JAMES W. HEWITT

HEWITT

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/20/2020 at 13:43:50

JAMES W. HEWITT, a prosperous farmer of section 27, Nodaway township (post- office Nodaway), was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, February 2, 1840, a son of Elijah and Mary (Prescott) Hewitt. His father, born at Springfield, Massachusetts, was of an old New England family, and the father of the latter died in the service of his country in the war of 1812. Our subject’s mother was a native of Connecticut and a daughter of James Prescott. When he was seventeen years of age the family moved to Adams county, Illinois; afterward they moved to Chariton county, Missouri, where they remained until death. The father was a stone mason, and in politics a Whig and then Republican. In religion the mother was a Methodist. Of their four sons and seven daughters six are now living.

In April, 1861, Mr. James W. Hewitt enlisted in the war, under the first call for 75,000 men, in the Tenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. After his term expired and he made a visit home, he re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Colonel J. J. Fonda commanding, and he was at the battles of Chickasaw Bluffs in December, 1863, with General Sherman, and at Arkansas Post, Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge and the siege and surrender of Vicksburg. Later he was transferred to the mounted cavalry and stationed for a time at Port Hudson, and then sent on scouting duty most of the time, and raiding and keeping bushwhackers and guerillas in subjection. He was honorably discharged October 1, 1865, at Baton Rouge, when he was Orderly Sergeant.

In 1869 he removed to Ralls county, Missouri, and in 1872 settled upon his present farm, which then had but thirty acres broken and a small frame building upon it that is now used for a granary; but he has made of this place a nice farm, with all the modern
improvements. The dwelling is 14 x 26 feet, with an L of the same area, and one and a half stories high; and the premises are beautifully ornamented with evergreen and other varieties of trees and shrubbery. There are also, of course, a good barn and other outbuildings, in good order, and an orchard, etc., and a stream of water.

In his political views Mr. Hewitt is a Democrat. He has served five years as Township Trustee, and has also been a member of the School Board. In religion he is a Congregationalist, but his family attend the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is liberal in his views, affable as a friend, and faithful as a neighbor.

At the age of twenty-seven years he was married, in Adams county, Illinois, to a daughter of Coley and Almira (Spencer) Betts, natives of Connecticut. They have bad the following children: Sarah A., a teacher in district No. 9; Wilbert T., now employed in the post office at Villisca,
Iowa; William E.. a graduate of the Villisca high school; James P., Mary T., Lewis Le Barron, Elver A. and Elmer S. (twins), and Arthur S.