Berks and Schuylkill Counties, Pennsylvania - The Bitler's of Berks and Schuylkill counties in Pennsylvania were established by family patriarch John Bitler and his three sons: John, known as Long John; Daniel; and Michael. Son Long John Bitler served in the Berks County Militia during the Revolutionary War. Son Daniel remained in the Berks County area, while son Michael eventually settled in Columbia County.
The focus of this story is on Long John Bitler, his wife Maria Elizabeth Wolff, and their eldest son Daniel Bitler who married Elizabeth Clevenstine in Berks County in 1806. The entire extended family (ten children) of Long John Bitler relocated to the area around Ringtown, Union Township, Schuylkill County. The family can be found there in both the 1820 and 1830 census enumerations. Daniel and Elizabeth's oldest son William Bitler married Rebecca Snyder in 1828 in Schuylkill County. It is likely, but as yet unproven, that Rebecca was a daughter of the neighboring family headed by Michael Snyder.
Auglaize County, Ohio - In 1832, Daniel Bitler and Elizabeth Clevenstine relocated to Franklin County, Ohio, and in 1834 they again relocated, this time to Auglaize County, Ohio, founding St. Johns in Clay Township. Son William Bitler and grandson Arthur Bitler, husband of Margaret Baughman, were prominent members of the St. Johns community, serving as bankers, teachers, and hotel keepers. Son Samuel Bitler, merchant and banker, died in May 1889, just two months before the death of his older brother William. The obituaries of both men provide an interesting glimpse into the pioneer spirit present in nineteenth century Ohio communities.
Lyon County, Kansas - After the death of his wife Sarah Jane Van Tress, son Daniel Bitler, Jr., married Elizabeth Waggoner in Auglaize County, Ohio. In 1867 Daniel relocated to Olpe, Lyon County, Kansas, where he established a Bitler settlement. Daniel's sixteen children by Sarah Jane and Elizabeth became community leaders in Lyon and neighboring Greenwood counties. Prominent among these descendants are Sylvester Van Tress Bitler, William Sawyer Bitler, Suzanna Bitler who married Freeman Gilbert Soule, Daniel Franklin Bitler, and Maggie Moss Bitler who married Peter Hines.