Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Family Sketches
An American Adventure
Family tree of John Bitler and his three sons, John, Daniel, and Michael
Bitler - The Bitler's of Berks and Schuylkill counties in Pennsylvania were established by John Bitler, who likely arrived in 1736 on the Ship Harle. John Bitler and his first wife had at least three sons: John "Long John" Biter; Daniel Bitler; and Michael Bitler.

Son Daniel Bitler remained in the Berks County area and raised a large family. Son Michael Bitler died in Columbia County about 1848.
  • John "Long John" Bitler served in the Berks County Militia during the Revolution. "Long John" Bitler, along with his wife Maria Elizabeth Wolff and their children, moved to Schuylkill County in 1812. The extended Bitler family was enumerated in the 1820 and 1830 censuses in Union Township. Family Patriarch Long John Bitler died there in 1837. Their ten children were:
  • Daniel Bitler married Elizabeth Clevenstine in 1806 in Berks County. Daniel's oldest son William Bitler married Rebecca Snyder in 1828 in Schuylkill County. Daniel and his family relocated to Auglaize County, Ohio in 1834.
  • John Wolf Bitler married Polly Degar in Berks County in 1809. The couple was enumerated in Schuylkill County in 1820.
  • Sarah Bitler married John Maurer in Berks County in 1807; the couple were enumerated in Schuylkill County in 1820.
  • Marcus or Mark Bitler and his wife Hannah Blew were also enumerated in Schuylkill County in 1820.
  • Samuel Bitler purchased land in Auglaize County, Ohio in 1830, married Mary Rumer in Franklin County, Ohio in 1834, and was enumerated with his family in Auglaize County in 1840.
  • Hannah Bitler married Samuel Ruppert and remained in the area.
  • Elizabeth Bitler never married, but bore a son, Nelson Brandon. She died in Schuylkill County in 1863 and is buried at St. Paul’s (Old White) Church, Ringtown, Union Township, Schuylkill County.
  • William Bitler was enumerated with his wife Elizabeth in Franklin County, Ohio, in both 1840 ad 1850.
  • Thomas Bitler remained in the area and died in 1873 in Muncy Creek Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
  • James Bitler married Matilda Focht prior to 1830 and the family remained in the area. Other members of the Focht family joined the relocation to Auglaize County, Ohio.
Snyder - In 1820, Michael Snyder was enumerated adjacent to the household of Daniel Bitler, the eldest of Long John Bitler's sons. In 1828, Daniel's oldest son William Bitler married Rebecca Snyder. Could Rebecca be Michael Snyder's daughter? By 1830, Michael apparently was dead, as the Snyder household, still adjoining Daniel Bitler's, was headed by Maria Snyder.