Michael Zittle, Jr. | |
|---|---|
 The Zittle Family of South Mountain. | |
| Born | October 5, 1798 |
| Died | July 5, 1877 |
| Resting place | Boonsboro Cemetery |
| Occupations |
|
| Spouse |
Catherine Koogle Zittle
(m. 1825; died 1872) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Michael Zittle Sr. and Mary Magdalena Hiestand Zittle |
Michael Zittle Jr. (October 5, 1798 – July 5, 1877) or The Wizard of South Mountain was an American occultist, ceremonial magician, author, and mountaineer.[1][2] He was born to a German father, American mother, and was one of nine children. Zittle became popular in the area as healer, he would offer his services to alleviate a wide array of difficulties, such as compelling a thief to return stolen property, providing a “sure cure for fever," closing a wound from firearms, curing the bite of a mad dog and “dispelling the fear of the darkness of night.”[3][4]
A Friend In Need
A Friend in Need; Or, Secret Science was a Handbook written by Zittle in 1845 on how to perform witchcraft. According to legend, after publication of the book Zittle lost his powers as a result of trying to commoditize his supernatural powers. In 1975, a copy of his book was found by Boonsboro resident Pauline Routzahn.[5]
References
- ↑ Dahlgren, Madeleine (1882). South Mountain Magic. James R. Osgood & Co. p. 161-163.
- ↑ "Tales of Early Residents with Strange Powers". The Daily Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. February 26, 1974.
- ↑ "Boonsboro Reflections: The Wizard of Zittlestown". Boonsboro Historical Society. December 14, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
- ↑ Barry, Joseph (1903). The Strange Story of Harper's Ferry - With Legends of the Surrounding Country. Martinsburg W. VA: Thompson Brothers. p. 189-191.
- ↑ "Haunted History: The Wizard of South Mountain – Michael Zittle". Preservation Maryland. October 30, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2021.