The Waite Family of Smethport, Pennsylvania

Waite is an English name, found in Boston before 1640, and from New England it has spread to other parts of the United States. It has been made illustrious by a chief justice of the supreme court of the United States. The name was found in Pennsylvania by 1734.

(I) Franklin Waite

Franklin Waite, the first member of this family about whom we have definite information, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, died at Salona, Clinton county, Pennsylvania. Most of his life was passed at Lamar, Clinton county, and he was a teamster for iron furnaces. In the affairs of the Evangelical church, of which his wife also was a member, he took an active interest, and he held at one time or another most of the church offices. The name of his wife is not known; she died at Milesburg, Pennsylvania, in 1875, at the age of about eighty. Children, probably all born in Huntingdon county:

1. Bartlett Waite. Died at Danville, Pennsylvania; contractor; married and had children.
2. Alexander Waite. Died in Danville; served throughout the civil war; was a recruiting officer; married and had children.
3. William Waite. Died at Beech Creek, Pennsylvania, dealer in produce; veteran of the civil war; married and had children.
4. John Franklin Waite. Of whom further.
5. Sarah Waite. Resides at Salona; married Jacob Miller, of Salona; he is a carpenter; children:
   1. Mary Miller.
   2. Alfred Miller. Deceased.
   3. William Miller.
   4. Two others.

(II) John Franklin Waite

John Franklin, son of Franklin Waite, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, January 18, 1825, died at Rebersburg, Center county, Pennsylvania, in October, 1904. He received a common school education in Huntingdon county, and became a carpet weaver at Rebersburg. He was a Democrat. For many years he served as school director, and he was constable for about ten years. In the Evangelical church he was for many years a deacon, and his wife was a member. He married Mary Magdalena, born at Rebersburg, August 6, 1825, died at Rebersburg, in August, 1902, daughter of Jacob Gramley. Children:

1. Sarah Elizabeth Waite. Born at Salona, December 16, 1846, died at Rebersburg, in 1865; unmarried.
2. Elmedia Frances Waite. Born at Rebersburg, June 15, 1849, died young.
3. Samuel Washington Waite. Born at Rebersburg, July 4, 1851; resides at Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania; retired farmer; married Alice Loneburger, of Center Hall, Pennsylvania, deceased; children:
   1. Amy Waite. Deceased.
   2. Pearl Waite.
   3. Paul Waite.
4. Harvey Elray Waite. Born at Rebersburg, December 30, 1853, died at Rebersburg, in 1874.
5. Mary Catharine Waite. Born at Rebersburg, September 24, 1856; married C. L. Beck, of Rebersburg; he is a carpenter, and they reside at Smullton, Pennsylvania; children:
   1. Maud Beck.
   2. Carrie Beck.
   3. John Beck.
6. Franklin Hilbish Waite. Born at Rebersburg, January 4, 1858; carpenter, residing at Rebersburg; married Clara Sholl, of Rebersburg; children:
   1. Mamie Waite.
   2. Charles Waite.
7. Emma Theresa Waite. Born at Rebersburg, August 1, 1861; married William Breon, of Mill Hall, deceased; he was an ax-grinder; she resides at Mill Hall; children:
   1. John Breon. Deceased.
   2. Roy Breon.
   3. Hayes Breon.
   4. Carl Breon.
   5. Lois Breon.
8. Lester Ann Waite. Born at Rebersburg, November 24, 1863, died in infancy.
9. George Benjamin McClellan Waite. Born at Rebersburg, December 17, 1866; farmer, resides at Rebersburg; married Adda Neese, of Rebersburg; child:
   1. Jessie Waite.
10. John Wesley Waite. Of whom further.

Jacob Gramley was a native of Center county, born January 1, 1786, died at Rebersburg, January 12, 1871; he was a manufacturer of cloth. His wife was also a native of Center county, born in 1787, died December 6, 1861. Children of Jacob Gramley:

1. George Gramley. Died at Lewisburg, Union county, Pennsylvania; unmarried.
2. Sarah Gramley. Died at McElhattan, Pennsylvania; married Snyder, of McElhattan; he was a farmer; had children.
3. Levi Gramley. Died at Lewisburg; hotel keeper; twice married, had children.
4. Kate Gramley. Died at Rebersburg; married John Hafer, deceased; he was a dentist; children:
   1. John Hafer.
   2. Wesley Hafer.
5. Philip Gramley. Died at Rebersburg; married Kate Fullmer, deceased; children:
   1. Isaac Gramley.
   2. Clare Gramley.
   3. Daniel Gramley.
   4. John Gramley.
   5. Elmira Gramley.
   6. Anna Gramley.
   7. Tillie Gramley. Married Ziegler.
   8. Matilda Gramley.
6. Mary Magdalena Gramley. Married John Franklin Waite.
7. Harriet Gramley. Resides at Woodward, Pennsylvania; married George Vonada, deceased; he was a farmer; children:
   1. Emanuel Vonada.
   2. Rebecca Vonada.
   3. Emma Vonada. Deceased.
   4. Frank Vonada. Deceased.
   5. Fietta Vonada.
8. Rebecca Gramley. Died at Rebersburg; unmarried.

(III) John Wesley Waite

John Wesley, son of John Franklin and Mary Magdalena (Gramley) Waite, was born at Rebersburg, May 9, 1869. There he attended public school. In 1896 he graduated from the State College, dairying department. Having had two years’ experience before entering the college in creameries at Loganton and Coburn, Pennsylvania, he was well qualified on his graduation both theoretically and practically to take the management of the Nunundah Creamery Company’s creamery at Smethport, and he has filled this position successfully from that time. He is also a stockholder in this company. Further, he is a stockholder in the Grange National Bank, Smethport. For four years he was chief of the fire department at Smethport, and he is still a member. He is a member of the Smethport Lodge, Modern Woodmen of America. He is a Republican, and has been a councilman at Smethport for nearly four years. He married, March 21, 1895, Gertrude, born at Woodward, Pennsylvania, January 7, 1873, daughter of Thomas William and Rachel (Vonada) Hosterman (see Hosterman III). Children:

1. Lowell Waite. Born at Coburn, September 8, 1895.
2. Leroy Arlington Waite. Born at Smethport, September 10, 1901.

The Hosterman Line

(II) Thomas Hosterman

Thomas Hosterman, of German extraction, son of Jacob Hosterman, was born at Woodward, about 1819, died at Woodward, about 1881. He was a farmer. He married Hannah Yearick, born at Woodward, died at Woodward, about 1874. She was of German descent. Children:

1. Thomas William Hosterman. Of whom further.
2. Pauline Hosterman. Died at Millheim, Pennsylvania; married Thomas Moyer, deceased; he was a miller; children, both deceased:
   1. Thomas Moyer.
   2. Ammon Moyer.
3. Amelia Hosterman. Died at Woodward; married Jeremiah Vonada, of Woodward, deceased; he was a farmer; child:
   1. Hannah Vonada. Deceased.
4. Charles Hosterman. Hotel keeper at Woodward; married Salida Reish, of Union county; children:
   1. Willard Hosterman.
   2. Thomas Hosterman.
   3. Wesley Hosterman.
   4. Ada Hosterman.
   5. Charles Hosterman.
   6. Verna Hosterman.
   7. Oliver Hosterman.
   8. Herbert Hosterman.
   9. Alida Hosterman.
5. Elizabeth Hosterman. Died at Woodward; married William Wolf, of Woodward, deceased; he was a farmer; children:
   1. Robert Wolf. Deceased.
   2. Thomas Wolf.
   3. Charles Wolf.
   4. Sumner Wolf.
   5. Anna Wolf.
6. Clara Hosterman.
7. Diana Hosterman. Died at Woodward; unmarried.
8. Emanuel Hosterman. Died young.
9. Anna Hosterman. Married Howard Musser, of Aaronsburg; he is a carpenter, and they reside at Woodward; children:
   1. Charles Musser.
   2. Roy Musser.

(III) Thomas William Hosterman

Thomas William, son of Thomas and Hannah (Yearick) Hosterman, was born at Woodward, January 15, 1845. Having been a farmer he is now retired, and is postmaster at Coburn. He is a Republican. He married Rachel, born at Woodward, March 15, 1844, daughter of Philip and Mary (Harbach) Vonada. Children:

1. Phoebe Armada Hosterman. Born March 25, 1864, died at Coburn, May 2, 1897; unmarried.
2. Ida Zipporah Hosterman. Born July 19, 1865; married Thomas H. Motz, of Woodward; they reside at Woodward, on a farm; children:
   1. Nora Motz.
   2. Lodie Motz.
3. Warren Ellsworth Hosterman. Born February 7, 1867; resides at Woodward, on a farm; married Susan Orndorff, of Woodward; children:
   1. Maud Hosterman.
   2. John Hosterman.
   3. Blaine Hosterman.
   4. Sarah Hosterman.
   5. Moran Hosterman.
   6. Ellsworth Hosterman.
   7. Earl Hosterman.
   8. Velona Hosterman.
   9. Morris Hosterman.
4. Anna Manora Hosterman. Born July 6, 1868, died at Fiedler, November 9, 1900; married Clayton Bower; he resides at Aaronsburg, a retired farmer; no children.
5. Edith Mayme Hosterman. Born February 18, 1870; married Bigler Shaffer, of Zion, Pennsylvania; they reside at Center Hall, Pennsylvania, on a farm; children:
   1. Roy Shaffer.
   2. Paul Shaffer.
   3. Clara Shaffer.
   4. Thomas Shaffer.
   5. Mary Shaffer.
   6. Nevin Shaffer.
6. Luther Curtis Hosterman. Born June 27, 1871, died at Rebersburg, May 15, 1898; he was a farmer; married Cora Hazel, of Madisonburg, Pennsylvania; his widow married Smith, has no children by him, resides at Center Hill. Children of Luther Curtis and Cora (Hazel) Hosterman:
   1. Lulu Hosterman.
   2. Estella Hosterman.
7. Gertrude Hosterman. Married John Wesley Waite (see Waite III).
8. William Grant Hosterman. Born May 6, 1874; farmer, residing at Fiedler; married Elsie Krape, of Fiedler; children:
   1. Ward Hosterman.
   2. Orvis Hosterman.
9. Tome Alberta Hosterman. Born April 15, 1876; married John Krumrine, of Millheim; they reside at Weikert, Pennsylvania, on a farm; no children.
10. Thomas Ammon Hosterman. Born August 12, 1877; school teacher; resides at Coburn; married Ella Gorman, of Coburn; children:
    1. Rachel Hosterman.
    2. Tona Hosterman.
    3. Lodie Hosterman.
    4. Thomas Hosterman.
11. Nathan Dubbs Hosterman. Born November 28, 1878, died at Coburn, April 29, 1902; he was a postoffice clerk; married Maggie Leitzell, of Millheim; she married (second) —– Boob, has no children by him, resides at Millheim. Children of Nathan Dubbs and Maggie (Leitzell) Hosterman:
    1. Randall Hosterman.
    2. Stewart Hosterman.
12. Hannah May Hosterman. Born March 18, 1881, died September 14, 1881.
13. Elizabeth Amelia Pauline Hosterman. Born November 19, 1882, died at Coburn, March 13, 1902.
14. Mabel Clara Hosterman. Born September 6, 1884; married Harry Snyder, of Spring Mills; they reside at Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, and he is a telegraph operator; children:
    1. Dean Snyder.
    2. Pauline Snyder.
    3. Grace Snyder.
15. Bertha Caroline Hosterman. Born February 8, 1886, died at Coburn, February 3, 1904.
16. —– (son) Hosterman. Born August 6, 1887, died August 6, 1887.

Philip Vonada was born at Woodward, and died there about 1878; he was a farmer. His wife Mary (Harbach) Vonada, came from Clinton county; she died at Woodward, 1909, aged eighty-seven. Children:

1. Rachel Vonada. Married Thomas William Hosterman.
2. George Vonada. A farmer, resides at Madisonburg, Pennsylvania; married Matilda Musser.
3. Anna Vonada. Resides at Union City, Pennsylvania; married —– Boob; he is a farmer.
4. Catharine Vonada. Resides at Woodward; unmarried.
5. Lydia Vonada. Resides at Woodward; married (first) Israel Vonada, (second) David Mingle; children, all except the last-named by first husband:
   1. Kate Vonada.
   2. Ida Vonada.
   3. Cleveland Vonada.
   4. Miranda Vonada.
   5. Ammon Mingle.
6. Sadie Vonada. Married Harvey Wise, of Woodward; he is a farmer, and they reside at Woodward; children:
   1. Tammie Wise.
   2. Mabel Wise.
7. William Vonada. A farmer, resides at Coburn; married Aria Jamison, of Spring Mills, Pennsylvania.
8. Almeda Vonada. Married Thomas Vonada, of Woodward; he is a farmer, and they reside at Woodward; children:
   1. Mabel Vonada.
   2. Another daughter Vonada.

See: Genealogy of the Allegheny Valley Pennsylvania

Source

Jordan, J. W. 1840-1921. (1913). Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co.

This genealogy is based upon the source cited above. Only the structure and formatting have been changed for clearer presentation; the genealogical and biographical content