Biographical Sketch (1917):30, v. 2, p. 728-729. "William Bitler. The Bitler family has been one of many prominent associations with Auglaize County since pioneer times. The different members of the family have been pioneer agriculturists and successful farmers, have been business men, public officials, and in many ways the community has been benefited by their presence and their influence. William Bitler, who is himself a native of Auglaize County and represents the third generation of the family, has spent upwards of forty years in the grain and elevator business at Wapakoneta and is one of the oldest business men in that city.

He was born on a farm six miles east of Wapakoneta April 7, 1858, a son of Arthur and Margaret (Baughman) Bitler.

William Bitler attended the public schools of Auglaize County, graduating from the Wapakoneta High School in 1875. He soon afterward engaged in the grain business and his success is due to the fact that he has concentrated his efforts along one particular line. He is now a member of the firm of The Hauss & Bitler Company. They not only conduct a large grain business and elevator at Wapakoneta but also have extensive salesrooms for handling automobiles and agricultural implements. Mr. Bitler began his business career with little or no capital, and has found success by hard work and persistently keeping his mind and energies directed along one channel.

In 1877 he married Miss Minnie L. Mott. She is a native of Auglaize County, daughter of Oscar Mott, who is a cooper by trade. Mr. and Mrs. Bitler have twelve children, but only five are now living. Morris is a railroad man living at St. Louis, Missouri. George is a foreman of a munition factory at Dayton, Ohio. Milo is associated in business with his father. Susie is the wife of A. J. Miller, a rural mail carrier out of Wapakoneta. Arthur is employed by the Delco Light Company at Dayton. Mrs. Bitler is an active member and worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Bitler is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks and in politics is a republican. For three years he served as a member of the Wapakoneta School Board."

Biographical Sketch (1923):34, v. 2, p. 109. "William Bitler, of the firm of Hauss & Bitler, dealers in grain and proprietors of an old established grain elevator at Wapakoneta, is a native son of Auglaize county, a member of one of the real pioneer families here, and has lived here all his life, a resident of Wapakoneta since the days of his childhood. Mr. Bitler was born on a farm in the St. Johns neighborhood in Clay township on April 7, 1853, and is a son of Arthur and Margaret (Baughman) Bitler."

Biographical Sketch (1923):34, v. 2, p. 110-111. ‘William Bitler was about six years of age when his father moved from the farm to enter upon the duties of the county treasurer’s office at Wapakoneta and he ever since has been a resident of that city. He was graduated from the Wapakoneta high school in 1875 and then entered the office at his father’s grain elevator, there acquiring a thorough familiarity with all details of a business in which he ever since has been engaged. In 1896 he formed a partnership with Philip Jacobs in this business, which he meanwhile had taken over from his father upon the latter’s retirement, and this partnership continued for six years, or until 1902, when Jacob Hauss bought the Jacobs interest and the business has since been carried on under the firm name of Hauss & Bitler, a period of twenty years, one of the best known and most substantial grain firms in this section of the state, the firm’s well equipped plant being advantageously situated across the tracks from the B. & O. railway station. Mr. Bitler is a Republican and is affiliated with the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks at Wapakoneta. On November 1, 1877, William Bitler was united in marriage to Minnie L. Mott, who also was born in this county, daughter of Walter and Elizabeth Mott, and to this union twelve children have been born. Of these five are now living, Morris, George, Milo, Susan, and Arthur, the latter of whom, a veteran of the World war, married Naomi Blume and is living at Wapakoneta. Morris Bitler married Mamie Brandaugh. George Bitler married Laura Distelrath and has one child, a son, William. Milo Bitler married Tessie Chiesa and has three children, John, Betty, and Florence, and Susan Bitler married Albert Miller and has two children, Louise and Mary. Both Morris and George Bitler are veterans of the Spanish-American war and Arthur Bitler was a soldier in the National army during the time of America’s participation in the World war, serving in the light artillery overseas."

1858 Birth:164, p. 19. Birth of William Bitler, on April 7, 1858, in Saint Johns to Arthur Bitler and Margaret Bachman. Spouse: Minnie Mott.

1880 U.S. Census:2171
Ohio, Auglaize County, Wapakoneta
Enumerated 3 June 1880
William Bitler •• white, male, age 22, married, clerk grain house, born in Ohio, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Ohio
Minnie •• white, female, age 20, wife, married, keeping house, born in Ohio, father born in Ohio, mother born in Ohio
Moris •• white, male, age 1, son, single, born in Ohio, father born in Ohio, mother born in Ohio

1887 Death of son Paul:778,290, v. 1, p. 34 (Auglaize County Democrat, 22 December 1887) Died. Bitler. On Monday December 19, after an illness of but one day, little Paul, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Bitler, aged 4 months and 18 days. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon from the residence.

1891 Death of daughter Carrie:290, v. 1, p. 34 (Auglaize County Democrat, 20 August 1891) Carrie Bitler died Aug. 19, 1891 of cholera infantum. 11m. d/o Mr. & Mrs. William Bitler.

1893 Death of son William:290, v. 1, p. 35 (Auglaize County Democrat, 28 September 1893) William Bitler died Sept. 23, 1893. 8m 20d s/o Mr. & Mrs. William Bitler. Buried in Greenlawn Cemetery.

1896 Death of Infant:290, v. 1, p. 34 (Auglaize County Democrat, 6 August 1896) Between August 1 to 5, 1896, Infant Bitler died, s/o Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Bitler on east Pearl Street. 7 wks. Buried Greenlawn Cemetery.

1896 Death of son Andrew:290, v. 1, p. 33 (Auglaize County Democrat, 26 November 1896) 20 November 1896, Andrew Bitler died last Friday. 5y s/o Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Bitler. Buried Greenlawn Cemetery.

1896 Death of Son:290, v. 1, p. 35 (Auglaize County Democrat, 10 December 1896) 8 December 1896, Warren Bitler died Tuesday. 3y s/o Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Bitler. Buried Greenlawn Cemetery.

1896 Obituary:781 Died. Bitler. At the family residence on East Pearl Street, Wapakoneta, on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 1896, Warren, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Bitler, aged two years and six months.

1928 Death Certificate:1594 William Bitler; date of death, April 17, 1928; place of death, Auglaize County, Wapakoneta; residence, 303 Mechanic; male, white, married; wife, Minnie Bitler; age 70 years, 10 days; occupation, farmers implement merchant; born, near St. Johns, Ohio; father, Arthur Bitler, born near St. Johns, Ohio; mother’s maiden name, Margaret Bachman, Auglaize County, Ohio; informant, Mrs. Milo Bitler, Wapakoneta, Ohio; burial, Greenlawn Cemetery, April 19, 1928.

1928 Cemetery Records:171, v. 2, bk. 1, p. 22. Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio.
Wm. Bitler
b. 4-7-1858
d. 4-17-1928
70y 10d