Frank DeWitt
The DeWitt family was one of the first to settle in Fayette county, Ohio. Peter DeWitt came to this county from Kentucky in 1805, purchased one thousand acres of land on Turkey creek and built the first house in Wayne township, a rude log cabin, which is still standing. The DeWitt family is of German ancestry, the first member of the family to come to this country being Peter DeWitt, who came to America several years before the Revolutionary War. He fought during that struggle and later became one of the pioneer settlers of Kentucky. In 1805 he, with his wife, Jane Bray, and family, located in Wayne township, or rather on land which is now within that township. The county was not organized until 1810 and by that time he had a considerable tract cleared and in cultivation. It is not known how many children Peter DeWitt had, although it is certain that three sons, John, Henry and Gabriel, were the first settlers on the land now comprehended within Fayette county. Each of the three brothers built a brick house on his farm and all three of the houses are still standing and occupied. John DeWitt grew to manhood in this county and married Polly Barker. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and lived to the advanced age of ninety, his wife being past ninety-two years of age at the time of her death. John DeWitt and his wife, Polly Barker, were the parents of ten children. Eveline, Jane, Anderson, Darlington. Decatur, Greenup, Rachel, John, Jesse and Candace.
John DeWitt. one of the ten children of John and Polly (Barker) DeWitt, was born in Fayette county, Ohio, while his wife, Martha Rittenhouse, was born in Ross county, Ohio. He was a farmer and stock raiser and one of the most successful men of his township. At the time of his death, November 8, 1888, he owned four hundred and fifty acres of fine farming land in Wayne township. His wife died in 1906, at the age of seventy-two. John DeWitt and wife were the parents of seven children: Janey, deceased, who was the wife of James Kearney: Arvilla, deceased, who was the wife of C. S. Parrett; Nellie, the wife of C. M. Bowdle, of Hartford City, Indiana; Grant, of Washington C. H.; Frank, of Washington C. H., and two who died in infancy.
The maternal grandparents of Frank DeWitt were Tillman and Matilda (Tully) Rittenhouse. They were natives of Ross county, Ohio, and died in that county at an advanced age. Tillman Rittenhouse was an extensive farmer, a lawyer and a circuit judge for several years. He was twice married, and bv his first marriage to Matilda Tully he had the following children: James, Amanda and Martha. His second wife was Betsy Shole, and to this union three children were born. Jackson, Minerva and Lewis Cass. He was an educated and brilliant man, a man of marked influence in his day and generation.
Frank DeWitt, the fourth of the family in direct descent to live in this county, was reared on the same farm on which his great-grandfather settled in 1805. He attended the district schools and remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-four years of age. He then began teaching school and for fiftteen or sixteen years taught school in this county. He made a splendid record as a school teacher, but finally gave up the profession for the farm. He operated a farm in Wayne township until about five years ago. when he moved to Washington C. H., and engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock, an industry in which he has been very successful.
Mr. DeWitt was married on December 27, 1896, in the Arlington Hotel, in Washington C. H., where his father was born. His wife is Cora Lucas, the daughter of William and Jeannette (White) Lucas, and to this union has been born one daughter, Winona. Mrs. DeWitt was born in Union township, both of her parents being natives of Wayne township, and now living in Washington. C. H. William Lucas and wife are the parents of seven children, Alcester, Clara, Lelah, Sherman, Cora, Jessie and Orban. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. DeWitt were Richard and Matilda (Rowe) Lucas, natives of Ohio and pioneers in Fayette county. Richard Lucas and wife were the parents of four children, William, Samantha, Martha and Mary.
Mr. DeWitt has been an extensive traveler and has made several trips to Europe. He is well informed on all the current topics of the day and is able to discuss them in an intelligent manner. He is a public-spirited citizen who is interested in every measure proposed for the benefit of his city, and a man highly esteemed by all who know him.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)