Individual Details

Willis Washington Hitt Medical Doctor

(11 Feb 1801 - 18 Aug 1876)

At age 18, Willis Hitt fell ill to lung diseae and lost his left lung. When he recovered he dedicated his live to medicine. Willis graduated from the University of Maryland in 1825. He began practice in Boonsboro, Washington, Maryland. After a few years, he joined the United States Navy as a surgeon. Ill health, though, forced him to resign. In 1832 he wrote "History of a Sarcomatus Tumor--Its Extirpation." in the Western Journal of Medical and Physical Science.

In addition to medicine, Willis Hitt operated a drug store and served on the board of trustees for two universities--Asbury in Greencastle, Putnam, Indiana and Vincennes University. He helped found Asbury University and was the board president in 1861 and 1862. He was board president of Vicennes University for 17 years. Willis helped organize in 1862 and was a director of the Vincennes National Bank.

Willis moved to Vincennes, Knox, Indiana in 1830. In 1850 he was elected a member of the state constitutional convention representing Knox County.

Events

Birth11 Feb 1801, Bourbon, KY
Marriage1827Mary Reynolds
Marriage1840Ellen Shotwell
Death18 Aug 1876Vincennes, Knox, IN

Families

SpouseMary Reynolds (1810 - 1836)
ChildIsaac Reynolds Hitt (1828 - )
ChildWillis M. Hitt Medical Doctor (1829 - )
ChildMary Hitt (1830 - )
ChildJohn W. Hitt (1831 - )
SpouseEllen Shotwell (1811 - 1897)
ChildEllen Hitt (1841 - )
ChildMilton Hitt (1842 - )
ChildEdwin Hitt (1843 - )
FatherMartin Hitt Reverend (1763 - 1832)
MotherMargaret SMITH (1766 - 1839)
SiblingElizabeth Hitt (1795 - 1849)
SiblingThomas Smith Hitt (1797 - 1852)
SiblingSarah Hitt (1798 - )
SiblingSamuel Merritt Hitt (1799 - 1859)
SiblingJohn Wesley Hitt (1801 - )
SiblingCaleb Hitt (1802 - )
SiblingMaria Hitt (1807 - 1900)
SiblingDaniel F. Hitt ( - )