William Whitmire (1803 - 1879)

Born 10 May 1803 in Upper Milford Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Bower) Whitmire — married about 1828 (to 29 May 1879) in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died 29 May 1879 at age 76 in Ebenezer, Centre Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

William, fourth child and youngest son of David and Margaret Gilbert Whitmire, was born 10 May 1803, baptized 11 September 1803, and brought as a child to Columbia County, where his parents farmed between what is now Orangeville and Berwick. This spot was most likely Bloom Township, then Orange Township, and now North Centre Township.

William married Sarah Bower, daughter of the younger Michael and Mary Zehner Bower, circa 1828; they were the parents of four sons.

William received the following sketch—excerpted from a larger sketch of grandson Morris I. Whitmire—in the 1915 work Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, available here and transcribed here:
     “William Whitmire, son of David Whitmire and grandfather of Morris I. Whitmire, was born in eastern Pennsylvania, whence he came to Centre township, Columbia county, locating on a farm of 126 acres on which he carried on general farming the remainder of his useful life. Prior to his death he divided his farm between his two sons, Isaac and Daniel, share and share alike, and lived retired until death claimed him, caused by cancer. Politically he was a Democrat, but never held office. Formerly a member of the old Lutheran Church, he found himself during his latter life more in sympathy with the United Evangelical Church, and connected himself with it. He and his wife are buried in the Old Ebenezer cemetery in Centre township. William Whitmire married Sarah Bower of Briarcreek township, a daughter of Michael Bower, and they had children as follows: Isaac married Elizabeth Hayman, and both are deceased; Daniel B., who is deceased, married Mary Roup; William, who is deceased, was a traveling preacher; Hiram, deceased, married Sallie Ann Erwine, of Berwick.”

William's land, according to an 1860 map of the county, was located along the north side of what is now PA 93 near Shelhamer Road, approximately here.

William wrote his will on 11 May 1872; it is transcribed here:
     “I, William Whitmire, of Centre Township in the county of Columbia and state of Pennsylvania, do make and publish this, my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at anytime heretofore made.
     “As to such wordly estate it hath pleased God to entrust me with, I dispose of the same, as follows:
     “First, I direct that all my debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon after my decease as possible.
     “I give unto my beloved wife personal property to the value of three hundred dollars according to law.
     “I give and bequeath unto my son Isaac, and his heirs and assigns, all that messuage or tenement and tract of land containing 63 acres and 117 perches as now occupied by him (situate in Centre Township), which I value to him at the sum of 1911.83 dollars, one thousand dollars thereof to remain in the premises and the interest thereof to be paid annually to my said wife during her natural lifetime, reserving unto my said wife out of the above tract of land (in addition to said interest) the part of the dwellinghouse at present occupied by myself together with the cow pasture, fodder, stable room, part of the springhouse and garden, firewood delivered free of charge, fruit and generally all such privileges as I had on said farm during life, provided she requires the same or any part thereof. Also reserving for the use of Daniel B. as much fruit annually as would be reasonable, until his orchard shall bear sufficient for his use, or until either of said parties should sell their farm willed my me to them.
     “I give and bequeath unto my son, Daniel B., and to his heirs and assigns, all that messuage or tenement and tract of land situate in Centre Township or at present occupied by him containing 63 acres and 117 and seventeen perches which I value to him at the sum of 1911.83 dollars, one thousand dollars thereof to remain in said premises during the natural life of my said wife, the interest thereof to be paid to her annually. Reserving thereout, in addition to said interest, for the use of my said wife, the cow pasture, fodder, firewood all delivered free, and all such other privileges as I had during life, provided she should require the same or any part thereof.
     “All the bequests hereinbefore made to my said wife shall be deemed and taken in lieu of her dower or thirds or other portion of in all my estate.
     “The net proceeds of my estate shall be equally divided to and among my children or their legal representatives.
     “And, lastly, I do hereby make and ordain my son, Hiram Whitmire, executor of this, my last will and testament; in witness whereof, I, William Whitmire, the testator, leave to this my will written on one sheet of paper, setting my hand and seal this eleventh day of May A.D. 1872.”

The above will was proved 2 June 1879, shortly after his passing from cancer on the 29th of May; he was survived by his wife, three sons, twelve grandchildren, and subsequently buried at Old Ebenezer Cemetery.

Sources

• Deed of George and Eva Whitmire to William Whitmire, 3 Mar 1838: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNP-9995

• Appearance in the grantor index of deeds, Columbia County: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4V-LG78

• Sponsor in the 5 Jul 1840 baptism of "Dareus Remely", St. Peter's Union Church, Briar Creek Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania: https://archive.org/details/briarcreekchurch00bria/page/n127/mode/2up

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4HQ-N5W : 9 November 2014), William Whitmire, Orange, Columbia, Pennsylvania, United States; citing family 172, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• 1870 United States census; P.O. Fowlersville, Centre Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania; taken 28 July 1870 with a reference day of 1 June; page 27, dwelling 196 and family 196, lines 11–2:
       https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DT6Q-KCS

• "Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89SM-719Q?cc=1999196&wc=9PMK-VZ3%3A268497701%2C268540101 : 3 July 2014), Columbia > Wills and administration record index 1813-1974 L-Z > image 1016 of 1081; county courthouses, Pennsylvania.

• "Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9SM-WSJT?cc=1999196&wc=9PM2-4W5%3A268497701%2C268560101 : 3 July 2014), Columbia > Wills and administration records 1869-1880 vol 4 > image 377 of 449; county courthouses, Pennsylvania.

• Stone at Old Ebenezer Cemetery, North Centre Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania:
       https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13726959/william-whitmire