My Genealogy Hound

HENRY BITTNER, proprietor of the Bittner House in Slatington, is a native of this county, having been born December 2, 1844. His father, Henry Bittner, Sr., was also born in this section, and until his decease, in 1882, was engaged in farm pursuits.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was a native of Germany, and on coming to America in an early day, located in Lehigh County, where he followed the occupation of an agriculturist. His wife prior to her marriage was Mary Bear, the daughter of Benjamin Bear, also a tiller of the soil. Mrs. Bittner was born in this county, and departed this life in 1876.

Our subject passed his boyhood days in attendance at the district school, and when old enough worked on his father’s farm. This he continued until 1867, when he left home, and coming to Slatington, embarked in the hotel business, with which he has been connected very successfully since. In 1887 he erected his present fine building, known as the Bittner House. It is a model of architectural beauty, and is patterned after a famous summer resort hotel. It is four stories in height, heated throughout with steam, lighted by electricity, and in fact is a modern hotel in all its appointments. It contains forty-eight sleeping apartments, handsomely furnished, elegant parlors, cozy reading-room, and the entire building is surrounded by a piazza.

Mr. Bittner takes an active part in all public enterprises and improvements, and in politics always casts a vote for Democratic candidates. Socially he is a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and a charter member of the Knights of Malta.

In 1867 Henry Bittner and Miss Ellen Benninger were united in marriage. The lady was born in Lehigh Gap, and is the daughter of Philip Benninger, an early settler of the county. To them has been granted a family of two daughters: Lilly Cora, now the wife of Artie Queen, of Slatington, and Anna, Mrs. John W. Balliet, also residing in that place.

Our subject is truly a self-made man, and has by careful attention to every detail of business, honesty in all his dealings, and by shrewdness and integrity, gained a goodly portion of this world’s goods, and what is better than that, the confidence and esteem of the entire community. He is one of the most successful hotel men in the eastern portion of the state, and is well patronized by the traveling public. He has a beautiful residence in Slatington, where with his wife he entertains their hosts of warm friends, who are numbered among the best people of the county.