Biographical Sketch (1905):27, p. 624-625. "Arthur Bitler, son of William Bitler, one of the Bitler pioneers, was born in the city of Columbus, April 3d, 1832. His father moved to St. Johns, Auglaize County, in 1834. Arthur attended the pioneer school of that place, and in that humble institution of learning laid the foundations of a sound education. By a close application to the study of mathematics and the other common branches, he gradually drifted into the profession of teaching. As a teacher of arithmetic he had no superior among the teachers of that time, and we may also add that he has but few equals in the county in that branch at the present time. During the periods of time, when not employed in teaching, he engaged in other pursuits until 1864, when he was elected county treasurer which office he filled with ability from 1864 until 1869. Mr. Bitler has been married twice. In 1859, he was wedded to Miss Margaret Baughman of Auglaize county. Six children were born to them, of which two are living, William, engaged in the grain business and sale of agricultural machinery, and Delila, wife of A. Klipfel, who is engaged in a flourishing grocery business. Mrs. Bitler died May 20th, 1865. Mr. Bitler married the second time in 1865 to Miss Elizabeth Davis of this county. Of this marriage six children were born, of who four are living. His second wife died March 20th, 1884, at the age of forty-three years. After his retirement from office as county treasurer, he engaged in the pork packing business for several years, and later did an extensive business in the purchase and sale of the grain products of the county. He has always noted for his strict integrity, enterprise, and liberality. His interest in educational affairs of Wapakoneta was well known and appreciated by the community. For many years he served as a member of the Board of Education, and most of the time as treasurer of that body."

Biographical Sketch (1917):30, vol. 2, p. 728-729. "Arthur Bitler was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1832 and died in December, 1914. He was married in Auglaize County to Margaret Baughman, who was born in this county in 1835 and died in 1863. Arthur Bitler was an infant when brought to Auglaize County lived on a farm until 1865, and in that year was elected county treasurer, serving two terms. On retiring from office he entered the elevator business, which he continued until 1881, and afterwards was engaged in contract work until he retired in 1906. He was a very well known and highly respected citizen of Auglaize County. Besides his service as county treasurer he was a member of the school board, the town council, and at two different times was land appraiser. He did much for the upbuilding and improvement of Wapakoneta. In politics he followed the fortunes of the democratic party until 1896, and after that voted with the republicans. He was a charter member of the Royal Arcanum, was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. By his first marriage he had four children, the two now living being William Bitler and Delilah. The latter is the wife of A. W. Klipfel, a retired grocer. For his second wife Arthur Bitler married Elizabeth Davis, and there are four children of their six still living. Ira is a gardener in Florida. Bertha is the wife of Jules Wehrner, who is connected with a wholesale hardware store in St. Joseph, Missouri. Harry is employed by the Buckeye Pipe Line Company at Lima. Catherine is the wife of Mr. Burk, a banker at Champaign, Illinois."

Biographical Sketch (1923):34, v. 2, p. 93. "The late Arthur Bitler, former treasurer of Auglaize county and for years thereafter actively engaged in the grain business in Wapakoneta, was but two years of age when his parents, William Bitler and wife, came up here from Columbus in 1834, two years after the Indians had retired from this region, and became prominent pioneers of the St. Johns neighborhood."

Biographical Sketch (1923):34, v. 2, p. 109. "The late Arthur Bitler, former treasurer of Auglaize County and one of the best known men of his generation in this county, also was a native of Ohio, born in the city of Columbus, and had been a resident of this county since the days of his childhood, back in the days before there even was an Auglaize county, when that part of this present county in which his father settled in pioneer days was attached to Allen county. He was born on April 3, 1832, and was barely two years of age when his parents, William and Rebecca (Snyder) Bitler, moved up into this part of the state in the spring of 1834."

Biographical Sketch (1923):34, v. 2, p. 110. "He [i.e. Arthur Bitler] grew up amid pioneer conditions. As is set out in the Williamson review (1905) he ‘attended the pioneer school of that place (St. Johns) and in that humble institution of learning laid the foundations of a sound education. By a close application to the study of mathematics and the other common branches, he gradually drifted into the profession of teaching. As a teacher of arithmetic he had no superior among the teachers of that time, and we also may add that he had but few equals in the county in that branch at the present time.’ Arthur Bitler married and made his home on a farm which he had bought in Clay township until after his election to the office of county treasurer in 1864, when he moved to Wapakoneta, where he ever afterward made his home and where his last days were spent. By re-election he served in the county treasurer’s office until 1870 and upon the completion of this term of public service traded his farm for a mill and grain elevator at Wapakoneta and also established a pork-pacing industry there, and was thus engaged in business at that place until 1881, when he disposed of his grain business and became engaged as a contractor and the later years of his life were spent as a lightning-rod salesman. Mr. Bitler every maintained his interest in educational affairs and for years was kept on the local board of education, during most of this time being the treasurer of the board. He died on December 21, 1914, and at his passing left a good memory, for in many ways he had been a helpful factor in the good works of the community. Arthur Bitler was twice married, his first wife having been Margaret Baughman, who died on May 20, 1863. To that union five children were born, of whom but two survive, the subject of this sketch [i.e. William Bitler II] and his sister Delilah (Mrs. A. W. Klipfel). Following the death of the mother of these children, Arthur Bitler married Elizabeth Davis, who died in the spring of 1884. To that union six children were born, four of whom grew to maturity."

1840 U.S. Census:397 Arthur enumerated in the household of his father William Bitler in Clay Township, Auglaize County, Ohio as one of two males, ages 5 to 10, the other male being Ludwick Lawtigh, who was under the court-appointed guardianship of William Bitler.

1850 U.S. Census:398 Arthur enumerated in the household of his father William Bitler in Clay Township, Auglaize County, Ohio as a male, age 18, farmer, born in Ohio, in schools within the year.

1852 First Marriage:459 Marriage of Arthur Bitler and Margaret Baughman on February 22, 1852, Auglaize County, Ohio. Ceremony performed by Daniel Bittler, J.P., uncle of Arthur Bitler.

1850s Teacher:27, p. 717. "John Corder, James H. Coleman, Samuel Bitler and Arthur Bitler were the pioneer teachers of the township."

1853 Death of Children:18, p. 303.,171, v. 1, bk. 2, p. 266. St. Johns Cemetery, Union Township, Auglaize County, Ohio.
Infant Bitler, s/o Arthur & Margaret Bitler, d. Aug. 21, 1853
Samuel Bitler, s/o Arthur & Margaret Bitler, no date

1860 U.S. Census:402
Auglaize County, Ohio (Clay Township)
Enumerated 3 July 1860
Arthur Bitler •• 28, male, farmer, real estate value: $2,000, personal property value: $150, born in Ohio
Margaret •• 30, female, born in Ohio
Mary •• 5, female, born in Ohio, attended school within the year
Wm. •• 2, male, born in Ohio

1861 Township Government:27, p. 526-527. On 18 June 1861 Arthur Bitler was appointed to represent Clay Township on a County Central Committee to receive reports and to disburse funds to the different township committees appropriated for the relief of families of volunteers. This County Central Committee was also asked to apportion the relief funds to the different townships proportionate to the number of families in each requiring aid.

1861 Death of Child:171, v. 1, bk. 2, p. 266. Tombstone, St. Johns Cemetery, Union Township, Auglaize County, Ohio: Daniel B. Bitler, s/o A. & M. Bitler, d. March 8, 1861

1864 Second Marriage:460 Marriage of Arthur Bitler and Elizabeth Davis on July 5, 1864 in Auglaize County, Ohio.

1864 County Treasurer:27, p. 464. Arthur Bitler received 1,872 votes from Auglaize County residents and 8 voles from soldiers to win election as Auglaize County Treasurer.

1866 County Treasurer:27, p. 466. Arthur Bitler received 2,228 votes from Auglaize County residents to win election as Auglaize County Treasurer.

1870 U.S. Census:403
Auglaize County, Ohio (Wapakoneta Village)
Enumerated 16 July 1870
Arthur Bitler •• 38, male, white, (illegible) practice (?), value of real property: $11,250; value of personal property: $5,000; born in Ohio, eligible to vote
Elizabeth •• 28, female, white, keeping house, born in Ohio
Mary D. •• 15, female, white, at home, born in Ohio
William •• 12, male, white, at home, born in Ohio
Louis A. •• 4, male, white, at home, born in Ohio
Ira •• 1, male, white, at home, born in Ohio

1877 Robbery:1405,1311,1312 According to a 27 September 1877 article in The Auglaize Democrat Arthur Bitler and his uncle Samuel Bitler were instrumental in solving a robbery of the Auglaize County treasury that occurred on 5 September 1877 by the County Treasurer, Lewis Myers. The incident was described in the New York Times on both 7 September 1877 and 28 September 1877.

1880 Grain Dealer:32, p. 41. Arthur Bitler listed in Patron’s Business References, Wapakoneta Business District, Grain Dealers: "Arthur Bitler, dealer and shipper of all kinds of grain, and highest price paid. Warehouse near depot."

1880 U.S. Census:404
Auglaize County, Ohio (Wapakoneta)
Enumerated 9 June 1880
Arthur Bitler •• white male, age 48, married, grain dealer, born in Ohio, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Pennsylvania
Elisabeth •• white female, age 40, wife, married, keeping house, born in Ohio, father born in [NY or NJ], mother born in [NY or NJ]
Bertha •• white female, age 7, daughter, single, at school, born in Ohio, father born in Ohio, mother born in Ohio
Ira •• white male, age 11, son, single, at S.H. [State Hospital?] , deaf & dumb, born in Ohio, father born in Ohio, mother born in Ohio
Harry •• white male, age 6/12 [i.e. six months], born in Nov., son, single, born in Ohio, father born in Ohio, mother born in Ohio
Catharine Kuper •• white female, age 18, servant, single, servant, born in Ohio, father born in Baden, mother born in Baden

1900 U.S. Census:939
Auglaize County, Ohio (Wapakoneta)
Enumerated 15 June 1900
Arthur Bitler •• boarder, white male, born April 1832, age 68, widowed, born in Ohio, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Pennsylvania, insurance agent, employed all year, can read, can write, can speak English

1910 U.S. Census:952
Auglaize County, Ohio (Wapakoneta)
Enumerated 2 May 1910
Arthur Bitler •• father, male, white, age 78, widowed, married 35 years, born in Ohio, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Pennsylvania, native language English, able to read, able to write
Enumerated in the household of son William Bitler and wife Minnie.

1914 Death Certificate:1183 Arthur Bitler; Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio; 20 December 1914; male, white, widower; born 3 April 1832; retired; born Columbus, Ohio; father, Wm. Bitler, born Pennsylvania; maiden name of mother and mother’s birthplace not known; burial, Greenlawn Cemetery.

1914 Obituary:548 Venerable Arthur Bitler Summoned. Another Auglaize County pioneer passed from this vale of tears into the realm of eternal happiness beyond, when the venerable Arthur Bitler died at the home of his son, Wm. Bitler, on East Mechanic street, Sunday morning, Dec. 20, 1914, at 4 o’clock. Mr. Bitler had been ill since the early part of November, and his death was caused by many ailments that oft-times afflict one of his advanced age. Arthur Bitler was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Bitler and was born in Columbus, Ohio, April 3, 1832; he was 82 years, eight months and 7 days old at the time of his death. In 1834 he moved with his parents to St. Johns, where he grew to manhood. He was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Baughman, in 1854, to which union two surviving children were born. They are Wm. Bitler and Mrs. A. W. Klipfel, both of Wapakoneta.

Soon after his marriage he moved to Wapakoneta, where, in 1863, his wife died. In 1864 he was elected treasurer of Auglaize County, in which capacity he served two terms. During the same year he married Miss Elizabeth Davis of this city. Four living children survive from this union. They are: Harry Bitler of Lima; Ira Bitler, his present residence unknown; Mrs. Eugene Burke, Champaign, Ill.; Mrs. Jules Wehner, St. Joseph, Missouri. Mr. Bitler was permitted to live with his wife for twenty years, when she also died, in 1884. Mr. Bitler bought a grain mill in 1870, operated the same, together with the late George Fisher, until 1881, at which time he gave up the grain business. During the same year he formed a partnership with Frank Winget in the lightning rod business; this partnership was operated for about eleven years under their supervision, at which time, Mr. Bitler, realizing that the work he was called up[on] to perform was too strenuous for him, and having also accumulated considerable of this world’s goods, he retired.

During his residence in Wapakoneta he took an active part in public affairs, serving several terms on both the Board of Education and the City Council. Mr. Bitler was beloved and respected by all who had the good fortune to knowing him, and his many kindnesses and charitable acts will long remain in the hearts of many people, and these deeds will ever serve as a perpetual monument to the memory of one who was always of the highest type of citizenship. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church and attended services regularly until his extreme age and the attending frailties made it possible for him to [no] longer do so. He is survived by one brother and two sisters: Samuel Bitler, Mrs. Lucie Fritz, Roundhead, Ohio; Mrs. George Martin, St. Johns; beside these the children already noted, and a large number of grandchildren and several great-grandchildren also survive him. Private funeral services from the residence of his son, Wm. Bitler, Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 22, at 1 o’clock, conducted by Rev. W. F. Martin. Burial in Greenlawn Cemetery.

1914 Tombstone:17, p. 120. Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Auglaize, Ohio.
Arthur Bitler
1832-1914