BIO: William I. HARTER, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ WILLIAM I. HARTER, one of the most enterprising and prosperous business men of Eagleville, Centre county, and numbered among its liberal-minded and public-spirited citizens, has for some years been engaged in the manufacture and repair of furniture and wagons, in which he has achieved an enviable reputation. One of his leading characteristics in business affairs is his fine sense of order and complete system, and habit of giving careful attention to the details, without which success in any undertaking is never an assured fact. A native of Centre county, Mr. Harter was born in Marion township, June 15, 1853, and belongs to a family that was early established within its borders. His paternal grandfather, Jacob Harter, of Penn's Valley, removed to Nittany Valley COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 221 in 1835, locating on the old Harter homestead, where he followed farming for the rest of his life. He was of German descent. Andrew Harter, the father of our subject, was a native of Penn's Valley, Centre county, born June 7, 1823, and on reaching manhood married Miss Eve Smith, who was born in Clinton county, Penn., January 2, 1823, a daughter of Peter Smith, who died on the old homestead in that county. His great-grandfather, who also bore the name of Peter Smith was a solider in the Revolutionary war. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mr. Harter, namely: John S., born May 8, 1846, for many years engaged in teaching, but now following the carpenter's trade in Clintondale, Penn.; Mary E., born April 8, 1848, is the wife of Daniel Gordon, a machinist of Spring township, Centre county,; Susannah, born March 16, 1850, is the wife of Frank Buck, a farmer of Lycoming county, Penn.; William I. is next in order of birth; Jacob A., born November 8, 1855, is a merchant of Centre county; Jennie R., born April 30, 1857, is the wife of George Fatzinger, a railroad man of Milton, Penn.; Sarah E., born November 23, 1859, is the wife of Calvin Woomer; and Emily, born April 2, 1862, is the wife of William Dale, a farmer of Centre county. The mother of these children died in June, 1862, on the old homestead in Marion township, where the father still resides. He is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Democrat in politics. For his second wife, Andrew Harter wedded Mrs. Susan (Arbegust) Shears, widow of Jacob Shears, and to them were born the following children: Samuel, who is now living in the West; Laura, wife of Eli Brehen, a carpenter of Axemann, Centre county; Bell, wife of Larry Heil, an engineer of Centre county; Frank, who is in the bicycle business in Clinton county; Clement, a lumberman; Harry, a carpenter of Axemann; George, who is still on the homestead with his parents; and Cora and Bertha, also at home. During the boyhood and youth of William I. Harter he attended the public schools, and aided his father in the labor of the farm until nineteen years of age, when he left home and for a year and a half, worked as a farm hand. Going to Jacksonville, Centre county, he began serving an apprenticeship to the wagon and coach maker's trade under Ira C. Johnson, who failed nine months later, and he then went to Mackeyville, Clinton Co., Penn., where he embarked in business on his own account. Wishing to learn the cabinet maker's trade, he disposed of his business and went to Brush Valley, where he served a six-months' apprenticeship to that trade. He then resumed business at Mackeyville, where he remained for three years, and in 1882 came to Eagleville, where he built his present house and shop. He is a natural mechanic, always having been handy with tools, and the success that he has achieved in life is due entirely to his industry, perseverance and good management. Socially he affiliates with the I. O. O. F. Lodge at Eagleville; is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; and is an uncompromising Democrat in politics. On February 9, 1882, in Liberty township, Centre county, he was married to Miss Mary A. Bitner, and they have two interesting children: May C., born December 25, 1890; and Norris I., born February 13, 1893. Although so young, the son seems to have inherited his father's taste for mechanics and shows a marked talent for the use of tools. Daniel Bitner, the father of Mrs. Harter is a retired farmer of Liberty township, born at his present homestead September 7, 1822. His parents, John and Susan (Nestlerod) Bitner, were natives of Germany and Centre county, respectively, and were married in the latter place. George Bitner, the grandfather, on coming to America was accompanied by his two sons, John and Abraham, and they first located in Lancaster county; but on reaching his majority John came to Centre county, where he followed the trade of shoemaking, later engaging in farming. He was a member of the Mennonite Church, and a Democrat in politics. He was born in 1797 and died in 1851, while his wife passed away in 1835, at the age of fifty years. In their family were the following children: Christian, John, Nancy, Susan, Catherine, Barbara, Lida, Martha, Abraham, Susan, Daniel, Lavina. Daniel Bitner was married February 23, 1843 to Miss Mary Wensel, who was born in Prussia, Germany, November 10, 1823, a daughter of Abraham and Catherine (Rhumsbutt) Wensel, who on coming to America in 1829, located in Columbia county, Penn., but in 1839 came to Centre county, where both died, the former in 1846 and the latter in 1867. Their family numbered seven children: Eliza, Margaret, Peter, Mary, Catherine, George and Elizabeth. The following children graced the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bitner: Catherine, wife of William Scantlin, a farmer of Liberty township, Centre county; John I., a real estate and insurance agent of Hagerstown, Md., who married Alice Newcomer; William N. (deceased), who married Mary Hesing, and after her death wedded Mary C. Lucas, now residing in Eagleville; J. Albert, a farmer of Liberty township, who married COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 222 Carrie Gardner; Howard W. (deceased), who married Frances Johnson, now residing in Liberty township; Alice, the wife of our subject; Clara, wife of Thomas Bechdel, a farmer of Marsh Creek, Centre county, and Ida M., at home. Mr. Bitner still resides upon the farm where his birth occurred, and to its cultivation and improvement devoted his attention throughout his active business career, but is now enjoying a well-earned rest. For twenty-five years he served as school director, and has also acceptably filled the offices of overseer of the poor, supervisor, collector and treasurer of his township. In politics he is a firm Democrat, and for forty-five years has been a consistent and earnest member of the Christian Church.