The DeWitt Family of Fayette County, Ohio

Who was one of the first settlers, was born in Clark County, Kentucky. Accompanied by his uncle, Fredrick Bray, and his brothers, Henry and Gabriel, he left his native soil and came to this state, settling in Ross County; this was in the year 1806. The party traveled the entire distance on foot; all Kentuckians were great hunters and therefore good travelers. It is said that Henry Dewitt frequently walked seventy-five miles in a single day. Dewitt remained in Koss County two years and while there entered into the bonds of matrimony with Miss Polly Barker. Soon after the marriage the young couple removed to Fayette County, settling on land located four miles southeast of Washington. Jesse, the youngest son, is at present living on the original homestead. He purchased a small farm at first but added to the same and finally owned several thousand acres. This land was originally owned by Baron ISteuben, McKay, Duncan McArthur and others, and is situated in Wayne Township. In 1812 Mr. Dewitt volunteered to assist in defending the Americans against the British and their allies, the Indians, and was stationed at Upper Sandusky, where he remained until peace was declared. He was one of the first constables, was then elected justice of the peace and held the position for many years. He was considered one of the best hunters, hunting being a favorite pastime with him. When the first court was established in this county, the legal talent of Chillicothe were in the habit of leaving their homes on the day preceding the opening of court, travel to the house of Dewitt and remain over night; there they were always accorded a warm reception. Governors McArthur, Allen and Thuriaaan, were frequent guests at his house. Ministers of all denominations made his house their headquarters,. meetings being held there. He was a member of the Baptist church, always voted the Democratic ticket, and enjoyed good health until a short time prior to his death. His union with Miss Barker was blessed with eleven children: Eveline, intermarried with William Orr (now dead); Jane, wife of James Allen, at present residing in Missouri; Anderson, living at Washington, C. H., in this county; Darlington, now a resident of Iowa; Decatur, died at the age of 30; Kachel, married Wesley Prior, now living in Missouri; Peter G., on part of the homestead; John, occupies a portion of the homestead; Jesse, residing in the old house; Candice, intermarried with Dr. Goldsberry, of Washington, this county; one child died in infancy.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Andrew DeWitt, raiser of fine stock, Washington, was born in Fayette County, August 23, 1813. He is a son of John and Polly DeWitt, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Pennsylvania.. The father came to Ohio about the year 1808, and the mother about the same time. They had a family of twelve children, ten of whom are living.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. DeWitt is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He received his eduoRtion in Washington and in Ross County", and has spent his whole life in this county. For thirty-five years he has been engaged in raising the Rose of Sharon, Young Mary's, Filicies, Jantha's, and Flora stock of cattle. He is the owner of the horse that produced Ben Hamilton. He is from Alexander Norman and a Denmark mare.

Mr. DeWitt's farm consists of eight hundred and fifty-six acres,, and he is one of the most extensive stock raisers in Ohio. In the pioneer days many wild animals, especially the black bear, inhabited the forests, and on one occasion when on his way home from the Rock Mills, in August, 1822, Mr. DeWitt tried two bears in one tree.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JESSE M. DEWITT.

Jesse M. Dewitt, son of John Dewitt, sr., the pioneer of this township, whose sketch will be found elsewhere, was born March 4, 1826, on the farm he now occupies, which is the homestead, where he was reared, and obtained the rudiments of a common school education, attending an old antiquated log school house three months during the winter season of each year. He lived on the farm all his life, and was never away from home more than forty days at one time. He was married, February, 1862, to Mary J., daughter of Elisha and Rebecca Taylor, at that time residents of this county; the father was a native of Fairfield County, near Lancaster. This union resulted in eight children: Charlie, Minnie, Carrie, Harry, Birdie, Dailie, Lottie, and Clay, all living. Mr. Dewitt spent about one thousand seven hundred dollars to help prosecute the late war, though not an active participant. He owns part of the old homestead, which contains one hundred and forty-four and three-quarter acres of land, and is well improved. He still occupies the old brick, erected by his father in 1822; his land is located on the Chillicothe pike. He is a respected citizen, and good neighbor; votes the Democratic ticket, but is no politician.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN E. DEWITT.

The life of the twentieth-century farmer has been free from most of the hardships which faced the farmer of a half century ago. The introduction of labor-saving machinery has brought about remarkable change in agricultural methods and the farmer is now enjoying a life of comparative ease when compared to what his forefathers had to contend with. Not only has the use of machinery revolutionized farming, but the telephone, rural mail service and automobile have put him in a position to participate in city life as never before. One of Fayette county's farmers who is thoroughly enjoying life is John E. Dewitt, of Union township, a man who has been identified with the history of this county for nearly sixty years.

John E. DeWitt, the son of Peter Grim VVorthington and Margaret (Beard) DeWitt, was born April 27, 1857, in Wayne township, in this county. His father was born in the same township and lived there all of his days. Peter G. W. DeWitt and wife reared a family of four children, Flem. Erastus, Mrs. Mary Kaylor and John E.

The Wayne township district schools gave John E. DeWitt all of his education. As a boy he worked on his father's farm during his summer vacations and when he left school he remained on the home farm helping his father. At the age of thirty he commenced renting land and shortly after bought his first farm in Wayne township. Before acquiring his present farm in Union township he owned farms in Marion and Madison townships. His present farm of sixty acres is located about three miles from the county seat on the Columbus road and is in a high state of cultivation. He does intensive farming and raises excellent crops of everything usually grown in this section of the state.

Mr. DeWitt was married December 23, 1890, to Sarah Stringfellow, the daughter of John and Jennie (Fannon) Stringfellow. His wife was a native of Ross county, Ohio. The Stringfellow family originally came from the state of Virginia. Mr. Stringfellow and wife were the parents of six children, John, Henry, Charles, Mary, Sarah, and Lulu B., deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt have been born two children, Mabel and Dwight. Mabel

Google received an excellent education and is now a public school teacher in this county. The son is now attending school in Washington C. H.

Politically, Mr. DeWitt is a Democrat, but tas ever had any political am))tions. He has preferred to leave the cares of politics to others although he gives his unreserved support to all measures which promise to benefit his community in any way. He is a man of genial disposition and has a host of friends in the county where he has spent his whole career.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

One of the most prominent stock dealers of Washington C. H. is Grant DeWitt, who was born in this county during the Civil War. He is engaged in farming, the buying and shipping of straw and has owned and developed one of the best racing horses which ever went out of Fayette county. Still later he engaged in the buying and shipping of cattle and is now engaged in this particular line of activity.

Grant DeWitt, the son of John and Martha (Rittenhouse) DeWitt, was born in Fayette county, Ohio, four miles south of Washington C. H., on the Chillicothe pike, July 7, 1862. His parents, who were natives of Washington C. H., and Ross county, Ohio, respectively, reared a family of seven children: Mary Jane, the wife of James Kearney, deceased; Arvilla, deceased, who was the wife of Christopher Parrett; Nellie, the wife of Charles Bowdell, of Hartford City, Indiana; Grant, of Washington C. H.; Frank, also of Washington C. H., and two who died in infancy, the eldest and youngest, both girls.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.