Individual Details
John Henry DeWitt
(8 Nov 1822 - 16 May 1892)
John Henry DeWitt was born in Kentucky on 8 November 1822. He was possibly born in Hardin County near Mammoth Cave where his parents had their wedding in 1819. This area became part of Larue County in 1843 when LaRue was formed from Hardin.
John Henry married Mary Jane Hawkins the day after Christmas in 1843 when he was 21 and she was 15. The wedding was recorded in Hardin County Kentucky with her father Hardin Hawkins attending. They probably spent the first few years of their marriage in Hardin county Kentucky where their first child, a son, was born in September of 1845.
After the birth of their first child they began moving from place to place where other relatives had relocated. By 1850 they had moved to Pike County, Illinois. The 1850 US Census shows them living there in Griggsville Township with John Henry's sister's family, Jacob W. and Eveline Putz. In the 1860 US Census they were living in the Perry Township of Pike County next door to Presley Chenoweth, Mary Jane's first cousin. John is listed as a farmer in both censuses. Their next three sons all list Pike county, Illinois as their birth place. The last of these sons, William Chenoweth Dewitt born in 1859, only lived two years.
Their stay in Illinois wasn't continuous though. Their first daughter, Mary Belle, born in March 1853, lists her birthplace as Texas in all census records. It is possible they went to stay with Mary Jane's Uncle Hardin Thomas Chenoweth. He was living in Bell Co. Texas at that time, and his wife, Nancy Hart, died there in 1851.
After 1860 John Henry left Illinois and moved his family back to Kentucky to the Fox Creek and Willisburg area of Anderson County. Fox Creek is located approximately six miles west of Lawrenceburg. Their next five children born from 1862 to 1871 all list Fox Creek as their birthplace. Their son Lafayette's bio says that when he was "5 years old, (1862) his father moved to Anderson Co., Ky near Fox Creek, as farmer; stayed 5 years, then started a dry goods business in Willisburg; including grocery and farm. In fall of 1869 bought "Farmers' Home" on Market, sold it 2 years later and returned to Willisburg."
John Henry continued to try his hand at business rather than farming. In the June 1870 US Census, he and his family are living in Louisville, Jefferson Co., Kentucky, were he and Mary Jane are running a tavern. This census includes all seven children and Mary Jane, who would have been eight months pregnant with son Henry. They also have their nephew and niece, William and Flora Hawkins, living with them.
Even though Louisville is about 60 miles from the Fox Creek, Willisburg area, Mary Jane appears to have returned to Fox Creek to give birth to Henry in July 1870, who died young, and daughter Louella in 1871 since Fox Creek is listed as their birth place. Their last child, son Edward, was born in Louisville in 1874.
John Henry moved his family again before 1880 as he is found in that census year living in Concord Township, Adams Co., Illinois, with Mary Jane and six of his youngest children. This is right above McKee Township, where his widowed mother and several of his siblings had made their home, years before. His father had died in 1854 in McKee Township and was buried in Lierly Cemetery to the west in Liberty Township. John Henry didn't remain here though, returning to Louisville by 1887 where he is listed in the 1887 and 1890 Louisville city directories. He was in Bloomfield, Nelson county, Kentucky, March, 1st, 1888, where he wrote a note giving his consent to his daughter's marriage.
This is to certify that Mr Jas. B. Seay has the consent of myself & wife to marry my daughter Sallie P. DeWitt And I hereby authorize the County Clerk of Nelson Co. to issue marriage license for him.
John DeWitt
John Henry DeWitt died in 1892, age 69, in Kentucky. His wife lived another 13 years, dying in 1905. They are both buried in Willisburg Cemetery, in Washington Co. Kentucky where they share a tombstone.
John Henry married Mary Jane Hawkins the day after Christmas in 1843 when he was 21 and she was 15. The wedding was recorded in Hardin County Kentucky with her father Hardin Hawkins attending. They probably spent the first few years of their marriage in Hardin county Kentucky where their first child, a son, was born in September of 1845.
After the birth of their first child they began moving from place to place where other relatives had relocated. By 1850 they had moved to Pike County, Illinois. The 1850 US Census shows them living there in Griggsville Township with John Henry's sister's family, Jacob W. and Eveline Putz. In the 1860 US Census they were living in the Perry Township of Pike County next door to Presley Chenoweth, Mary Jane's first cousin. John is listed as a farmer in both censuses. Their next three sons all list Pike county, Illinois as their birth place. The last of these sons, William Chenoweth Dewitt born in 1859, only lived two years.
Their stay in Illinois wasn't continuous though. Their first daughter, Mary Belle, born in March 1853, lists her birthplace as Texas in all census records. It is possible they went to stay with Mary Jane's Uncle Hardin Thomas Chenoweth. He was living in Bell Co. Texas at that time, and his wife, Nancy Hart, died there in 1851.
After 1860 John Henry left Illinois and moved his family back to Kentucky to the Fox Creek and Willisburg area of Anderson County. Fox Creek is located approximately six miles west of Lawrenceburg. Their next five children born from 1862 to 1871 all list Fox Creek as their birthplace. Their son Lafayette's bio says that when he was "5 years old, (1862) his father moved to Anderson Co., Ky near Fox Creek, as farmer; stayed 5 years, then started a dry goods business in Willisburg; including grocery and farm. In fall of 1869 bought "Farmers' Home" on Market, sold it 2 years later and returned to Willisburg."
John Henry continued to try his hand at business rather than farming. In the June 1870 US Census, he and his family are living in Louisville, Jefferson Co., Kentucky, were he and Mary Jane are running a tavern. This census includes all seven children and Mary Jane, who would have been eight months pregnant with son Henry. They also have their nephew and niece, William and Flora Hawkins, living with them.
Even though Louisville is about 60 miles from the Fox Creek, Willisburg area, Mary Jane appears to have returned to Fox Creek to give birth to Henry in July 1870, who died young, and daughter Louella in 1871 since Fox Creek is listed as their birth place. Their last child, son Edward, was born in Louisville in 1874.
John Henry moved his family again before 1880 as he is found in that census year living in Concord Township, Adams Co., Illinois, with Mary Jane and six of his youngest children. This is right above McKee Township, where his widowed mother and several of his siblings had made their home, years before. His father had died in 1854 in McKee Township and was buried in Lierly Cemetery to the west in Liberty Township. John Henry didn't remain here though, returning to Louisville by 1887 where he is listed in the 1887 and 1890 Louisville city directories. He was in Bloomfield, Nelson county, Kentucky, March, 1st, 1888, where he wrote a note giving his consent to his daughter's marriage.
This is to certify that Mr Jas. B. Seay has the consent of myself & wife to marry my daughter Sallie P. DeWitt And I hereby authorize the County Clerk of Nelson Co. to issue marriage license for him.
John DeWitt
John Henry DeWitt died in 1892, age 69, in Kentucky. His wife lived another 13 years, dying in 1905. They are both buried in Willisburg Cemetery, in Washington Co. Kentucky where they share a tombstone.
Events
| Birth | 8 Nov 1822 | Kentucky, United States |  |  | |
| Marriage | 26 Dec 1843 | Hardin, Kentucky, United States - Mary Jane Hawkins | | | |
| Census (family) | 1850 | T4S R3W, Griggsville Township, Pike, Illinois, United States - Mary Jane Hawkins | | | |
| Census (family) | 1860 | Perry Township, Pike, Illinois, United States - Mary Jane Hawkins | | | |
| Census (family) | 16 Jun 1870 | 4th Ward, Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, United States - Mary Jane Hawkins | | | |
| Census (family) | 15 Jun 1880 | Concord Township, Adams, Illinois, United States - Mary Jane Hawkins | | | |
| Residence (family) | 1887 | Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, United States - Mary Jane Hawkins | | ||
| Residence (family) | 1888 | Bloomfield, Nelson, Kentucky, United States - Mary Jane Hawkins | | | |
| Residence (family) | 1890 | Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, United States - Mary Jane Hawkins | | ||
| Burial | 1892 | Willisburg Cemetery, Willisburg, Washington, Kentucky, United States | | ||
| Death | 16 May 1892 | Kentucky, United States | |
Families
| Spouse | Mary Jane Hawkins (1828 - 1905) |
| Child | Jerome Waverly DeWitt (1845 - 1922) |
| Child | John Hardin DeWitt (1851 - 1921) |
| Child | Mary Belle DeWitt (1853 - 1884) |
| Child | Lafayette DeWitt (1857 - 1948) |
| Child | William Chenoweth DeWitt (1859 - 1861) |
| Child | Sarah Parthena "Sallie" DeWitt (1862 - 1947) |
| Child | William Elliston DeWitt (1864 - 1933) |
| Child | Angelina Hawkins "Annie" DeWitt (1867 - 1949) |
| Child | Henry DeWitt (1870 - 1870) |
| Child | Louella DeWitt (1871 - 1961) |
| Child | Edward Andrus DeWitt (1874 - 1965) |
| Father | Price DeWitt (1798 - 1854) |
| Mother | Sarah Albert (1802 - 1888) |
| Sibling | Angeline DeWitt (1820 - 1850) |
| Sibling | Zachariah DeWitt (1825 - 1847) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth Dewitt (1828 - 1901) |
| Sibling | Eveline DeWitt (1830 - 1904) |
| Sibling | Clinton P. DeWitt (1835 - 1861) |
| Sibling | Peter Price DeWitt (1837 - 1840) |
| Sibling | Delancy M. DeWitt (1837 - 1906) |
| Sibling | Aseneath "Senith" DeWitt (1840 - 1902) |
| Sibling | Lydia Leticia "Lida" DeWitt (1845 - 1928) |
| Sibling | William Price DeWitt (1847 - 1918) |
Notes
Birth
A family note has Willisburg written after his birthdate. I now suspect that he resided there, but wasn't born there. The census index at the FHC had no DeWitt's in Washington Co. during 1820.The 1850 & 1860 census lists Kentucky as his birthplace.
The 1870 & 1880 census lists Indiana as his birthplace.
Marriage
John Dewitt and Mary Jane Hawkins, 26 Dec 1843, Hardin KentuckyDewitt of lawful age. Hardin Hawkins father of Mary Jane gave consent in proper person.
Census (family)
542, 555, Jacob W. Putz, 48 M, Farmer, 10,000, PaEveline, 19 F, KY, (John Dewitt's sister)
Sarah A. 8/12 F, IL.
John DeWitt age 34 M, farmer, KY
Mary, 20 F, KY
Jerome, 5 M, KY.
Census (family)
1860 Illinois, Pike Co., Perry Twnshp., Post Office - Perry pg 471114, 114 John DeWitt 36, M, Farmer , 500 Personal estate, KY
MJ 32, F, KY
Jerome 15, M, KY school
Hardin 11, M, Ill school
M. B. 7, F Texas school
Lafayette 3, M Ill
William 1, M Ill
L. Hoggins 13, F KY
C.H. 18, M KY
The previous house has Mary Jane's first cousin -
113, 113 Presley Chenoweth 44 M Farmer, Ky
Harriet 33 F Ohio
Charles 10 M Ill.
James Morrison 18 M Ill
F. M. 15 M Ill
Census (family)
309, 454, Dewitt John 47 MW Tavern Keeper 4000 Real Estate, 4000 Personal, Indiana, citizenMary J 41 FW Keep house Kentucky
Jerome 24 MW Grocer Ret 2000 personal, Kentucky
John H. 19 MW At home Illinois
Mary B. 16 FW At home Texas
Lafayette 12 MW At School Kentucky
Sallie P. 8 FW Kentucky
William 5 MW Kentucky
Angeline 3 FW Kentucky
Nieman Anna 25 FW Dom. Servant Hanover
Wise Mary 18 FW Dom. Servant Indiana
Hawkins, Flora 17 FW At home Kentucky
Hawkins, William H 18 MW At home Kentucky
Lauthourst Henry 30 MW Bar Keeper Hanover
Fehring Benjamin 33 MW Street Sprinkler Hanover
Bulker Theodore 28 MW Hack Driver Hanover
Morgan James 28 MW Street Sprinkler Ohio, citizen
Above on this same page were enumerated the Reuve's and Hollenkamp's. See under Augusta Hollenkamp.
Census (family)
John's widowed mother Sarah and some siblings are in McKee, Adams Co.158, 161, Dewitt, John, WM, 57, Married, Farmer, IN KY NY
Mary Jane, WF, 51, Wife, Married, Keeps house KY KY KY
Mary B., WF, 27, daughter, single, At Home, TX IN KY
Sally P., WF, 18, daughter, single, Teaches school, KY IN KY
Willie E., WM, 15, son, single, works on farm, KY IN KY
Angeline, WF, 13, daughter, single, At school, KY IN KY
Luella, WF, 8, daughter, single, At school, KY IN KY
Edie, WM, 6, son, single, At school, KY IN KY
Residence (family)
(Database: Louisville, Kentucky Directory, 1887)Surname Given Name MI C Occupation Notes Address
DeWitt John grocer
DeWitt John H
Residence (family)
Marriage of Jas. B. Seay and Sallie P. Dewitt. Peter Colvin surety.Attached note:
Bloomfield Ky. March, 1st, 1888.
This is to certify that Mr Jas. B. Seay has the consent of myself & wife to marry my daughter Sallie P. DeWitt And I hereby authorize the County Clerk of Nelson Co. to issue marriage license for him.
John DeWitt
Residence (family)
(Database: Louisville, Kentucky Directories, 1890)Name Business Name Occupation Location 1 Location 2 City State Year
John DeWitt Enterprise Market Co. propr 724 to 728 E. Market Louisville KY 1890
John H. DeWitt J. H. DeWitt & Co.; DeWitt & Monsch Farmers' Home KY
John H. DeWitt DeWitt J. H. & Co. livery 652 W. Jefferson KY
John H. DeWitt; Charles L. Monsch DeWitt & Monsch proprs Farmers' Home 416-418 E. Market KY
Burial
DeWittJohn DeWitt
1822-1892
His Wife
Mary Jane
1828-1905
At Rest
Endnotes
1. DeWitt family records written by Lafe DeWitt and Olive DeWitt, 1938 (Santa Rosa, CA: Family records held by Charles DeWitt Prouty.).
2. DeWitt family records written by Lafe DeWitt and Olive DeWitt, 1938 (Santa Rosa, CA: Family records held by Charles DeWitt Prouty.).
3. "Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 13 February 2014), John Dewitt and Mary Jane Harrkins, 26 Dec 1843.
4. 1850 Census, Illinois, Pike Co., Griggsville Twp. (US GenWeb census lookup volunteer. 31 May, 2000
marilyn_morgan
5. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), 1850 > ILLINOIS > PIKE > TWP 4 S RANGE 3 W Series: M432 Roll: 124 Page: 61.
6. US Federal Census. Illinois, Pike Co. 1860 (read Mar 17, 2001 by Nancy Prouty).
7. US Federal Census of Kentucky, Jefferson Co. Louisville, 4th Ward. 16th day of June 1870 (read by Nancy Prouty, March 17, 2001), pg 55 4th Ward Louisville, Jefferson Co. Kentucky, Post Office Louisville, KY ,.
8. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), 1870 > KENTUCKY > JEFFERSON > 4-WD LOUISVILLE Series: M593 Roll: 474 Page: 364.
9. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), 1880 > ILLINOIS > ADAMS > CONCORD Page Number 91A.
10. "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," index and images, Family Search (https://familysearch.org: accessed 27 November 2013), John De Witt in entry for Jas B Seay and Sallie P De Witt, 1888.
11. DeWitt family records written by Lafe DeWitt and Olive DeWitt, 1938 (Santa Rosa, CA: Family records held by Charles DeWitt Prouty.).