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John Biter

Birth	:	12 Jul 1839 Bad Niedernau, Landkreis Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Death	:	16 Oct 1912 Calistoga, Napa County, California, USA
Burial	:	Biter Family Cemetery, Calistoga, Napa County, USA
Coordinate	:	38.5841360, -122.5071720
Description	:	POSSIBLE PARENTS: Peregrin/Pergrem Beiter & Rosalia Eggenweiller. Parents were born in Germany. John immigrated to the USA in 1852 and became a naturalized citizen. The 1855 NY State Census finds John, age 16 & brother, age 19 boarding with a Sophia Jackson who operated a boarding house in Lockport, Niagara Co., NY. 1860 U.S. Census for Sacramento, Sacramento Co., CA: Jas Dougherty M 30 Ire. Willard Biter M 34 Wurtemburg Jno Biter M 21 Wurtemburg James Daugherty & Willard Biter are druggists. Brother John was a clerk. By 19 Sept. 1868, John resided in San Francisco, CA as per the Calif. Great Register. On Dec.... Read More	POSSIBLE PARENTS: Peregrin/Pergrem Beiter & Rosalia Eggenweiller. Parents were born in Germany. John immigrated to the USA in 1852 and became a naturalized citizen. The 1855 NY State Census finds John, age 16 & brother, age 19 boarding with a Sophia Jackson who operated a boarding house in Lockport, Niagara Co., NY. 1860 U.S. Census for Sacramento, Sacramento Co., CA: Jas Dougherty M 30 Ire. Willard Biter M 34 Wurtemburg Jno Biter M 21 Wurtemburg James Daugherty & Willard Biter are druggists. Brother John was a clerk. By 19 Sept. 1868, John resided in San Francisco, CA as per the Calif. Great Register. On Dec. 16, 1868, John writes a letter to his parents in Lockport, NY. He resides in San Francisco & mentions his brother Willard also lives in San Francisco but he hasn't seen him for months, but stating that Willard has a good job & is doing fine. He comments that for various reasons, they are not getting along very well. He encloses $25 for Charles Long to offset his expense for assisting his parents. (Thanks to Barbara Holliman, a Biter descendant, for furnishing a copy of John's letter to his parents.) John married Catherine M. Harford ca 1872. John worked as a bookkeeper for M&C Mangels ca 1876. During 1876-1877, John was the R.W. G. Secretary for the United Ancient Order of Druids. The first Grove of Druids was instituted in the City of New York in 1830. In 1858, California Grove No. 1 was instituted at old Hangtown now known as Placerville. The Druids of today confine themselves to the moral, fraternal, patriotic and benevolent philosophy exemplified by the Druids of old. Note that a marriage record has not been found, probably due to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake whereby most of the city was destroyed not only by the earthquake but also by fire. The 1880 US Census finds John and his family living in San Francisco, CA where John was working as a florist. John and Kate took in orphaned children. John continued to be busy with the Druids 1878-1882. In 1887, he was the Grand Secretary of the Grand Grove of the UAOD. 1880 U.S. Census for San Francisco, San Francisco Co. CA (10 June): John Biter Self M 39 Germany C M Biter Wife F 40 New York P M Carford Mother F 86 New York J O Carford Brother M 39 New York Carford surname is actually "Harford". J.O. Harford is a gardner. P.M. Harford is actually John Biter's mother-in-law. John and Kate also had a natural son, John Biter Jr., living with them as a student in 1881. In a letter dated 4 Dec. 1889 on letterhead stationery, John wrote to his niece that he was making a slow recovery to health at the Rural Health Retreat Assn in St. Helena, Napa Co., Calif. (later known as the St. Helena Sanitarium & even later as the St. Helena Hospital which has always been operated by the Seventh-Day Adventists. He mentions he has a management position there & that his family still resides in San Francisco & that his home has not yet been sold. This letter, & others, are in the possession of a family descendant. The 1900 US Census for Belvedere, Marin Co., Calif. shows that he was a horticulturist. John Biter was 61 yrs, b. Germany. Kate was 63 yrs, b. Jan. 1837, NY. Her parents were also b. NY. Kate never had any children. 1910 U.S. Census for Hot Springs Twp (Calistoga), Napa Co., CA: John Biter Head M 70 Germany Catherine M Biter Wife F 70 New York Willard Biter Adopted son M 15 California *Benjamin F Biter Adopted son M 14 California Harry Biter Adopted son M 13 California Louisa Biter Adopted dau F 13 California Emma Synder Boarder F 13 California Flora Synder Boarder F 8 California Joseph Harford Boarder M 71 New York Catherine had no children (not exactly true). John was a farmer. Joseph is Catherine's brother. The 1910 US Census lists the family living in Hot Springs Township (Calistoga), Napa Co., CA, where he owned a farm, raising stock. The homestead was out behind Lommel Road, which is off of the Silverado Trail, south of Calistoga. County records indicated he owned in excess of 500 acres. John Biter Head M 70 Germany Catherine M Biter Wife F 70 New York Willard Biter Adopted son M 15 California Benjamin F Biter Adopted son M 14 California Harry Biter Adopted son M 13 California Louisa Biter Adopted daur F 13 California Emma Synder Boarder F 13 California Flora Synder Boarder F 8 California Joseph Harford Boarder M 71 New York John and Kate adopted several of the children in their care. Whether these were legal adoptions is not known, but the children carried the Biter surname. Among these children which were "adopted" was Benjamin F. Biter. He is buried in the St. Helena Public Cemetery, along with his son, George H. Biter. One of the other "adopted" children's descendants, Harry Mevious Biter researched his beginnings. One of his findings was that John Biter was a physician at the St. Helena Sanitarium and was referred to as Dr. John Biter. John's wife, Kate, died at the St. Helena Hospital which is the former St. Helena Sanitarium. The list of people boarding with the Biters in 1900 were: Rosie Harford, b. 1888 in CA, 12 yrs. Echo Biter, b. 1892 in CA, 8 yrs. Raymond Harkins, b. 1895 in CA, 5 yrs. Benjamin F. Biter, b. Sept. 1896 in CA, 3 yrs. William Spratling, b. Sept. 1896 in CA, 3 yrs., father b. England; Harry H. Biter, b. May 1897 in CA, 3 yrs. Louisa Biter, b. May 1897 in CA, 3 yrs (Black) Ethel Matsen, b. 1897 in CA, 2 yrs. John Harford, b. 1899 in CA, 1 yr. Roy Matsen, b. 1899 in CA, 1 yr. Elmer Harkins, b. 1899 in CA, 1 yr. Paul Biter, b. Feb. 1900 in CA, 4 months Joseph O. Harford, 61 yrs, b. Dec. 1839, NY (single) Elizabeth Ingalls, b. Oct. 1829 (70 yrs) who was a widow and whose parents were born in England. She never had any children. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1854. Apparently Brother Willard moved from Sacramento to Virginia City by May 1864 as he is listed as a druggist in the Virginia City Dirctory which was to be published by that date. He then moved to San Francisco for a brief time before returning to Nevada. Brother Willard resided in San Francisco, CA at least from 1867-75. The 1880 U.S. Census finds Willard Biter in Virginia City, Storey Co., Nevada, working as a druggist. He was also a widower. From the "Territorial Enterprise" (Virginia City, NV) p. 4 - October 14, 1876: In the matter of the inquest to determine the cause of death of Bernard Kelly as to whether he died by accident or by suicide: "Willard Biter, an apothecary, testified as to the nature of the acids found in deceased's room, and that they were sure poison, and that a teaspoonful would be enough to kill a man. They destroy the coatings of the stomach as they do the skin of the fingers." 1870 U.S. Census for Lockport, Niagara Co. NY: Charles Long M 30 New York; drayman Barbara Long F 28 Württemberg Rosa Long F 8 New York Jerry Long M 3 New York Biter [Rosalia] F 70 Württemberg This is John Biter's mother & sister, Barbara. She still resides with the family in the 1875 NY State Census. It is reported that the 1870 census of Lockport, Niagara County you will find Pergrem Beiter 72y b. Prussia in the Niagara County Poorhouse there in Lockport. The 1860 Niagara Co. Poorhouse did not list any Beitrs/Biters. The Poorhouse was still operating in the 1950s. Notes: Francine Hendrickx (#47544035) member for 2 years, 1 month, 24 days

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is John Biter's memorial?
John Biter's memorial is located at: Biter Family Cemetery, Calistoga, Napa County, USA.
When did John Biter death?
John Biter death on 16 Oct 1912 in Calistoga, Napa County, California, USA
Where are the coordinates of the John Biter's memorial?
Latitude: 38.5841360
Longitude: -122.5071720

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Catherine Maria “Kate” Harford Biter

(1837 - 1925)

Siblings

Children

Benjamin Franklin Biter

(1896 - 1965)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Biter Family Cemetery
Calistoga, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5841360, -122.5071720

2. Willard D Hammond Gravesite
Calistoga, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5854940, -122.5020180

3. John Zegras Gravesite
Calistoga, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5765630, -122.5159350

4. Pioneer Cemetery
Calistoga, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5485720, -122.5134110

5. Calistoga Pioneer Cemetery
Calistoga, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5794411, -122.5932083

6. Pride Mountain Vineyard Burial
Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5257300, -122.5662470

7. Duvall Cemetery
Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6508970, -122.4627180

8. Las Posadas Pioneer Cemetery
Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5581017, -122.4044037

9. Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery
Saint Helena, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5030540, -122.4692690

10. Valley Cemetery
Pope Valley, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6470570, -122.4255870

11. Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
Saint Helena, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4945870, -122.4749230

12. Saint Helena Cemetery
Saint Helena, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4925630, -122.4766370

13. Ner Tamid Jewish Cemetery
Saint Helena, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4924620, -122.4738370

14. Rudd Family Cemetery
Saint Helena, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4864200, -122.4745700

15. MHR Redwood Grove Memorial
Calistoga, Napa County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5674930, -122.6536530

16. Sharp Creek Cemetery
Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5505981, -122.6713028

17. Evergreen Cemetery
Kellogg, Sonoma County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6357002, -122.6802979

18. Pythian Home Cemetery
Kenwood, Sonoma County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4443016, -122.5812988

19. Saint Patricks Memorial Garden
Kenwood, Sonoma County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4189987, -122.5503235

20. Mark West Cemetery
Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5482830, -122.7229580

21. Middletown Cemetery
Middletown, Lake County, USA
Coordinate: 38.7554540, -122.6041790

22. Catron Cemetery
Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4796982, -122.7083969

23. Old County Cemetery
Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4669991, -122.7083969

24. Santa Rosa Memorial Park
Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4597015, -122.7071991