Person Page - 1

     Lee Oliver Bittner was born on 18 May 1907 at Penn Twp., Snyder Co., PA.^2,3,4,5,6 He was baptized in May 1907.² He married Marjorie Elizabeth Shafer, daughter of Jacob Houseworth Shafer and Mary Hanna Woodside, on 3 March 1926 at Frederick, Frederick Co., MD.^7,8 Lee Oliver Bittner was a dye mixer⁹ in a dye works in 1930. He was a textile printer for Beacon Pierce and Die Company in Beacon Hill, New York between 1940 and 1972. He married Elizabeth A. Cobb, daughter of Frank Cobb and Lillian Repsher, on 25 July 1979 at St. John's Lutheran Church, Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.¹⁰ Lee Oliver Bittner died on 9 December 1989 at Pocono Medical Center, East Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA, at age 82.^11,5,4,12,6 He was buried on 12 December 1989 at Orchard Hills Cemetery, Shamokin Dam, Snyder Co., PA.^5,4,12

     Marjorie Elizabeth Shafer was born on 10 May 1907 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA.^2,3,4,5,6,7 She married Lee Oliver Bittner, son of Franklin Oliver Bitner and Minnie Mary Sechrist, on 3 March 1926 at Frederick, Frederick Co., MD.^8,9 Marjorie Elizabeth Shafer died on 7 February 1972 at Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA, at age 64.^3,4,5,6,7 She was buried on 10 February 1972 at Orchard Hills Cemetery, Shamokin Dam, Snyder Co., PA.^5,6,7
     As a young man, Lee worked with his father Frank and brother Carl on barges on the Susquehanna River dredging for coal. He worked during the 1920's and 1930's at Sunbury Converting Dye Works and Lebanon Dye. In 1941 he moved his family to Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania and began working at Pocono Textile in East Stroudsburg. During this time he twice worked for extended periods in Drummondville, Canada learning the new trade of textile roller printing. About 1954 he and Marjorie moved to Cold Spring and later Hopewell Junction, New York. He worked for Beacon Pierce and Die Company. In the mid 1960's they returned to 36 Bridge Street when he took another job in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. He later returned to work at Beacon until his retirement. He remained in the house on Bridge Street with his second wife Betty until his death.

     Marjorie worked at one time as a waitress at the Susquehanna Country Club near their home in Hummels Wharf. While living in Stroudsburg she also worked as a sales clerk at the JCPenny and Sears catalog department in Wycoff's department store. This was before they moved to New York.

     Elizabeth A. Cobb was a saleswoman. Elizabeth A. Cobb also went by the name of Betty. She was born on 15 March 1918 at East Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.^2,3,4 She married Lee Oliver Bittner, son of Franklin Oliver Bitner and Minnie Mary Sechrist, on 25 July 1979 at St. John's Lutheran Church, Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.⁵ Elizabeth A. Cobb died on 9 October 1994 at Bartonsville, Monroe Co., PA, at age 76.^2,4,3 She was buried on 13 October 1994 at Stroudsburg Cemetery, Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., PA.^3,4

     Franklin Oliver Bitner was born on 19 March 1873 at Union Twp., Snyder Co., PA.^2,3,4,5,6 He married Minnie Mary Sechrist on 28 August 1892 at Snyder Co., PA.⁷ Franklin Oliver Bitner was a farmer between 1900 and 1910. He lived in 1914 at Hummels Wharf, Snyder Co., PA.⁸ He was a laborer in 1914.⁸ He was a laborer and thresher⁹ on 12 September 1918.² He was a laborer in 1920.¹⁰ He lived in 1920 at Monroe Twp., Snyder Co., PA.¹⁰ He was a laborer in a dye works¹¹ in 1920. He died on 31 January 1938 at Hummels Wharf, Snyder Co., PA, at age 64.^12,4,13 He was buried in February 1938 at Witmer's (East) United Methodist Cemetery, Union Twp., Snyder Co., PA.^4,6,14 His estate was probated on 23 May 1940 at Snyder Co., PA.¹⁵

     Minnie Mary Sechrist was born on 18 November 1877 at Union Twp., Snyder Co., PA.^2,3,4 She married Franklin Oliver Bitner on 28 August 1892 at Snyder Co., PA.⁵ Minnie Mary Sechrist lived in 1920 at Monroe Twp., Snyder Co., PA.⁶ She died on 8 May 1927 at Sunbury, Northumberland Co., PA, at age 49.^3,4 She was buried in May 1927 at Witmer's (East) United Methodist Cemetery, Union Twp., Snyder Co., PA.³
     There has been much confusion about Minnie's name. Some people have said it was Mary Minnie. That is the name that her father used for her in his will. I have also seen it written as Minnie Mae. However, when Frank Bitner filled out his draft registration card for World War I, he named his wife as Minnie Mary. Her name on her tombstone is Minnie M.
     Frank and Minnie Bitner initially lived next to his parents' farm on Roosters Road. Frank probably farmed his parents' land with his father. The couple appeared in the 1900 census with their first four children: Bessie, Herbert, Allen and Earl. By 1910 one more child, Lee, was born. They had moved to a farm in Penn Township. According to his son Carl, this farm was located on Greenridge Road, about one mile west of Selinsgrove. Carl said that by the time he was born, they had moved to a home on the Susquehanna Trail just below Selinsgrove.
     By 1920 Frank and Minnie were living in Hummels Wharf, just below Shamokin Dam, with their younger children, Carl and Edna. This house was on the east side of the Susquehanna Trail near the intersection of Park Road. Frank was working as a laborer in a dye works⁷ at that time. The dye works was located in Sunbury.
     After Minnie died in 1927 and Frank remarried, he lived with his second wife Sadie. The younger children were living with their married siblings. Carl was with his sister Bessie and Grant Miller. Edna was with her brother Herb.
     Frank had an interesting occupation in addition to those listed in the census. He dredged coal from the Susquehanna River. I found several articles about this occupation, which was common in that area, in The Snyder County Historical Society Bulletin.^8,9 Please see them for a more detailed description of the operation.
     The coal mining regions north and east of Sunbury along the Susquehanna River and its tributaries dumped many tons of rock containing coal. The rock and waste coal was washed into the streams and floated downstream until it lodged in low points in the river. After many years of mining, the coal could be harvested from the river bottom by bucket or long-handled seives. People would use a barge to work from and to load the coal onto. As methods improved over time, steam and gasoline motors were used to operate the dredging machinery.
     According to the articles, many families dredged coal simply to supply their own needs, while others probably sold what they could. We have no way of knowing whether Frank worked for a profit or not. We also don't know when he began working on the river. However, Lee Bitner said that he and Carl worked with their father on the barge. If they were in their teens at the time, it must have been in the 1920s. We have one photo of Minnie Bitner and her sister Matilda Faust sitting on the barge. (See Figure XXX.) Based on other photos of Matilda visiting from Akron, Ohio, the date must have been about 1923.
     The administration of Frank's estate in 1940 indicates he had no valued possessions. He owned one 30-acre tract of land in Union Township that was vacant. I don't know if this is the same tract owned by Christian Bittner and then Jennie Brubaker.

     Jacob Houseworth Shafer was a salesman. He was born on 29 February 1882 at Port Trevorton, Snyder Co., PA; funeral notice, obit.^2,3,4 He married Mary Hanna Woodside, daughter of John Calvin Woodside and Ann Eliza Lebo, on 14 October 1907 at Freeland, Luzerne Co., PA; home of Stanley E. Oberender; Jacob Shafer scrapbook; newspaper notice. Jacob Houseworth Shafer was a salesman for Freeland Overall Manufacturing Company on 12 September 1918 at Freeland, Luzerne Co., PA.² He was a salesman for auto company in 1920. He was a salesman of securities in 1930. He died on 8 February 1977 at Northumberland, Northumberland Co., PA, at age 94; funeral notice, obit.³ He was buried on 11 February 1977 at Orchard Hills Cemetery, Shamokin Dam, Snyder Co., PA.³

     Mary Hanna Woodside was born on 24 February 1877; funeral notice, obit.^2,3 She married Jacob Houseworth Shafer, son of James C. Shafer and Mary A. Noecker, on 14 October 1907 at Freeland, Luzerne Co., PA; home of Stanley E. Oberender; Jacob Shafer scrapbook; newspaper notice. Mary Hanna Woodside died on 20 November 1956 at Hummels Wharf, Snyder Co., PA, at age 79; funeral notice, obit.² She was buried on 23 November 1956 at Orchard Hills Cemetery, Shamokin Dam, Snyder Co., PA.²

     Donald Edward Shafer was born on 7 May 1914; funeral notice, obit.² He died on 15 July 1978 at Hummels Wharf, Snyder Co., PA, at age 64; funeral notice, obit.² He was buried on 19 July 1978 at Orchard Hills Cemetery, Shamokin Dam, Snyder Co., PA; funeral notice, obit.²

     James C. Shafer was a school teacher. He was born on 16 January 1846 at Snyder Co., PA; census; Charles A. Fisher notes, SCHS.² He married Mary A. Noecker circa 1866; Margie L. Hardenstine baby book; census. James C. Shafer was a painter in 1910. He died on 1 September 1911 at Union Twp., Snyder Co., PA, at age 65; Charles A. Fisher notes, SCHS.² He was buried on 4 September 1911 at Witmer's (East) United Methodist Cemetery, Union Twp., Snyder Co., PA.²

     Mary A. Noecker was born on 8 October 1845 at PA; census.² She married James C. Shafer circa 1866; Margie L. Hardenstine baby book; census. Mary A. Noecker died on 22 June 1929 at age 83.² She was buried in June 1929 at Witmer's (East) United Methodist Cemetery, Union Twp., Snyder Co., PA.²

     John Calvin Woodside was born on 1 December 1851 at Elizabethville, Dauphin Co., PA; Woodside family notes
His birth date was recorded as 1 Dec 1849 on his death certificate.² He married Ann Eliza Lebo, daughter of William Lebo and Angeline Keene, on 26 February 1871 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; John Woodside biog, Millersburg Sentinel, 30 Jun 1933.³ John Calvin Woodside was a foundry worker. He died on 21 December 1935 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA, at age 84; Affidavit of death, Bk30, p294, Dauphin Co. courthouse; tombstone.² He was buried on 24 December 1935 at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA.²

John grew up in Lykens. After his marriage to Ann Eliza, they lived first with her parents and then with his at the family home built by his father. He acquired the house at the death of his mother in 1894. He and Ann Eliza raised their family of ten children in this small house while living with his parents. One of John's granddaughters, Mildred Woodside Fegley, remembers well this home as the family gathering place on Sunday evenings for many years. I am unsure when this house was sold.

John's biography was published in 1933 by the Millersburg Sentinel (copy attached). He followed his father's occupation as a foundry worker and worked his entire life in Lykens. The author is in possession of several photographs of John and his crew working in the foundry.

John's wife Ann Eliza died at age fifty. He lived in the same house for the remainder of his long life with his daughter Cora. Both of them died in the same month. Although John has many descendants, the Woodside name in his branch of the family died with his three sons. They either died young, or had all daughters.

     Ann Eliza Lebo was buried at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Odd Fellows cemetery; obit. She was a dressmaker. She was born on 11 September 1852 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Ann Eliza Woodside remembrance card; obit; census. She was baptized on 12 December 1852 at Mifflin Twp., Dauphin Co., PA; IGI P0764. She married John Calvin Woodside, son of Daniel Woodside and Hannah Buffington, on 26 February 1871 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; John Woodside biog, Millersburg Sentinel, 30 Jun 1933.² Ann Eliza Lebo died on 7 April 1902 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA, at age 49; register of deaths, F565, Dauphin Co. courthouse; tomb.

     Lewis Lewton Woodside was buried at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Odd Fellows cemetery. He was born on 19 September 1871 at PA; Woodside family notes; Zion Lutheran Church records, DCHS. He was baptized on 7 January 1872 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Zion Lutheran Church records, DCHS. He died on 1 October 1885 at PA at age 14; Woodside family notes; tombstone; Zion Lutheran Church records, DCHS.

     William Elmer Woodside was born on 12 April 1874 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; William Woodside obit., Woodside family notes.² He married Bertha Mae Jury, daughter of Josiah Jury and Abby Jane Chubb, on 30 April 1899; William Woodside obit., Woodside family notes. William Elmer Woodside died on 4 June 1935 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA, at age 61; William Woodside obit., Woodside family notes; tombstone.² He was buried on 7 June 1935 at Calvary United Methodist Cemetery, Wiconisco, Dauphin Co., PA; His burial place was recorded as POSofA Cemetery, Lykens on his death certificate.²

     Emma Cordelia Woodside was born on 4 October 1878 at PA; Francis Ely obit., Woodside family notes; Zion Lutheran Church records.¹ She was baptized on 20 April 1879 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Zion Lutheran Church records, DCHS. She married Francis Marion Ely on 5 September 1900; Francis Ely obit., Woodside family notes. Emma Cordelia Woodside was buried on 7 May 1940 at Patriotic Order Sons of America Cemetery, Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; POSofA cemetery; obit.¹ She died on 14 May 1940 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA, at age 61; Francis Ely obit., Woodside family notes; tombstone.¹

     Francis Marion Ely was born on 5 August 1878 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Francis Ely obit., Woodside family notes.¹ He married Emma Cordelia Woodside, daughter of John Calvin Woodside and Ann Eliza Lebo, on 5 September 1900; Francis Ely obit., Woodside family notes. Francis Marion Ely died on 27 October 1944 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA, at age 66; Francis Ely obit., Woodside family notes; tombstone.¹ He was buried on 31 October 1944 at Patriotic Order Sons of America Cemetery, Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; obit.¹

     Bertha Mae Jury was buried at Wiconisco, Dauphin Co., PA; Calvary United Methodist Cemetery. She was born on 17 August 1879; Woodside family notes. She married William Elmer Woodside, son of John Calvin Woodside and Ann Eliza Lebo, on 30 April 1899; William Woodside obit., Woodside family notes. Bertha Mae Jury died on 13 September 1964 at age 85; Woodside family notes; tombstone.

     Cora Ann Woodside was born on 7 December 1880 at PA; Woodside family notes; census; Zion Lutheran Church records, DCHS.² She was baptized on 27 April 1881 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Zion Lutheran Church records, DCHS. She married Henry Fear on 11 August 1905 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Zion Lutheran Church records, DCHS. Cora Ann Woodside was buried on 1 December 1935 at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Odd Fellows cemetery; obit.² She died on 8 December 1935 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA, at age 55; Woodside family notes; tombstone; obit.²

     Henry Fear was buried at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Odd Fellows cemetery. Henry Fear also went by the name of Harry. He married Cora Ann Woodside, daughter of John Calvin Woodside and Ann Eliza Lebo, on 11 August 1905 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Zion Lutheran Church records, DCHS. Henry Fear died circa 1906; Woodside family notes.

     Lillie May Woodside married Allen A. Saltzer; Woodside family notes. Lillie May Woodside and Allen A. Saltzer Woodside family notes. Lillie May Woodside was born on 20 March 1883 at PA; Lillie May Woodside Saltzer funeral notice; Zion Luth Church records. She was baptized on 22 August 1883 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Zion Lutheran Church records, DCHS. She died on 5 June 1954 at age 71; Lillie May Woodside Saltzer funeral notice; tombstone. She was buried on 8 June 1954 at Elizabethville, Dauphin Co., PA; Maple Grove cemetery; funeral notice.

     Allen A. Saltzer and Lillie May Woodside Woodside family notes. Allen A. Saltzer married Lillie May Woodside, daughter of John Calvin Woodside and Ann Eliza Lebo; Woodside family notes. Allen A. Saltzer was born circa 1883; Woodside family notes; obit. He died on 11 February 1947 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Woodside family notes; obit. He was buried on 15 February 1947 at Elizabethville, Dauphin Co., PA; Maple Grove cemetery.

     Isabella Zena Woodside was born on 28 June 1885 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; funeral notice, obit; Zion Lutheran Church records; baptism cert. She was baptized on 28 March 1886 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Zion Lutheran Church records, DCHS; baptism certificate. She married Herbert H. Weaver on 28 September 1915; Woodside family notes. Isabella Zena Woodside died on 30 May 1969 at Elizabethville, Dauphin Co., PA, at age 83; funeral notice, obit; tombstone. She was buried on 2 June 1969 at Elizabethville, Dauphin Co., PA; Maple Grove cemetery; funeral notice and obit.

     Herbert H. Weaver was buried at Elizabethville, Dauphin Co., PA; Maple Grove cemetery. He was born in 1888; tombstone. He married Isabella Zena Woodside, daughter of John Calvin Woodside and Ann Eliza Lebo, on 28 September 1915; Woodside family notes. Herbert H. Weaver died in 1948; tombstone.

     Charles Calvin Woodside was buried at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Odd Fellows cemetery. He was born on 19 December 1889 at PA; Woodside family notes; Zion Lutheran Church records, DCHS. He was baptized on 14 February 1890 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Zion Lutheran Church records, DCHS. He died on 23 December 1929 at age 40; Woodside family notes; tombstone; Zion Lutheran Church records, DCHS.

     Florence Orlene Woodside married George L. Sneeder; Woodside family notes. Florence Orlene Woodside was born on 28 December 1890 at PA; Woodside family notes; census; Zion Lutheran Church records
Her birth date was recorded as 24 Dec on her death certificate.² She was baptized on 9 August 1891 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Zion Lutheran Church records, DCHS. She died on 28 October 1918 at Upper Paxton Twp., Dauphin Co., PA, at age 27; Woodside family notes.² She was buried on 31 October 1918 at Oak Hill Cemetery, Millersburg, Dauphin Co., PA; Woodside family notes.²

     George L. Sneeder was buried at Kulp, Dauphin Co., PA; Methodist church cemetery; obit. He died at Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA; obituary; 83 years old. He was a rail conductor. He married Florence Orlene Woodside, daughter of John Calvin Woodside and Ann Eliza Lebo; Woodside family notes.

     Angeal Woodside was born on 31 May 1892 at PA; Woodside family notes; census; Zion Lutheran Church records.² She was baptized on 15 August 1892 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Zion Lutheran Church records, DCHS. She married Clayton S. Evitts, son of George F. Evitts and Sara A. [Evitts], on 20 September 1913; Woodside family notes. Angeal Woodside died on 5 March 1943 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA, at age 50; Woodside family notes; tombstone.² She was buried on 9 March 1943 at Lykens Cemetery, Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Lykens cemetery.²

     Clayton S. Evitts was buried at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA; Lykens cemetery. He was born on 1 December 1890; Woodside family notes. He married Angeal Woodside, daughter of John Calvin Woodside and Ann Eliza Lebo, on 20 September 1913; Woodside family notes. Clayton S. Evitts died on 26 December 1960 at age 70; Woodside family notes; tombstone.

     Daniel Woodside was born on 15 January 1824; Yeager, "A Brief History..." (1912); Lykens Valley Evan Ref Ch records. He was baptized on 6 May 1824 at Killinger, Dauphin Co., PA; Lykens Valley Evan Ref Church records, DCHS. He married Hannah Buffington on 20 March 1845; Daniel Woodside Bible (Phyllis Hardenstine). Daniel Woodside was a blacksmith. He died on 6 March 1893 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA, at age 69; Yeager, "A Brief History..." (1912); 11:30 PM, Dauphin Co estate index. He was buried at Berrysburg, Dauphin Co., PA; Peace Reformed Church; Lykens Valley Tombstones, DCHS. His estate was probated on 14 March 1893 at Dauphin Co., PA; Dauphin Co estate index.

The marriage of Daniel and Hannah, along with the births and deaths of their children, is recorded in their family Bible. It has been passed down through the family to their great-great-granddaughter, Mary Phyllis Hardenstine. They apparently lived in Elizabethville until they moved to Lykens in 1856. In 1870 they purchased a lot at Pine and South Second streets and built a home. Daniel was a blacksmith and worked at a foundry in Lykens supplying the surrounding collieries.

Only two of Daniel and Hannah's children lived to old age - John and Daniel. John inherited the family home in Lykens, while Daniel eventually moved to Ohio. Additional sources.²

     Hannah Buffington was buried at Berrysburg, Dauphin Co., PA; Berrysburg Union cemetery, Register of deaths, Dauphin Co. She Person Source.² She was born on 24 August 1825 at Dauphin Co., PA; Register of deaths, Dauphin Co. She married Daniel Woodside, son of Thomas Woodside and Mary Yeager, on 20 March 1845; Daniel Woodside Bible (Phyllis Hardenstine). Hannah Buffington died on 9 October 1894 at Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA, at age 69; Register of deaths, Dauphin Co; Zion Lutheran Church records, DCHS. Her estate was probated on 17 October 1894 at Dauphin Co., PA; Will A65, Dauphin Co courthouse, written 6 Jun 1894.