Biographical Sketch (1883):3077 "W. S. Bitler, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 16, P. O. Madison, was born in Auglaize County, Ohio, in 1846, and is a son of Mr. Daniel Bitler, of Lyon County, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. He came to Kansas with his father in 1866, and located in this county in March, 1880. Of his farm of 240 acres, ninety are under cultivation, with an average corn yield of fifty bushels to the acre, which is used principally for feeding stock. He, in partnership with his father, Daniel Bitler, of Lyon County, usually carries from 300 to 700 head of cattle, and sixty to seventy-five hogs. His shipments of the former average twenty to twenty-five carloads annually. His residence, a handsome two-story stone building, occupies a commanding position upon rising ground, and is insured against fire in the sum of $1,600; his barns, etc., for $500 whilst both farm buildings and residence are insured against the danger of a tornado in the sum of $1,000 more. In 1874, Mr. Bitler married Miss Arminda Keith, and of their five children but two survive -- Ina, born November 22, 1879, and Ella, born December 22, 1881. Mr. Bitler is School Director for his district, and takes a warm interest in the welfare of his adopted State and county."

Biographical Sketch (1912):987 "William Sawyer Bitler, now deceased, was a successful man of affairs of Lyon and Greenwood counties, and one of the influential citizens of that section for years. He was a native of Ohio, born December 1, 1846, and a son of Daniel and Sarah J. (Van Tress) Bitler. The father was a dry goods merchant in Ohio, and young Bitler worked in his father's store until he was twenty-one years of age when, in 1867, the Bitler family removed to Kansas, locating on Government land in what is now Olpe township, Lyon county. Here the father engaged in farming and stock raising on an extensive scale, and was successful up to the time of his death. In addition to his agricultural interests he also became interested in the baking business in Emporia and Eureka. Mr. Bitler took an active interest in public affairs and kept thoroughly abreast of the times. He died April 29, 1898.

William Sawyer Bitler, after coming to Kansas, continued his business association with his father and they operated together in the cattle business and other interests, practically throughout their lives. William Sawyer Bitler organized the Madison Bank of Madison, Kansas, and was vice-president of that institution at the time of his death. He took a keen interest in political matters, and was a lifelong Republican. He served as one of the county commissioners of Greenwood county for a number of years. He was public-spirited and enterprising, having an extensive acquaintance and many friends. Mr. Bitler was united in marriage February 4, 1874, to Miss Arminda, daughter of James and Louisa (Weaver) Keith, natives of Illinois, and a pioneer family of Lyon county, Kansas. Mrs. Bitler was born in Indianola, Illinois, and came to Kansas with her parents in 1859. The father passed away in Madison in 1900, and the wife and mother passed away August 15, 1910. To William Sawyer Bitler and Arminda (Keith) Bitler were born seven children: Clytie, born March 25, 1876, died February 14, 1878; Ina, born November 22, 1879, graduated at the State Normal School, Emporia in the class of 1903, now a teacher in the Madison High School; Ella, born December 22, 1881, educated in the Kansas State Normal School at Emporia; Erma, born November 18, 1883, educated in the State Normal School of Emporia, married Ethelbert Shaffer, and has two children, William Earl and Fern; Clyde, born November 3, 1888, died April 19, 1889; Harry William, born February 9, 1890, and Fae, born July 16, 1894, graduated in the Madison High School class of 1912. The Bitler family is well and favorably known throughout Greenwood county and resides at Madison."

1880 U.S. Census:2137
Kansas, Greenwood County, Madison Township
Enumerated 16 June 1880
W. S. Bitler •• white, male, age 33, married, farmer, born in Ohio, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Ohio
Arminda •• white, female, age 29, wife, married, keeping house, born in Illinois, father born in Indiana, mother born in Ohio
Ina •• white, female, 6 months, born in November, daughter, single, at home, born in Kansas, father born in Ohio, mother born in Illinois
Louisa Keith •• white, female, age 52, mother-in-law, widowed, at home, born in Ohio, father born in Virginia, mother born in Ohio
Chas. L. Bitler •• white, male, age 21, brother, single, cattle herder, born in Ohio, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Ohio

1887 Leading Citizen:1845 W. S. Bitler listed as a farmer and stock raiser from Madison, Greenwood County in the 1887 Names of Leading Citizens who have Aided in the Publication of the Official State Atlas of Kansas.

1896 Death Record:1839 W. S. Bitler, age 49, male, white, married, cancer of stomach, U.S. citizen, resided in Madison, date of death November 6, 1896.