Eighth Generation

2524. Edna Elizabeth BITTING¹²⁹ was born on 2 Oct 1902 in Oley Township, Berks Co., PA. She died on 23 Feb 1987 in Hassler Home, Laureldale, PA. She was buried in Friedens Union Cemetery, Oley, PA. A busy person. Edna was always up and moving. She married Henry in the home of Rev. Isaac Stahr, 30 October 1920. She and Henry celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with their off spring in 1985, with a special gathering at Boyertown Hook and Ladder Fire Company social quarters. Edna suffered a stroke in early 1987, from which she never recovered. She died at a nursing home in Laureldale.

Edna Elizabeth BITTING and Henry Rahn REIDER were married on 30 Oct 1920 in Oley, Berks Co., PA. Henry Rahn REIDER^{39,53,108,129} (son of George Strauss REIDER and Ellen Grob RAHN) was born on 16 Mar 1898 in Oley Township, Berks Co., PA. He died on 5 Aug 1990 in Kutztown, PA. He was buried in Friedens Union Cemetery, Oley, PA. Henry Reider was a farmer all his life. He worked a small "truck" farm on Water Street, across from Mud Lane. The farm was owned by his father, who had purchased a larger farm, also on Water Street. Henry worked for "half", that was a practice of splitting receipts from farm produce sales, half with the owner and half for yourself. Henry also raised some livestock, chickens, pigs and occassionally a steer, all of which he would butcher for sale. He ran a Model T truck into Stony Creek, down Carsonia Avenue, selling his produce and taking orders for meat cuts. Approximately 1936, the small farm was sold back to the Yoders and Henry moved to the larger farm, helping his father till his death. Henry traded in the Model T for a 1928 Chevy 4 door sedan, the car which farm hand Walter Prutzman later used to pass his driving test. The large farm had 20 milk cows, supplying milk for the St. Lawrence Dairy. Corn and wheat were taken to the mill in Oley. Henry's father, George, died in 1956, the farm was sold soon after his death to Herbert Levan. Henry retained three building lots along Water street for himself, his daughter and son. Daughter and son in law, Walter & Ellen Prutzman, built their home beside Henry; son James never did. Henry farmed his sons lot, planting mostly potatoes, till he suffered a stroke in 1978. Henry never quite regained full use of his legs. After his wife's death from a stroke in 1987, Henry lived with Walter & Ellen, till he became more of a care burden. He was placed in the Kutztown Manor, Kutztown, PA, where he lived two additional years before passing in his sleep.

Berks County Birth Records do not list his name; but have his birth as 16 November 1898. Edna Elizabeth BITTING and Henry Rahn REIDER had the following children:

+3285	i.	James Bitting REIDER129 was born on 16 May 1926 in Oley Township, Berks Co., PA. James graduated from the Oley High School and continued to work on the George Reider farm. In 1957, with the death of George Reider, the farm was sold. James was hired by the Boyertown Casket Company, in the paint shop, applying the final finish to metal caskets. He retired from the company, when the company went out of business. He and Betty first lived with Betty's mother, Stella, on the Yorgey farm along Pricetown Road. Stella later sold the farm, keeping a small piece of land, on which James built his new home, along Pricetown Road in Ruscombmanor Township. James kept his hand in farming by assisting his father Henry with the potato patch at Henry's, Water Street home in Oley. He also maintained a vegetable garden at his Ruscombmanor Township home. After retirement, James worked part time at the Fleetwood Country Market.
+3286	ii.	Ellen Bitting REIDER129,141 was born on 18 Jan 1924 in Oley Township, Berks Co., PA. She was baptized about Apr 1924 in Friedens Union Church, Oley, PA. Ellen was born at home, a small "truck" farm along Water Street, across from Mud Lane. Attended the new Oley school in 1930, graduating in 1942. Played some basketball and field hockey during gym classes; but had to return home every day immediately after school closed to milk the cows. Took piano lessons during school years, and later used this talent to play during Sunday school, which she taught for approximately 16 years, at the Friedens UCC Church. Recalls attending with her parents, "nut pickin' parties". Different families held the parties, which consisted of the parents cracking Hickory nuts, and the children playing "blum sock". After her marriage to Walter, Ellen did work some odd jobs off the farm. Sales clerk in Reading, selling mens shirts and some time sewing womens intimate apparel. She stayed home to raise the three children; but returned to work for a few years at Deka Batteries in Fleetwood, when Elaine went to college.