Ellis Adelbert Witter 1853-1949  
Categories: Adams Center, New York, Albion, Wisconsin, Alfred, New York, Minister / Pastor, North Loup, Nebraska, The Sabbath Recorder Obituary, Walworth, Wisconsin, Westerly, Rhode Island
"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 146, No 5, p 84, Jan. 31, 1949.
  Rev. Ellis Adelbert Witter was born in the town of Wirt, Allegany County, N. Y., June 28, 1853, the eldest son of Charles Henry and Abigail Edwards Witter, and died on January 8, 1949, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Gerald Greene of Adams Center, N. Y.
  His childhood was spent on a farm near the Friendship Seventh Day Baptist Church with which he united when he was twelve years old.
  His father died in the Andersonville Prison on September 22, 1864, after serving four years in the Union Army, leaving Adelbert as his mother's only assistant in supporting the family.
  At the age of nineteen he went to work in the Cottrell machine shop where he remained until the impelling call to enter the gospel ministry became so pronounced he gave up his job and went to Alfred to enter training for this high calling.   He earned his way through the academy, the university and School of Theology, graduating with the degrees of Ph. M. and B. D.   Later he attended Chicago University and graduated in 1908 with a Ph. D. degree.
  On June 28, 1883, he was married to Mary Priscilla Benjamin, daughter of Samuel and Helen Benjamin, in the Andover Seventh Day Baptist Church.   To this union were born three daughters and one son.
  He served as pastor first at Portville, N. Y.   From Portville he went to Westerly, R. I.   During this pastorate his wife and infant son died.
  On November 5, 1890, he was married to Amelia B. Crandall of Niantic, R. I.   Three daughters were born to this union.
  During the year 1891 he left Westerly to accept the pastorate at the Albion, Wis., Church.
  In 1898 he accepted the call to become pastor of the North Loup., Neb. Church.
  He left North Loup to become pastor of the Salem Church, Salem, W. Va., in 1901.   It was during this pastorate that he attended the World's Fourth Sunday School Convention in Jerusalem.
  In 1909 he became pastor of the Adams Center Church, Adams Center, N. Y..   Here he remained six years.
  On April 1, 1914, he accepted the pastorate at the Second Hopkinton Church, Hopkinton, R. I.   Here his wife died, August 23, 1919.
  In 1920 he accepted the pastorate at the Berlin Church, Berlin, N. Y.   During this pastorate he was married to Miss Mary Crosby of Adams Center, N. Y.
  He accepted the pastorate at the Walworth, Wis., Church in 1924 where he served for 10 years, then retired to Adams Center to live.
  He did many months of volunteer gospel work in the Southern States when on the way to spend the winters in Florida.
  His wife, Mary, died in 1935, and in 1937 he was married to Miss Anna Maltby of Adams Center.   Anna died on November 20, 1940.
  He is survived by six daughters: Ella, Mrs. Clark Stillman of Jamestown, N. Y.; Grace, Mrs. Harry Ladd of Watertown; Mary, Mrs. Ottis Swiger of Salem, W. Va.; Eva, Mrs. Kenneth Horton of Brockville, Ontario, Can.; Isabel, Mrs. James Hamilton of Westerly, R. I.; and Delberta, Mrs. Gerald Greene of Adams Center, with whom he had made his home since he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on December 23, 1940.   He is also survived by 19 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
  Wherever he lived he served as a good pastor and minister and in community, civic, and wholesome social circles frequently holding office with school boards or in the township.   He had a fine sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye that made him a welcome guest in any circle.
  Everywhere he was known he will be remembered as a forceful preacher.   He emphasized evangelism in all of his ministry.   He was a great lover of God's Holy Word and of poetry.   If space would permit, we would be happy to give some of his choice selections.
  Elder Witter delivered his last message to a congregation on June 9, 1947, at the one hundred twenty-fifth anniversary of the Adams Center Church.   He had planned that this would be his last message because of his weakened physical condition but his mind and spirit were so active that he could not consider his work finished.   He wrote several sermons since that time, doing his own typing very efficiently.   He wrote one for each of his granddaughters and wished he might have time to write one for each of his other grandchildren who would wish one.
  One of the most recent of his sermons, he presented for a recording on November 10, 1948, for the Seventh Day Baptist recording library.
  Funeral services consisted of a prayer in the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Greene, at 2 p.m., and in the Church at 2:30 on January 11, conducted by his pastor, Rev. Emmett H. Bottoms; and a memorial service in the Alfred Church on January 12, at 2:30 p.m., conducted by Rev. Everett T. Harris who was assisted by Rev. A. J. C. Bond and Rev. E. H. Bottoms.   Interment was made in the family plot in the Alfred Rural Cemetery.     E. H. B.