Person Record

Metadata

Name

Witmore, Hazel

Genealogy ID

92320

Born

08 APR 1901

Birthplace

South Carolina

Deceased

24 MAY 1972

Deceased where

Richmond, Tioga PA

Cemetery

Tioga County Memorial Gardens

Titles & honors

F. & A. M. Friendship Lodge No. 247

Father

Robert Witmore

Mother

Sarah Plyler

Spouse

Dorotha Escott

Children

Carole Witmore

Reference

Obit

Notes

H.T. WITMORE (First name was Hazel)
H.T. Witmore, 71, of Mulberry Hill Road, died Wednesday, May 24, 1972 at his home. Mr. Witmore was retired after having owned and operated the Ben Franklin Store here (Mansfield) for many years. He was also a former Borough Councilman. He was born April 8, 1901, at Lancaster, SC, a son of Robert and Sarah Plyler Witmore. Mr. Witmore was a member of the First Baptist Church. He was also a member of Friendship Lodge 247, F&AM, Zebulun Royal Arch Chapter 296, the Williamsport Consistory and the Irem Temple Shrine, Wilkes-Barre. Surviving are his wife, Dorotha Escott Witmore; a daughter, Mrs. James Link, of Chantilly, Va.; five sisters, Mrs. Abe Curlee, of Salisbury, NC, and Mrs. Charles Evans, Mrs. Ralph Litaker, Mrs. Lee Nash and Miss Bernice Witmore, all of Wingate, NC, two brothers, Jesse and Joseph, both of Wingate, and two grandchildren. The funeral was at 2 pm Friday at Shaw and Robena's 18 North Main Street. Burial was in the Tioga County Memorial Gardens. The Rev. Benjamin Nevin, his pastor, officiated.

Mansfield Advertiser, 25 June 1941, p.1 [2 articles]

Abrams' Sell Ben Franklin Store
Mr. & Mrs. Abrams have sold the Ben Franklin Store to Mr. & Mrs. H.T. Witmore, of Galeton, who took possession last week. Mr. & Mrs. Abrams purchased the business of Mr. & Mrs. Percy Wilson in 1918 and operated it under the name of Abrams' Variety Store until five years ago, when they changed it to the Ben Franklin Store. They have developed the business into one of the most up-to-date stores of its kind in this section of the country. Mr. & Mrs. Abrams are enjoying a well-earned rest at their home on South Main Street.

Bought Ben Franklin Store
Mr. & Mrs. H.T. Witmore, of Galeton, have bought the stock and good will of Mr. & Mrs. Peter Abrams of the Ben Franklin Store in Mansfield. Mr. Witmore, who was reared in Wingate, North Carolina, attended the Wingate Junior College and was later employed by the J.J. Newberry Co. 5c and 10c store as manager for several years. He opened and operated the J.J. Newberry store at Wellsboro. Mrs. Witmore is the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. T.M. Escott, of Wellsboro, and was graduated from Mansfield State Teachers College in 1930 and is a member of the Graduate School of Pennsylvania State College. Mr. & Mrs. Witmore have owned and operated the Ben Franklin Store at Galeton for the last five years. They will move to Mansfield in the near future.t

Mansfield Advertiser, 8 February 1950

Witmore's Purchase Bedenk Block
H.T. and Dorotha Witmore have purchased the William Bedenk property, the building in which the Witmore's 5 and 10 cent store is now located.
The Witmores expect to completely remodel sometime in the future, but plans for this are not complete.
Mr. & Mrs. Witmore purchased the business in 1941 from Mr. & Mrs. Peter Abrams. Mr. Witmore was employed by the Newberry Company 5 and dime stores before coming to Mansfield.
The site has been the location of a 5 and 10 for a number of years. Some of the names connected with the store have been A.W. Kear, W.A. McCausland, Percy Wilson and Peter Abrams.