John E. DeWitt
The life of the twentieth-century farmer has been freed from most of the hardships which faced the farmer of a half century ago. The introduction of labor-saving machinery has brought about a remarkable change in agricultural methods and the farmer is now enjoying a life of comparative ease when compared to what his forefathers had to contend w'ith. Not only has the use of machinery revolutionized farming, but the telephone, rural mail service and automobile have put him in a position to participate in city life as never before. One of Fayette county's farmers who is thoroughly enjoying life is John E. Dewitt, of Union township, a man who has been identified with the history of this county for nearly sixty years.
John E. DeWitt, the son of Peter Grim Worthington and Margaret (Beard) DeWitt, was born April 27, 1857, in Wayne township, in this county. His father was born in the same towaiship and lived there all of his days. Peter G. W. DeWitt and wife reared a family of four children, Flem, Erastus, Mrs. Mary Kaylor and John E.
The Wayne township district schools gave John E. DeWitt all of his education. As a boy he worked on his father's farm during his summer vacations and when he left school he remained on the home farm helping his father. At the age of thirty he commenced renting land and shortly after bought his first farm in Wayne township. Before acquiring his present farm in Union township he owned farms in Marion and Madison townships. His present farm of sixty acres is located about three miles from the county seat on the Columbus road and is in a high state of cultivation. He does intensive farming and raises excellent crops of everything usually grown in this section of the state.
Mr. DeWitt was married December 23. 1890, to Sarah Stringfellow, the daughter of John and Jennie (Fannon) Stringfellow. His wife was a native of Ross county, Ohio. The Stringfellow family originally came from the state of Virginia. Mr. Stringfellow and wife were the parents of six children, John, Henry, Charles, Mary, Sarah, and Lulu B., deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt have been born two children, Mabel and Dwight. Mabel received an excellent education and is now a public school teacher in this county. The son is now attending school in Washington C. H. Politically, Mr. DeWitt is a Democrat, but has ever had any political ambitions. He has preferred to leave the cares of politics to others although he gives his unreserved support to all measures which promise to benefit his communitv in any way. He is a man of genial disposition and has a host of friends in the county where he has spent his whole career.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)