Biographical History of Pottawattmie Co., IA - Willard DeWITT
Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa

WILLARD DeWITT is one of the representative and enterprising citizens of Grove Township. He came here in 1876, and has since made this place his home.

Mr. DeWitt was born in Montgomery County, New York, November 29, 1826. His father, Willard DeWitt, Sr., was born in Massachusetts and lived to be 105 years old. He was of French ancestry, and fought in the war of 1812. His mother, nee Elizabeth Mosier, was also a native of Montgomery County, New York. Mr. DeWitt is one of a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters. When he was seventeen years of age the family removed to De Kalb County, Indiana, where his parents spent the remainder of their lives, the mother dying at the age of seventy-six years. Mr. DeWitt, Sr., was politically a Whig but subsequently became a Republican and Abolitionist. For twenty-five years he was a strong and zealous Methodist class-leader.

Willard DeWitt, Jr., was reared to farm life, and was early taught those lessons of industry and honesty which were so useful to him in after life. At the age of twenty-one he removed to Winnebago County, Illinois, where he resided several years and where he became acquainted with the lady whom he afterward married. January 18, 1850, he wedded Miss Delphia Montgomery, who was born in Springfield, Ohio, March 9, 1834, and was reared in Wells County, Indiana. She was the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Jones) Montgomery, who were natives of Pennsylvania. For several years the father was a successful teacher, and he afterward became a hotel manager. He died in La Porte, Indiana, at the age of forty years. The mother, who is now over ninety years of age, resides with her son in Cheyenne County, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt lived in Winnebago County, until 1855, when they removed to Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa. In 1861 they removed to Jasper County, same State. They lived in Monroe five years, Mr. DeWitt being engaged in teaming and freighting, which at that time was a profitable business. 1866 he moved on a farm which he improved and on which he lived until 1876. In that year he sold out and bought 160 acres of Same Osler, where he now resides. This place was improved by Silas Wheeler, an old pioneer of the township, it being one of the first farms settled on in this part of the county. At the time of its purchase by Mr. DeWitt about the only buildings on it were an old house and a small granary. In 1884, at a cost of $1,600, he erected a comfortable two-story house with porches and bay windows. It is situated on a natural building site and is surrounded by shade and ornamental trees. Mr. DeWitt has a fine grove of three acres and an orchard containing between 600 and 700 fruit trees: apples, plums and small fruits. He has good fences and suitable out-buildings for his stock. His farm is devoted to general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. Among his stock are some fine specimens.

Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt have five children, viz.: James Willard, who is married, has three children, and lives in Cedar County, Nebraska, George Lincoln, at home; Leticia, wife of M. F. Price, of Center Township, this county, has two children; P. Grant, who is married has one child, and lives in Grove Township; and John Harrison, at home. Four of their children died in infancy, namely: Antionica, in her twelfth year; John H., in his tenth year; William H., in his fifth year; and Cora May, at the age of thirteen month.

Politically Mr. DeWitt was rocked in a Whig and Abolitionist cradle, and under such teaching grew to be a strong and radical Republican. He never aspired for public office, although he has served as president of the School Board. He is a man well informed on general topics and is one of the respected and honorable citizens of this township. By good management and industry he has acquired a good property. He owns 240 acres of land in Grove Township, all under good state of cultivation.

Get more information about Willard DeWITT!
E-mail the Pottawattamie County, Iowa Genealogy Society

---------

Relevent links:

Thanks for visiting!
You are visitor number since the move to homepages.rootsweb.com!

---------

Return to the Table of Contents for the Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa

This page last updated: .
Copyright © 1998-1999 Susan M Baker, All rights reserved.