Bitner

(submitted by Greg Stott)

Jacob Bitner (c.1823–1892) and Abigail Spillane (c.1828–1900), natives of Bertie Twp. in Niagara's Welland County, married and moved to Warwick. They had at least three children: George F. (1858–1916), Alonzo (1860–1913) and Mary S. (b. 1866).

Jacob was raised as a Mennonite, but his wife came from a family of Wesleyan Methodists. It seems that by 1881 the entire family had joined the Wesleyan Methodist Church at Arkona. Alonzo may well have been named for Arkona Wesleyan Church trustee and Bitner family neighbour Alonzo Sweet.

The family farmed on Lot 25, Con. 6 NER. Sometime prior to 1901 the three unmarried siblings adopted William Halstead (b. 1886). By 1911 George and Mary were living as lodgers in Arkona at the home of Hiram and Sarah Casselman, while Alonzo remained on the farm with John Harnish and his wife, Sarah Beamer. Shortly thereafter Alonzo apparently returned to his parents' native Bertie Township, for he died there in 1913. His brother George also died in Bertie in 1916. What became of Mary is not known.

Chapter 24 of 25 - Bitner Family

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