De Witt Township

De Witt Township

Eli Guthrie has the honor of first having laid out a town called "Elderport " on the spot where the town of De Witt is now built. The exact year of hu arrival and settlement is lost. Guthrie disposed of his interest in the town to Henry Root, who as early as 1837 began the sale of lots, Hinkle and Murdoch, Mormon leaders, purchased heavily, and through their instrumentality induced a large Mormon influx, a full account of which will be found in the general history of the county. The town was laid out in the south-west quarter of section 24, and embraces 47 full blocks, of six lots each, and seven fractional blocks with twenty-two lots in the aggregate.

As early as October, 1829, John Jones located where the town is built, Jonathan Eppler having the only residence in the place. Eppler started a landing on the Missouri river for keel boats, the landing bearing his name for several years after. John Mulligan located in 1831; his mother and himself built a house, and opened a stock of goods, the first there.

The first child born was in 1830, and named Miles, to Jonathan and Alsea Eppler. George Smith, who was drowned in Yellow Creek, was probably the first death, the next being Ebenezer Harvey.

Thomas McMahan, of Saline county, and Evaline Eppler, in 1829, were married, at the home of Jonathan Eppler. Eppler was a tanner and had a yard near the landing.

Indians of the Sac tribe often visited the neighborhood but never did any damage. On one occasion, settlers from Big creek and other portions of the county, flocked to the Eppler locality for protection, but the alarm proved unfounded.

For several years the improvements were few and far apart, a.id of little value. In 1851 the town site was bought by a company called the "De Witt Town Company," and control placed for the sale of lots, in three trustees, named Windsor, Wood and Fields. On assuming control of affairs, the name of the town was changed from De Witt to "Windsor Cit}^ " after the name of one of its trustees. The company not meeti.ig with the success they anticipated, or from some cause, financial or otht rwise, it passed out of their control in a short time, and in the followii g year the town was re-incorporated under its first name. Its situation ? on a high bluff overlooking the Missouri river on the east, while to the south extends the range of bluffs. On the north and west are valuable well improved farming lands.

It is a fine shipping point, drawing largely by ferry from Saline county, while its general trade is good. Being on the line of the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific railroad as well as on the Missouri river, gives the place peculiar advantages for trade not enjoyed by any other town in the county. It is under regular town government with mayor and full set of officers.

These springs, a recent discovery, near the town of DeWitt, promise, in the not distant future, to rival some of the most noted of the country. Nature, in her lavish outlays for mankind's benefit, has thrown open many doors, and among the number the healing or curative power of her waters is not the least, the " Bonanza " promising from the analysis already made to be of peculiar advantage to those suftering from disease. The springs are located on the farm of Hiram Jaqua, Esq., in the suburbs of DeWitt. They are one mile from the depot of the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific railroad company, and the same distance from the steamboat landing on the Missouri river, and but a few hundred yards from the state road leading from Carrollton to DeWitt.

As analyzed by Wright & Merrill, of St. Louis, the component chemical elements show: Carbolic acid, carbonate of lime, carbonate of magnesia, carbonate of iron, chloride of sodium, chloride of potasium, silicia, organic matter. It is a well established proposition in medicine that water possessing the above elements, its impregnation being distinct and marked, is beneficial to many of the ills that flesh is heir to. Although not formally thrown open to the public, the efficacy of its waters have been tested in many cases, and the most perfect satisfaction given the patients. A company is forming to develop and improve them, several physicians and capitalists being interested in the enterprise. Possessing as it does all the chemical elements of the " Eureka, " of Arkansas, it has the advantage of easy and short access from every part of the country* The high and dry location of the town, its freedom from miasmatic influences, the beautiful panorama of the sweeping bend of the Missouri river where it leaves the base of the towering bluffs of the turbid Wakanda, all, all, combine to make it one of the most pleasant and beautiful resorts on the continent.

Dewitt Business Directory

The Christian Church of DeWitt was organized about 1870, with G. B. Glendening and wife, E. J. Mitchell, Bide Wilson, Wm. M. Kendrick P. P. Guilett, N. Logan and wife, J. H. Kendrick, S. E. Kendrick, Jesse Work and John Glendening as original members. Their church is a frame building, neatly and tastefully finished, and cost about $1100. The pulpit was first occupied by Elder A. K. Owens, followed by Elders Peeler, Love and Dale. Officers: P. P. Guillet and Jos. Weltner, elders, and J. H. Kendrick and James Ligget, deacons. Present membership, thirty-five.

The Baptist Church was organized on the 28th day of December, 1846, with Sarah Skelly, Harriet McKinney, H. and G. T. Lewis, M. A. V. Plemmons, Sarah Dunham, Parthenia Lewis, Thomas Plemmons, Nancy Plemmons, F. T. Lewis and W. S. Smith as original members. In 1876 the church erected a fine frame house of worship, which, when completed, will cost about $1400. The pastors .in charge have been Revs. Kemp Scott, W; C. Ligon, Thomas Graves and G. W. Hatcher. Present membership, 55.

M. E. Churchy South. - Was organized in April, 1875, with John P., Ann and Maggie Minnis and Sallie C. Catterton. They erected a large frame house of worship, in 1876, at a cost of $1500, which was dedicated September of the same year by Rev. J. P. Nolan. Revs. M. G. Gregory, J. L. Meffert, W. M. Sutton and H. H. Craig have labored at its altar. Present membership, 35.

The DeWitt Flouring Mills, Jacob Phleeger, proprietor, is located in the town of DeWitt. The building is frame, 26x36 feet, and three stories high, the engine-room being 16x36 feet, and has a run of two sets of burs. In buildings and ground a capital of $2700 is invested; in machinery, $3310, and in raw materials about $500, a total of $6500. The amount of profit on products for the past year was: about $2000. Three hands are engaged in the mills. The capacity of the mills is 20 barrels of flour and 125 bushels of corn per day. Mr. Phleeger, in 1856, built a small mill in the east part of town. Afterward, in 1868, he built on the present site at a cost of $6000, this last mill being destroyed by fire in 1869, with no insurance. Through pluck and energy, Mr. Phleeger rebuilt his present mill, and has established a splendid trade in his own and surrounding towns, his brands of flour being superior.