William E. Bittle

From History of Frederick County. p. 1174-1176:

William E. Bittle, prominent among the young farmers of Jackson District, Frederick County, Md., son of William M. and Catherine (Floyd) Bittle, was born on the old Bittle homestead, one mile north of Bellesville, now Harmony, Jackson District, Frederick County, Md., March 1, 1868.

The Bittle family, which is of German descent, settled at first in Pennsylvania. George Bittle, great-grandfather of William E. Bittle, removed from Adams County, Pa., to the northern part of the Middletown Valley, in Frederick County, Md. He was among the early settlers of that section of Maryland, where he purchased a large tract of timber land, which he cleared and converted into a fertile farm. Here he spent the remainder of his life cultivating and improving his property, on which he erected suitable buildings. Mr. Bittle was a successful farmer and a prominent man in the county. George Bittle married and had five children. Mr. Bittle and his wife died at their home in Frederick County.

The late Jonathan Bittle, youngest son of George Bittle, grandfather of William E. Bittle, was born in 1800, on the old Bittle homestead in Jackson District, Frederick County, Md. He grew up on his father’s farm, and received his education in the public schools of the district. He devoted his energies to the cultivation of the soil, and remained on the farm, working for his father. After his marriage, Mr. Bittle took charge of the homestead for his father. His management was very successful and, after his father’s death, he purchased 155 acres of the homestead, and began farming for himself. He improved his land in every way, and finally purchased from his brother, George Bittle, the remainder of the home farm, 150 acres. This also he improved, making of the whole two fine farms. Each place has a two-story brick house, a fine bank barn, and all the necessary outbuildings. Mr. Bittle ascribes his success to hard work and close attention to business. He was one of the prominent farmers of his generation, well-known and respected in the community. Jonathan Bittle was married to Rachel, daughter of John Bogner, of Dauphin County, Pa., a prominent farmer of that section, who lived to celebrate his one hundredth birthday. Jonathan and Rachel (Bogner) Bittle had six children, five of whom reached maturity. 1, Malinda, deceased, wife of the late Elias Routzahn, a farmer of Catoctin District, Frederick County; 2, John H., deceased, a farmer of Jackson District, Frederick County; 3, Marah E., deceased, married Peter Grossnickle of J., a retired farmer of Catoctin District, Frederick County; 4, Thomas F., merchant, Ellerton, Md.; 5, William M., retired farmer of Myersville, Md. Mr. Bittle and his wife were members of St. John’s Lutheran Church at Church Hill.

Mr. Bittle was a liberal contributor to the needs of the congregation in which he held the office of deacon and of elder for many years. He died at his home in Myersville, in 1855. His widow, who was born in 1804, died in 1885. Both rest in the cemetery adjoining the Lutheran Church at Church Hill. William M. Bittle, father of William E. Bittle, was born on the family homestead, in Jackson District, Frederick County, Md., March 21, 1851. He grew up on his father’s farm, and received his education in the public schools of his native district. He was fourteen when his father died, and remained at home, assisting his mother on the farm until he was twenty-one. On reaching his majority, Mr. Bittle purchased, from his mother, the home farm of 150 acres of farm and timber land, which he improved in many ways. He built a new barn and convenient outbuildings, and by intelligent cultivation increased the value of the land until it was regarded as one of the best farms in the section. He remained on the homestead until the spring of 1902, when he retired from farming, and removed to Myersville, where he purchased his beautiful home at the southern end of the village. Mr. Bittle also owned two other fine farms, one of them a place of 155 acres of good land, purchased from Elias Gaver, which he cultivated and improved until it was greatly increased in value, when he sold it to Charles Grossnickle. Mr. Bittle then bought a place of 60 acres situated a mile and a half south of Myersville on which he made many improvements. When he retired, Mr. Bittle sold his farms to two of his sons. Mr. Bittle has been more than ordinarily successful in business, and attributes all to honest labor and watchful care. He is a Republican, and is highly respected by his fellow citizens. He is a stockholder, and a member of the board of directors of the Myersville Savings Bank, and a stockholder of the Jefferson and Frederick Electric Railroad. William M. Bittle was married to Catherine, daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Routzahn) Floyd, whose father was a prominent farmer of Catoctin District, Frederick County, Md. Of their eight children seven reached maturity: 1, Charles J., manufacturer of coaches, Myersville, Md.; 2, John O., farmer, Fauquier County, Va.; 3, Annie C, married George D. Toms, a farmer of Jackson District, Frederick County; 4, William E., farmer, of Jackson District, Frederick County; 5, Daniel F., farmer of Jackson District; 6, Lawson F., merchant, Myersville, Md.; 7, Emry L., of Myersville, conductor on the Inter Urban Railroad. Mr, Bittle and his wife were members of St. John’s Lutheran Church at Church Hill, where he held the office of deacon. When they removed to Myersville, their membership was transferred to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at Myersville. Mr. Bittle is an elder in the congregation. He is active in church work and contributes liberally to all benevolent enterprises. William E. Bittle grew up on the homestead, and received his education in the public schools of Jackson District. He remained at home and after his marriage, took charge of the homestead for five years. He was a successful farmer and, after his marriage, and the five years spent on the homestead, began farming for himself on rented land, a place of 175 acres situated near Funkstown, Washington County, Md., where he remained for four years. Mr. Bittle then returned to the homestead in Jackson District, and two years later, purchased the property from his father. The farm consists of 154 acres of excellent land, well improved with a comfortable two-story dwelling, a bank barn, and all the necessary outbuildings, and is situated one mile north of Harmony on the road leading from Harmony to Ellerton. By careful attention to his business, Mr. Bittle has made his farm one of the most valuable properties in Jackson District. He also owns 35 acres of fine timber land in the Catoctin Mountain. Mr. Bittle ascribes his financial success to honest toil, and unceasing watchfulness. He is an active member of the Republican party, interested in public affairs, and highly esteemed in the community. William E. Bittle was married to Fannie M., daughter of Ezra and Sophia (Doub) Toms, whose father was a prominent farmer residing near Myersville, Jackson District, Frederick County, Md. They have two children: Glenn E.; and William M.; both at home. Mr. Bittle is a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church at Church Hill. Mrs. Bittle holds her membership in the United Brethren Church at Myersville.