David S. DeWitt

DEWITT, MITCHELL

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/13/2005 at 18:39:55

D. S. De Witt, a well known farmer of Union township, was born in Hardin county, this state, on the 6th of October, 1871, a son of Seymour and Sarah De Witt, both natives of the Dominion of Canada. In 1868 they removed to Hardin county, Iowa, where the father became a substantial farmer, owning eight hundred acres of land. Both are now living at New Providence in the enjoyment of rest and leisure. Their religious faith is that of the Friends church. To them were born nine children, but the subject of this review and a brother are the only ones living in Madison county.

D. S. De Witt attended the district schools of Hardin county and the high school at New Providence. After completing his formal education he returned home and farmed with his father until he was twenty-seven years of age, when he began his independent business career and in addition to cultivating the soil he dealt in farm land to some extent. In 1902 he removed to Madison county and purchased the Kennedy farm in Union township, later buying the Butler Bird farm. His holdings comprise hundred and forty acres and in addition to general farming he feeds a number of cattle and hogs each year, thus deriving a good income from both phases of his work.

Mr. De Witt married Miss Minnie Mitchel, who was born in Hardin county, and they have four children, Rodney, Ruth, Louise and Alice. Mr. De Witt has been a democrat for twenty years and is most loyal to that party. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is an energetic and able farmer and the excellent condition of everything about his place testifies to the care which he bestows upon it. He has built two barns upon the property and has made many other improvements. In his work he uses the latest machinery and is always willing to apply the results of experiments along the line of scientific agriculture. It is a matter of just pride to him that his prosperity is due to his own efforts and good management.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.