Wightman, D. E.

WIGHTMAN

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 10/13/2008 at 21:56:15

D. E. Wightman

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.206, Norwalk Twp.)
D. E. Wightman, farmer, P. O. Downsville, was born at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., December 8, 1833. He is the son of David and Elizabeth (Degroff) Wightman. His father was born in Pawlet, Vt., in 1806, and died in 1856. His mother was born in Connecticut in 1813, and died in 1848. Our subject emigrated from his native town, with his parents, to the western part of the State of New York, when he was a boy. At the age of sixteen, he went to Ellicottsville, the then county seat of Cattaraugus County, N. Y., to learn the carpenter's trade. When he became twenty-one ears old he went to Ottawa, La Salle Co., Ill., where he stayed for one year. He then went to Rock Island, Ill., where he worked at his trade for four years, thence going to Iowa City, Iowa, where he remained for four months, finally returning to Ottawa, Ill., where he engaged in building houses and barns for the farmers. During this stay in Ottawa, he married Amanda L. Millikin, at Bruceville, La Salle County, February 1, 1860. She was born near Ottawa, Ill., January 21, 1838, and is the daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Williams) Millikin. Her father was born in Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Penn., November 24, 1801, and died February 25, 1866. Her mother was born in Etna, Licking Co., Ohio, February 24, 1807, and is still living in Ottawa, Ill. Before her marriage, Mrs. Wightman was engaged in teaching school. She is a very intelligent lady, and is decided and earnest in her advocacy of religion and temperance. After the birth of two children, our subject went to Nebraska with the intention of settling in that State, but not liking the country, he returned East as far as Council Bluffs, where he worked at his trade for six years. At the end of this time, he moved on to his present farm, in Norwalk Township, where he and his family have resided for the past ten years. Mr. amd Mrs. Wightman have had four children - Mary E., born November 14, 1860; Rebecca E., born March 10, 1864; Charlie E., born July 17, 1867; and Ada, born July 4, 1869, died July 16, ,1873. Mary E. is married, but her place at home is filled by her little son - Edward, a bright and interesting boy, who is the delight and pride of his grandparents. Mr. Wightman is at present Justice of the Peace.