My Genealogy Hound

HIRAM DITLOW. No country in the world offers better opportunities for the successful carving of one’s own fortunes by legitimate means than does the United States. Among the residents of the township of West Pennsboro, Cumberland county, who have taken advantage of this glorious privilege, as well as opportunity, and have hewed their own way to fortune, may be mentioned Hiram Ditlow, whose energy and good management have been his only aids.

George Ditlow, his father, was born in South Middleton township, and attended the schools of that town. Like the majority of farmer boys he was early trained to make himself useful on the homestead. On reaching man’s estate he took up agriculture as a life occupation, and in 1853 he located in Lower Allen township, and his death occurred there that same year. He married Catherine Nailor, who bore him the following children: William, who died in Carlisle; David, who married Maggie Forman, of Perry county, had two children, and died in Lower Allen; Alfred, living in Fayetteville, Franklin county, Pa., who married (first) a Miss Drawbaugh, of Milltown. Lower Allen township, who died, and he married (second) a lady from Fayetteville, Franklin county; Henry, who died in Lower Allen; George, who married a lady in West Fairview, and now lives in Lower Allen; Hiram; and Anna Elizabeth, who married Robert McCleaf, of Chambersburg, Pa., and has five children. After the death of the father, the mother married his brother, Henry Ditlow, by whom she had two children: Matilda Catherine, who married Samuel Stiteler, of York county, and has six children; and Emma Lucy, of New Ashland, Pa. Mrs. Ditlow died in Lower Allen in January, 1883, and Henry Ditlow in November, 1883.

Hiram Ditlow was born in Lower Allen township in 1856, and received a district school education. Farming became his life work, and after his marriage he located on the farm where he now lives, which was known as the old Samuel Bear property. At first he rented it, but in 1885 he purchased it, and has since made extensive improvements. It contains 114 acres.

In 1881 Mr. Ditlow was united in marriage with Mary Bear, daughter of John and Martha Bear, of West Pennsboro. Five children have blessed their union, namely: John B., born in 1883, is living in Harrisburg, where he is a fireman on the Philadelphia & Reading R. R.; Elsie M., born in 1886, is at home; Norman H., born in 1888, is at school; Clarence M., born in 1892, is in school; and Alice P., born in 1895, is in school. Both Hiram Ditlow and his wife are members of the Reformed Mennonite Church at Plainfield. They are honest upright citizens, of whom any locality might well be proud.