Vigo County, Indiana - Chapter 26: Terre Haute's Importance A]\iong Horseaien, 1908 (part 4 of 4)

James E. Donnelly, M. D. - The medical fraternity of Terre Haute numbers Dr. James E. Donnelly among its most prominent physicians, and Vigo county claims him among her native sons, his birth occurring on his father's farm, three miles east of Terre Haute, January 5, 1872. William Donnelly, his father, was born in Tennessee in 1817 and came to Vigo county. Indiana, in 1840, thus being but twenty-three years of age when he cast his lot with the early pioneers here. He made the journey from his native state of Tennessee on horseback, and in time he became one of the most prominent educators of Vigo county, many of the now old and best known citizens of the county having been among his pupils. He farmed in the summers and taught in the winters for several years, and then gave his entire time to his agricultural labors, becoming as successful a farmer as educator. He farmed after the old style of a southern gentleman that he was, employing laborers to do the work, and he was known for his love of horseback riding. Although he was a representative of a southern race, both he and his family were of Union sentiment during the Civil Avar, and he was a Republican politically. He came to the county a poor young man, but an excellent scholar, having received an academical training in his youth. He was twice married in Vigo county, his first wife being Elizabeth Smith, who bore him seven children, but two are now deceased, as is also the wife and mother, and his second wife bore the maiden name of Helen A. Edmunds and was born in this countj' of pioneer parents. Her father, Samuel Edmunds, came from the New England states to \igo county, Indiana, during an earl)' epoch in its history. Mrs. Donnelly bore her husband four children, among -whom was Dr. Donnelly, and died in 1881, at the age of forty-six years. Her husband reached the eightyfirst milestone on the journey of life.

Dr. Donnelly was reared as a farmer boy and his elementary education was received in the country schools, but in 1895 he graduated from the Indiana State Normal and taught for six years thereafter, four years before his graduation and two afterward. During this time he also attended the Indiana University during the spring and summers, and then deciding to become a member of the medical profession entered Rush Medical College and graduated from that well known institution in igoi. Since his graduation he has practiced in Terre Haute with ever increasing success. He is a member of the Vigo County Medical Society.

In 1505 Dr. Donnelly married Miss Margaret Elizabeth Johnston. They have one child living. Elizabeth A., and another, William, died in infancy. He has membership relations with the Knights of Pythias fraternity and is a member of the Alaple Avenue Methodist Episcopal church.

Lee R. ^^'ITTV. - It is a noticeable fact that yo^mg men are controlling the veins and arteries of traffic and trade and that the more important business positions are frequently occupied by those who have not yet attained the prime of life. Among the successful young business men of Terre Haute is numbered Lee R. \\'itty. general manager of the Wabash Sand & Gravel Company, general manager of the Terre Haute Sand & Gravel Company and vice president of the Acme Coal & Lime Company. His powers of executive control and administrative direction are now widely acknowledged and his connection with any undertaking seems to insure a prosperous outcome of the same, for it is in his nature to carry forward to successful completion whatever he is associated with. He has indeed won for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of business, and in his dealings is known for his prompt and honorable methods.

A native of Indiana, i\Ir. Witty was born at Carbon, October 17, 1870, his parents being A. L. and Sarah E. (Barnett) Witty, both of whom were natives of Putnam county, Indiana. The paternal grandfather, ^^'illiam W. Wittv, was a native of North Carolina, and rcmov- ing to the West, cast in his lot with the early settlers of Putnam county and aided in laying broad and deep the foundation for its future development and upbuilding. There amid frontier surroundings A. L. Witty was reared, and after attaining his majority he devoted many years of an active and useful life to merchandising. The Masonic fraternity knew him as an exemplary and valued member and he was devoted in his advocacy and support of the principles and teachings of the ^Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belonged. He died in 1899, at the age of fifty-seven years, while his wife passed away in 1907, at the age of sixty-three years. She was a daughter of Edward Barnett, probably a native of Kentucky. At all events he drove across the country from Kentucky to Putnam county on becoming a resident of Indiana. In the vear 1876 A. L. Witty removed with his family from Carbon to Clay City, Clay count}-, this state, and there resided until 1882, when he became a resident of Saline City. Five years were there passed, after which the family home was established in California, but in 1888 they returned to Indiana and settled at Brazil. From that point they went to Diamond, Indiana, in 1894, and it was there that the father passed away five years later. His widow afterward returned to Coalmont, Indiana, but her last days were passed in Brazil. In all the different localities in which he resided Mr. Witty followed merchandising, save the period which he spent in California. He lived in San Diego during that time and went to the coast for the benefit of his health.

After acquiring a public school education and attaining man's estate, Lee R. Witty became agent and telegraph operator for the Evansville & Indianapolis Railroad at Saline City, this state. This was in 1887. He was afterward employed at various places on the line of the road until 1889, in which year he came to Terre Haute with the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad as clerk in the local freight office. In 1890 he went to Evansville as train dispatcher for the same company, continuing at that point until 1897, when he was made chief train dispatcher on the Southern Indiana, with headquarters at Bedford. Five years passed and he was next promoted to train master, which position he held until Januarv i, 1905. His next promotion made him superintendent, and in that capacity he remained until he left the service of the railroad company. He was one of the promoters of the Acme and Terre Haute companies and was instrumental in the organization of the Wabash company. He became widely known in railroad circles in the middle west and his efforts were an important element in the development of railroad interests. At the present time he is closely associated with industrial concerns of Terre Haute and is controlling important and profitable business enterprises as general manager of the Wabash Sand

& Gravel Company, as general manager of the Terre Haute Sand & Gravel Company and as vice president of the Acme Coal & Lime Company. jNIr. Witty was married in 1896 to Miss Mae Fitzhenry, who was born in Uniontown. Kentucky, and is a daughter of the late Charles Fitzhenry, of Shawneetown, Illinois, where he had been a merchant and contractor for twenty-five years, dying in 1904. Mrs. Fitzhenry died in igo2. Mr. Wittv belongs to the Young Business Men's Club, of Terre Haute, and is associated with the interests of the city along lines proving" beneficial. He possesses tireless energy, unfaltering perseverance and a genius for devising the right thing at the right time, while his fellow townsmen also recognize his sound judgment and his excellent management.