Peter Bittner, M.D.

Peter Bittner, M.D., resident physician at Reed City, was born Jan. 17, 1850, at East Zorra, Oxford Co., Ont. He is the son of Henry and Mary (Alles) Bittner, and his father is a prominent land-holder of Osceola County, having 200 acres in a fine agricultural condition in Richmond Township, and also is the proprietor of other tracts in the county, and of lots in the corporation of Reed City.

Dr. Bittner was reared on a farm and studied winters, attending school at Big Rapids and also at Grand Rapids. At the age of 18 years he entered the office of Fred Wood, M.D., at Big Rapids and studied medicine uner his instructions two years and three months. Meanwhile he attended two full courses of lectures at Bellvue Medical College, N.Y., where he was graduated in the spring of 1871. Immediately after, in April, he came to Reed City. His father owned 280 acres of land, of which a plat of 120 acres is now in the city limits and known as Bittner's Additions." (To the first, the second and third additions have since been made.) These interests required the personal supervision of interested parties, and Dr. Bittner came here to attend to the accumulating business.In 1872 he opened an office for his practice of his profession, which he prosecuted three years. In 1874 he took charge of a Church of the Evangelical Association at Owosso, and officiated as its Pastor one year, going successively to Marshall, where he was occupued in a similar capacity on eyear, to St. Joseph two years, and to Lansing one year. In 1879 he resumed his medical practice at Reed City, which he continued two years, and, at the expiration of that time assumed charge of a church at Ionia, officiating there two years. His health becoming impaired, he again returned to Reed City, where he engaged in office practice and prescriptions.In 1883, associated with his brother, Josiah Bittner, he built a mill-dam, situated on section 14, Richmond Township, and located on the Hersey River. They built a flouring mill, with a capacity of 80 barrels of flour daily besides custom work. The mill is fitted with 10 pairs of rollers and all modern improvements. the brothers have a joint ownership in 40 acres of land, constitutioning the mill site. Mr. Bittner is the proprietor of the property where he resides, and 16 acres of land in village lots at Reed City.

He was married in Fredonia, Calhoun Co., Mich., Nov. 9, 1871, to Barbara Gutekunst. Their seven children were born in the following order: Lidas H., Oct. 1, 1872; Lottie M., Jan. 19, 1874; Austin H., Dec. 6, 1875; Adolph, Sept. 28, 1877; Simon P., Sept. 15, 1879; Omar N., Aug. 24, 1881; Almira B., Nov. 9, 1883. Mrs. Bittner was born Oct. 14, 1847, in Fredonia, Washtenaw Co., Mich.

Return to: [OsceolaCounty MIGenWeb Page]
Return to: [Index to Bios]