Revolutionary War Veteran. DAR Patriot #A055725

George "Michael" Hittle, Jr. was the eldest son of George Michael Hittle, Sr. (1714-1786), a native of Wurttemburg, Germany, who served in both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. His wife, Michael's mother, was Anna Maria Schlaugh (1714-1806). They settled in Salisbury Township in what was then Northampton County, Pennsylvania, now part of Lehigh County, where Michael and his siblings were born.

A Revolutionary War Veteran, himself, George "Michael" Hittle, Jr. served in the Revolutionary War from 1777-1780 as first a Private in Captain John Santee's 8th Company, 5th Battalion of the Northampton County Pennsylvania Militia. John Santee, his commanding officer, was also his brother-in-law (married to his wife's sister Regina). After which point he was promoted to be an officer. In 1781-1782 he was a Sergeant under Captain Jacob Heller's 3rd Company, 2nd Battalion of the Pennsylvania Militia and on 4-24-1782 was in the Company of Captain John Ritter, 2nd Class, 5th Company, 3rd Battalion commanded by Lt. Col. Nickolas Karns. All five of Michael's brothers also served in the Pennsylvania Militia during the American Revolution as did their father.

Michael's Revolutionary War record becomes complicated because of the fact his surname Hittle (Hittel) is spelled in multiple and various ways and variations, throughout his long war service. Some records record the name as Heidler, some as Huttle and Huettel, and some even as Hitler (not something the family likes).

In 1789 Michael Hittle secured a land grant of 400 acres in Northumberland County (what is now Mount Pleasant Township in Columbia County, Pennsylvania), then called Bloom Township and Fishing Creek Township. He brought most of his immediate family with him to this new location that same year. This is further proved by the 1790 census. Michael Hittle remained on this property until his death in 1828. Son-in-law John Taylor served as the Executor of his Estate. Many of Michael's children, including all of his sons, moved West to Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Eldest son David Hittle remained in Pennsylvania the longest, until a few years after his father's Estate was settled. The Hittle named descendants that remain in Columbia County today are descendants of David Hittle. Other descendants remaining in the area are through some of Micheal's daughters.

Michael, his wife, daughter Barbara and other family members were buried in a family plot on what is now the Church yard of the Canby Lutheran Church Cemetery. The tombstones were made of field stone and started disappearing in the decades following the Civil War. The cemetery did not receive perpetual care for many years.