Biographical Sketch of John BEITLER, Jr. (1893); Chester County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris 
<jMcDmorris@comcast.net>.

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Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, 
comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by 
Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Philadel- phia, PA, 1893, pp. 
853-854.

"JOHN BEITLER, Jr., the popular postmaster at Chester Valley, and a successful 
general merchant of that place, is a son of John and Thomazine
(Thompson) Beitler, and is a native of Lionville, Uwchlan township, this county, 
where he was born April 4, 1843.

"His paternal grandfather, Hon. John Beitler, was born in Chester county, and 
lived for many years at Lionville, where he died in 1873, aged ninety-two years, 
and where his remains repose in the Friends' burying ground.  He was a farmer by 
occupation, a Quaker in religion, and politi- cally a whig and a republican, 
being active and prominent in local poli- tics for many years.  He represented 
Chester county in the State legis- lature one term, and at one time or another 
held all the offices of his township.  His wife was Anna Evans, and they were 
the parents of five children, two sons and three daughters: John, Jesse, 
deceased; Hannah, who married a Mr. Rogers, and is now dead; Mary and Sarah.

"John Beitler (father) was born at Lionville, in November, 1808, received a fair 
education in the common schools of his native place, and has con- tinued to 
reside there all his life.  His attention has been principally devoted to 
agricultural pursuits, in which he was very successful, owning one hundred acres 
of valuable land.  Politically he is a republican, with whig antecedents, and he 
married Thomazine Thompson, by whom he had a family of five sons and four 
daughters: Hannah, married James Trimble, a farmer residing in Maryland; Julia, 
deceased; Lewis, married Elmira Overholtzer, and is now a carpenter and builder 
of West Pikeland town- ship, this county; Elizabeth, widow of Wilmer Smedley, 
and living in West Chester; John, the subject of this sketch; Anna, still living 
at home; Henry, married Rachel Stephens, and is now engaged in milling in 
Uwchlan township; Hollan, who wedded Sallie Downing, and resides on the old 
homestead in the same township; and Luman, who married Anna R. Pyle, and is 
engaged in merchandising at West Grove, this county.

"John Beitler, whose name heads this sketch, was reared principally at 
Lionville, and received a good English education in the common schools.  
He began life on his own account as a clerk in a general store at Howell- ville, 
this county, where he remained five or six years.  In 1872 he embarked in 
business for himself at Chester Valley, where he has ever since conducted a 
general store, meeting with marked success.  He keeps a complete stock of all 
kinds of general merchandise, sells at reasonable prices, and takes pains to 
please all who favor him with their custom.  
As a consequence he has built up a lucrative business, and become well known and 
very popular in his community.  In connection with his store he also owns and 
manages a small farm.  Politically he is a republican, and takes an intelligent 
interest in all public questions.  Near the beginning of President Harrison's 
administration he was appointed post- master at Chester Valley, and has 
acceptably filled that office to the present time, 1893.

"On March 19, 1874, Mr. Beitler was united in marriage to Anna M. Steen, a 
daughter of J. J. Steen, of Paoli, this county.  To Mr. and Mrs. 
Beitler have been born two children, one son and a daughter: Florence C. 
and John, who is the fourth of that name in direct line of descent.  
Both are living at home with their parents."