Individual Details
Oliver Dewitt
(7 Jan 1844 - )
OLIVER DeWITT.
On the 4th of July, 1864, OliverDeWitt arrived in Walla Walla, a young man of twenty years, with twenty-three cents in his pocket, representing his entire capital. Today he is the owner of valuable farming property, form which he derives a gratifying annual rental that supplies him with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. The intervening period was at the outset a struggle for existence but since then, step by step, he has steadily progressed and his record indicates clearly what may be accomplished when there is a will to dare and to do. Never afraid of hard work, he has also displayed sound business judgment in the management of his interests.
Mr. DeWitt was born in Knox county,Ohio, on the 7th of January, 1844, a son of David H. and Rachel (Starner) DeWitt, who removed from Ohio to Iowa in 1850, settling in Mahaska county near Oskaloosa, where they remained until called to their final rest.
Oliver DeWitt had very limited educational opportunities. In fact he is a self-educated as well as self-made man and many of his most valuable lessons have been gleaned from the school of experience. On reaching his twentieth year, in 1864, he decided to leave home and seek his fortune in the far west. Accordingly he bade adieu to friends and family and crossed the plains with an ox team to Boise City,Idaho, and from there made the journey to Walla Walla on foot, arriving as previously stated on the 4th of July, with twenty-three cents as his entire capital. The following day he secured employment with a farmer to pull onions. He worked for wages that fall and winter and in 1865 he engaged in teaming and packing, which business he followed for about ten years.He then became actively engaged in the live stock business, settling four miles northeast of Walla Walla. In 1877 he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land on Dry creek, nine miles northeast of Walla Walla, and taking up his abode upon that place, turned his attention to general farming.He subsequently increased his holdings to four hundred and fifty acres,which he still owns. For the past twenty years or more he has spent the winter seasons in Walla Walla in order to give his children the advantages of the city schools. The summer months were largely spent upon the home farm but for three years he has remained steadily in Walla Walla, renting his farm to others. He belongs to the Farmers Union and is one of the directors of the Farmers Union Warehouse Company.
In May, 1874, Mr. DeWitt was united in marriage to Miss America A. Roff, a daughter of Frederick and Rachael (White) Roff, who crossed the plains with ox teams from Missouri to Washington in 1864, settling in what is now Walla Walla. They made the trip with nine children and were six months and one day en route. On reaching his destination Mr. Roff had but fifty cents in his pocket. However, some of his Masonic brethren came to his assistance and after a short time he had made a good start. Four of his nine children were old enough to work and wages were good, the girls receiving nine dollars per week. The father engaged in farming and with the exception of a year and a half spent in Oregon he made his home continuously in the vicinity of Walla Walla upto the time of his death, which occurred in 1902. He was one of the well known and valued pioneer settlers of this section of the state. His widow survived him for six years, passing away in 1908. Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt are the parents of four children, as follows: Ella, who is the wife of Edward Bradbury, of Waitsburg; Harry L., who owns and operates a large ranch near Starbuck in Columbia county; Arthur Clyde, who is engaged in the grain business in Waitsburg; and Elsie D., who gave her hand in marriage to William L. Estes, a farmer of Walla Walla county. Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt have also reared a nephew, Charles F. Myers, whose parents died when he was seven years of age and he is now living on the farm.
In politics Mr. DeWitt is a stanch republican, exercising his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of that party. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Washington Lodge, No. 19, and also to the encampment, while both he and his wife are identified with the Rebekahs. Narcissa Lodge, No. 2, presented Mrs. DeWitt with the veteran's jewel,given for long and faithful service in the order. Mr. DeWitt belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, while his wife holds membership in the Christian church. They are people of genuine personal worth and Mr. DeWitt is every ready to extend a helping hand to those who need assistance. He comprehends what difficulties mean, having had his own hard knocks. He sympathizes with those whose lot has not been as fortunate as his and yet he does not condone the shirker nor have patience with the shiftless,because his life has been organized along lines that call for a full dole of labor within each turn of the wheel. Because of his industry and perseverance,obstacles and difficulties have vanished before him like mist before the morning sun and step by step he has advanced until he has reached the heights of prosperity.
Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County - 1918
Page 686, 691
On the 4th of July, 1864, OliverDeWitt arrived in Walla Walla, a young man of twenty years, with twenty-three cents in his pocket, representing his entire capital. Today he is the owner of valuable farming property, form which he derives a gratifying annual rental that supplies him with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. The intervening period was at the outset a struggle for existence but since then, step by step, he has steadily progressed and his record indicates clearly what may be accomplished when there is a will to dare and to do. Never afraid of hard work, he has also displayed sound business judgment in the management of his interests.
Mr. DeWitt was born in Knox county,Ohio, on the 7th of January, 1844, a son of David H. and Rachel (Starner) DeWitt, who removed from Ohio to Iowa in 1850, settling in Mahaska county near Oskaloosa, where they remained until called to their final rest.
Oliver DeWitt had very limited educational opportunities. In fact he is a self-educated as well as self-made man and many of his most valuable lessons have been gleaned from the school of experience. On reaching his twentieth year, in 1864, he decided to leave home and seek his fortune in the far west. Accordingly he bade adieu to friends and family and crossed the plains with an ox team to Boise City,Idaho, and from there made the journey to Walla Walla on foot, arriving as previously stated on the 4th of July, with twenty-three cents as his entire capital. The following day he secured employment with a farmer to pull onions. He worked for wages that fall and winter and in 1865 he engaged in teaming and packing, which business he followed for about ten years.He then became actively engaged in the live stock business, settling four miles northeast of Walla Walla. In 1877 he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land on Dry creek, nine miles northeast of Walla Walla, and taking up his abode upon that place, turned his attention to general farming.He subsequently increased his holdings to four hundred and fifty acres,which he still owns. For the past twenty years or more he has spent the winter seasons in Walla Walla in order to give his children the advantages of the city schools. The summer months were largely spent upon the home farm but for three years he has remained steadily in Walla Walla, renting his farm to others. He belongs to the Farmers Union and is one of the directors of the Farmers Union Warehouse Company.
In May, 1874, Mr. DeWitt was united in marriage to Miss America A. Roff, a daughter of Frederick and Rachael (White) Roff, who crossed the plains with ox teams from Missouri to Washington in 1864, settling in what is now Walla Walla. They made the trip with nine children and were six months and one day en route. On reaching his destination Mr. Roff had but fifty cents in his pocket. However, some of his Masonic brethren came to his assistance and after a short time he had made a good start. Four of his nine children were old enough to work and wages were good, the girls receiving nine dollars per week. The father engaged in farming and with the exception of a year and a half spent in Oregon he made his home continuously in the vicinity of Walla Walla upto the time of his death, which occurred in 1902. He was one of the well known and valued pioneer settlers of this section of the state. His widow survived him for six years, passing away in 1908. Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt are the parents of four children, as follows: Ella, who is the wife of Edward Bradbury, of Waitsburg; Harry L., who owns and operates a large ranch near Starbuck in Columbia county; Arthur Clyde, who is engaged in the grain business in Waitsburg; and Elsie D., who gave her hand in marriage to William L. Estes, a farmer of Walla Walla county. Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt have also reared a nephew, Charles F. Myers, whose parents died when he was seven years of age and he is now living on the farm.
In politics Mr. DeWitt is a stanch republican, exercising his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of that party. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Washington Lodge, No. 19, and also to the encampment, while both he and his wife are identified with the Rebekahs. Narcissa Lodge, No. 2, presented Mrs. DeWitt with the veteran's jewel,given for long and faithful service in the order. Mr. DeWitt belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, while his wife holds membership in the Christian church. They are people of genuine personal worth and Mr. DeWitt is every ready to extend a helping hand to those who need assistance. He comprehends what difficulties mean, having had his own hard knocks. He sympathizes with those whose lot has not been as fortunate as his and yet he does not condone the shirker nor have patience with the shiftless,because his life has been organized along lines that call for a full dole of labor within each turn of the wheel. Because of his industry and perseverance,obstacles and difficulties have vanished before him like mist before the morning sun and step by step he has advanced until he has reached the heights of prosperity.
Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County - 1918
Page 686, 691
Events
| Birth | 7 Jan 1844 | Knox, Ohio, United States | |||
| Marriage | May 1874 | America A Roff | |||
| Census (family) | 1920 | Ward 3, Walla Walla, Walla Walla, Washington, United States - America A Roff |  |
Families
| Spouse | America A Roff (1860 - ) |
| Father | David H Dewitt (1798 - 1865) |
| Mother | Rachel Starner (1806 - 1880) |
| Sibling | Clinton Dewitt (1838 - 1913) |
Notes
Census (family)
Oliver Dewitt Head M 75 Ohio, PA PAAmerica Dewitt Wife F 60 Missouri Maryland, Ohio