According to my father Arthur Robert Bitner, Sr., his grandfather Lewis Hege Bitner spelled his last name as Bitner rather than Bittner as his early ancestors had done. My father claimed the stone engraver might have made a mistake when he engraved
my grandfather's stone as Bittner. Please note the children of Lewis Hege Bitner and Mattie (Martha) Elizabeth Smith Bitner used Bitner rather than Bittner. Some are buried on this family plot. Also, in my great-grandfather's Will and Death Certificate, both located through www.ancestry.com, his name is listed as Lewis H. Bitner.

U.S. Census Records:

1870: living with his parents and siblings in Guilford Township, Franklin, Pennsylvania, USA

1880: listed as Lewis H. Bitner and living with wife Mattie E., daughter Alice M., son John S., and mother-in-law Elizabeth Smith as boarder in Clear Spring District, Washington County, Maryland USA.

Name Age
Lewis H. Bitner 32
Mattie Bitner 23
Alice M. Bitner 3
John S. Bitner 11m
Elizabeth Smith 69

1900: living in Peters Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, USA. Please note the spelling is Bittner or Bittmer. Is this a mistake on the part of the census taker? Please note son Lewis Edward is listed with Lewis as his first name not as his middle name as his cemetery footstone and his obituary indicated. Daughter Anna's middle name was Mary, not one beginning with a F. Evidence of her name being Anna Mary is her PA. Death Certificate, File # 1083391

Name Age
Lewis H Bittner 52
Mattie E Bittner 43
Alice M Bittner 22
Lewis E Bittmer 19
Elizabeth Bittner 17
Jacob S Bittner 15
Susan J Bittner 12
Anna F Bittner 10
Lydia F Bittner 8
Robert B Bittner 4
Mattie E Bittner 1

1910: listed as Lewis H. Bitner in Antrim District 0001, Franklin County, Pennsylvania and renting the farm with wife Mattie E., daughters Anna Mary, Lydda F., and Martha K., and son Robert Bentley.

1920: listed as Lewis H. Bitner with wife Mattie and living in a mortgaged home in Greencastle District 0015. The house number is 108, so I am assuming it is 108 North Allison Street, Greencastle, Pennsylvania, USA. Please see the photo Bitner Gathering that I have posted in my great-grandfather's, my great-grandmother Mattie's, and their children's FAG Memorials. I received the Bitner Gathering from my genealogy friend Bonny Bitner Andrews. Her nephew Doug Bitner identified the photo as being taken at 108 North Allison Street, Greencastle, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, USA. As a young child, I remember how my dad used to fondly point out the home place on North Allison Street when we would look at Christmas lights or ride to the Creamery in Greencastle. My niece Wendy Lee Boswell and her deceased husband Georg Robert Scott actually considered purchasing 108 North Allison Street before they purchased a home in Mont Alto. My niece claims she saw my pap's initials in the attic. I have been in touch with the retired art teacher who currently owns the home about possibly visiting the home. I want to see my father's initials.

Great-Grandparents:

Great-Grandfather Martin Mathias Bittner

Great-Grandmother Eva Margaretha Wiest Bittner

Grandparents:

Grandfather Christian Henry Bittner

Grandmother Catharine Unbehent Bittner

Siblings: I have not located the burial of Anna Agnus Bitner (21 Jul 1845-)who was married to Henry Wolford.

Researched, Written, and Submitted by Betty L. Bitner on 17 Feb 2016

The LH Bittner Cemetery Stone was likely erected after his youngest daughter Martha passed in 1913.
Addition Information Regarding Dropping One t From Bittner: Professor Henry Franklin Bitner stated around 1935 that his grandfather Benjamin changed the name from Bittner to Bitner. Benjamin was a son of Martin Mathias Bittner (20 Aug 1749 to 23 Mar 1829) and Eva Margaretha Wiest (Wuest) Bittner (1 Sep 1749 to 12 Dec 1792).

My great grandfather Lewis Hege Bitner served in the Civil War in the Union Army in the Independent Battery B, Pennsylvania Light Artillery. M554 ROLL 9 (U.S. National Park Service and Fold3) He was quite young when he served.

Research, Written, and Submitted by Dr. Betty L. Bitner on 13 Mar 2022, updated 12 Jan 2023