estate could finally be divided according to Michael Witwer's will. Daniel received the "middle lands" consisting of 126 acres, and including the "mansion house."
On October 26, 1790, shortly after coming of age, Daniel married Anna Reiff. Together they had nine children. Anna died on January 27, 1818, leaving 6 children under the age of 21, including 4 under 15. Daniel needed to remarry, and he did so quickly. The widow Maria Wenger became his wife on December 9, 1818, after executing a lengthy prenuptial agreement.
Less than two months into the marriage, Daniel died. His estate was considerable for the time, totalling over $25,000. However, later that year came the Panic of 1819, when cash was short and land values deflated. Sons Isaac and Daniel divided the property, with Issac inheriting the mansion house.
Isaac must have had trouble paying off the other heirs and maintaining the property, because he began petitioning to convert the house into an inn. In 1824 Isaac sold out to a cousin, Daniel Holl. On a map by Joshua Scott published the same year, the house is noted as the Spread Eagle Tavern. Daniel Jr. also gave up farming to become a doctor of "physic" in the Manheim area.
Daniel was a preacher of the Mennonite congregation. His daughters followed the conventional lives expected of women in that day and age. However, his sons seem to have been imbued with the spirit that prompted their grandfather, Hans Wittwer, to strike out for the new world.
For a comprehensive study of Daniel Witwer see Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 30:3 (July 2007), pp. 8-25, The Witwer Family of Earl Township: Part 4, Michael Witwer's Family.
--bio © Denise Witwer Lahr
Inscription
Zum Andenken des/DANIEL WITWER/Prediger der/Mennoniten Gemeinde/er starb den 27ten/Jenner 1819. Alt/50 Jahre 6 Monate/und 2 Tage.
Here rests Daniel Witwer, Preacher of the Mennonite Congregation. He died the 27th of January 1819. Aged 50 years, 6 months and 2 days.
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