Descendants of William Witters

1. WILLIAM¹ WITTERS was born November 17, 1825 in PA, and died June 27, 1895 in Nebo, South of Dahlgren, Hamilton Co., IL. He married LAVINIA CATHERINE M. BARHAM September 24, 1849 in Lawrence Co., IL. She was born January 10, 1828 in PA, and died February 21, 1905 in Nebo, South of Dahlgren, Hamilton Co., IL.

Notes for WILLIAM WITTERS:
William and Catherine are listed on the 1850 Census of Lawrence Co., IL. William, age 24, b. PA with wife, Catherine, age 22, b. PA. They were married within the year.

From: Ghost Towns of Southern Illinois by Glenn J. Sneed, pub. 1977 - AERP Publisher; p. 56

"William Witters lived in a two story four room log house a quarter of a mile north and a quarter of a mile east of Mount Nebo United Brothern Church. It was in the southwest corner of the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 4, township 4, range 5. Witters established a post office in one corner of his living room, July 14, 1849 and named it Polo Alto. The two story log houses were rare and the name seems quite appropriate for in the Spanish language it means high logs.

Witters discontinued the post office December 20, 1866, after the close of the Civil War. People of the community kept asking when he was going to open it again. So Polo Alto Post Office was reopened March 8, 1873. Of course William Witters was the postmaster all this time. William Witters died June 27, 1895 and the post office was moved a quarter of a mile west to Charles Witters' store. Charles was the son of William. Charles was now postmaster. The post office was then moved to the home of W. P. Gibbs March 3, 1894, where it too the name of Gibbs. On July 3, 1895 it was moved to the home of Logan Marsh and the name was changed back to Polo Alto. It was finally closed April 20, 1902.

The mail was brought from Snowflake, in Franklin County, on horseback. Some of the riders were: J. W. Bopster, Alison Pilson, Nicholis Reffer, John Kelly and James Doyd. The riders received 25 cents for the twenty-five mile round trip.

James Deno owned the two story house. It was in ruin about 1930 and he tore it down and made fence posts of the logs. A few of these posts are still in use.

Charles Witters' store fell into demise. It was owned by Kenneth Denbo, who tore it down and built a one car garage with the lumber that was still good.

Today Kenneth Denbo lives in the old Charles Witters' house. All signs of the store and log house are gone. William Witters is buried in the Mount Nebo Cemetery."

i. MARY J.² WITTERS, b. January 06, 1851, Lawrence Co., IL; d. January 21, 1852,
Lawrence Co., IL.

2. ii. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WITTERS, b. 1852, Lawrence Co., IL; d. May 06, 1919,
Hamilton Co., IL.

iii. ADALINE WITTERS, b. February 09, 1854, Lawrence Co., IL; d. May 01, 1854, Lawrence
Co., IL.

iv. LAURA ANN WITTERS, b. Abt. 1855; m. HENRY A. SPENCER, October 26, 1876.

v. SARAH ALICE WITTERS, b. Abt. 1858; m. PHILLIP HENRY SNOVER, March 29,
1877.

viii. ESTELLA F. WITTERS, b. April 17, 1867, Lawrence Co., IL; d. May 11, 1928; m.
ORLANDO MCCRAW, July 27, 1882, Lawrence Co., IL.

x. WILLIAM E. WITTERS, b. November 04, 1870, Lawrence Co., IL; d. November 25, 1888.

2. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN² WITTERS (WILLIAM¹) was born 1852 in Lawrence Co., IL, and died May 06, 1919 in Hamilton Co., IL. He married (1) LILLIAN MCCRAW October 21, 1876 in Lawrence Co., IL. She was born June 17, 1859, and died December 07, 1882. He married (2) MARTHA ANDERSON April 06, 1884 in Hamilton Co. IL, daughter of ORAN ANDERSON and IRENE MILLER. She was born May 12, 1860 in Enfield, White Co., IL, and died February 12, 1935 in Dahlgren, Hamilton Co., IL. Notes for BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WITTERS:

From the Patron Directory, 1905, Hamilton Co., IL
Witters, B. F. Farmer, S. 31, T. Dahlgren. PO Dahlgren. Born in Lawrence County, Ill. in 1852. Settled in Hamilton County in 1872. Served as Supervisor and Highway Commissioner. Married April 4, 1885, to Martha Anderson

More About BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WITTERS:
Burial: Nebo, South of Dahlgren, Hamilton Co., IL

Notes for MARTHA ANDERSON:
From: Felty's Legacy of Kin, Vol. I, p. 367:
Pub. Times-Leader, February 28, 1935.
Martha Anderson Witters, age 74 years.; d. 27 Feb 1935, home of son, O. B. Witters, Dahlgren. Married Ben. F. Witters; leaves 3 sons & 3 daus. Interred at Mt. Nebo.

i. LOREN CHESTER³ WITTERS, b. August 01, 1878; d. July 23, 1879, Hamilton Co., IL.

Notes for LOREN CHESTER WITTERS:
Death Certificate (A-231) states he died in Palo Alto of Cholera-relapse.

ii. HATTIE C. WITTERS, b. Abt. 1882; m. SAMUEL A. PILSON, April 01, 1896, Hamilton
Co. IL.

4. iii. ORAN BERTIE³ WITTERS, b. July 09, 1885, Knights Prairie TWP, Hamilton Co., IL; d.
December 17, 1975, Decatur, GA.

iv. WILLIAM FRANK WITTERS, b. December 30, 1886, Knights Prairie TWP, Hamilton Co.,
IL; d. September 20, 1967; m. SUSIE UNKNOWN.

5. v. CHARLES CHALMER WITTERS, b. April 12, 1888, Knights Prairie TWP, Hamilton Co.,
IL; d. May 14, 1920.

6. vi. JOHN WESLEY WITTERS, b. May 19, 1890, Dahlgren, Hamilton Co., IL; d. November 30,
1967, Dahlgren, Hamilton Co., IL.

        Notes for NELLIE MYRTLE WITTERS:
          From: Felty's Legacy of Kin, Vol. I., p. 184
          Pub: Dahlgren Echo, January 9, 1919
          Nellie Myrtle Witters, b. 01 Au 1897; d. 19 Dec 1918; dau. of B. F. & Martha (Anderson)
          Witters. Leaves parents; 3 sis.: Mrs. Hattie Pilson, Mrs. Effie Smith, Mrs. Allie Sink; 4 bros.:
          Burtis, Frank, Charlie, & John Witters.

3. JOHN W.² WITTERS (WILLIAM¹) was born Abt. 1870. He married HARRIET ANNIE MAYBERRY.

i. CHARLIE³ WITTERS, b. 1887, Hamilton Co., IL; d. 1887, Mt. Pulaski, Logan Co., IL.

       Notes for CHARLIE WITTERS:
         From: Felty's Legacy of Kin, Vol. I, p. 34
         Pub. Leader, 10 Nov 1887
         Infant son of John W. & Annie Witters, late of Hamilton Co., near Mt. Pulaski, Logan Co., IL

4. ORAN BERTIE³ WITTERS (BENJAMIN FRANKLIN², WILLIAM¹) was born July 09, 1885 in Knights Prairie TWP, Hamilton Co., IL, and died December 17, 1975 in Decatur, GA. He married FINIS LILLIAN BRUMITT November 11, 1906 in Hamilton Co. IL, daughter of RICHARD BRUMITT and AMANDA HANDS. She was born February 06, 1885 in Clay Co., IL, and died October 14, 1961 in Dahlgren, Hamilton Co., IL.

Notes for ORAN BERTIE WITTERS:
From: Felty's Legacy of Kin, Vol. II, p. 1053
Pub. Times-Leader, 11 Dec 1975
O. Witters, b. 09 Jul 1885; d. 07 Dec 1975, resident of Decatur, GA--formerly of Dahlgren; son of Benjamin Franklin & Martha Anderson Witters. Married Lillian Brumett-dead. Leaves son: Merrel Witters of Monticello, MS; dau.: Mrs. Ruby A Molt of Atlanta, GA; sister: Mrs. Allie Sink of Steelville. Interred IOOF Dahlgren.

Notes for FINIS LILLIAN BRUMITT:
From: Felty's Legacy of Kin, Vol. II, p. 789
Pub. Times-Leader, 19 Oct 1961
Finis Lillian Brummett Witters, b. 06 Feb 1885, Clay Co., d. 14 Oct 1961, home in Dahlgren; dau. of Richard & Amanda Hands Brummett. Married O. B. Witters 11 Nov 1906. Leaves husband, 2 sons: Wayne C. of Tocoma Park, MD, & Merrel Witters of Biloxi, MS; dau: Mrs. Ruby Holt of Atlanta, GA; 2 bros: L. T. Brummett of Homer & J. T. Brummett of Edinburgh; 4 sisters: Mrs. Eva Washington, Mrs. Corda Allen, Mrs. Pearl Gibbs, & Mrs. Cora Whitner all of Edinburgh. Interred IOOF in Dahlgren.

5. CHARLES CHALMER³ WITTERS (BENJAMIN FRANKLIN², WILLIAM¹) was born April 12, 1888 in Knights Prairie TWP, Hamilton Co., IL, and died May 14, 1920. He married CLYDE ELLEN UPCHURCH October 21, 1913 in Hamilton C. IL. She died Abt. 1917.

Notes for CHARLES CHALMER WITTERS:
From: Felty's Legacy of Kin, Vol. I, p. 195
Pub. Dahlgren Echo, May 27, 1920
Charles C. Witters, b. 12 April 1888; d. 14 May 1920; son of B. F. & Martha (Anderson) Witters. Married ____Upchurch, 21 Oct 1913; 2 children: Neva & Bryan. Moved to Colorado, wife died about 1917. Interred Mt. Nebo.

6. JOHN WESLEY³ WITTERS (BENJAMIN FRANKLIN², WILLIAM¹) was born May 19, 1890 in Dahlgren, Hamilton Co., IL, and died November 30, 1967 in Dahlgren, Hamilton Co., IL. He married (1) CALDONA "DONA" SULLIVAN July 20, 1913 in Hamilton Co. IL, daughter of NOAH SULLIVAN and EASTER BOSTER. She was born June 30, 1890, and died August 09, 1916. He married (2) STELLA SINK August 26, 1917 in Dahlgren, Hamilton Co., IL, daughter of ELMER SINK and RHODA SMITH. She was born October 24, 1890 in Franklin Co., IL, and died November 06, 1977 in Dahlgren, Hamilton Co., IL.

From: Felty's Legacy of Kin, Vol. II, p. 912
John Wesley Witters, b. May 19, 1890 Ham. Co.; d. 30 Nov 1967, home in Dahlgren; son of Benjamin & Martha Anderson Witters. Married Stella Sinks 26 Aug 1917. Leaves wife; 3 daus.: Mrs. Nadine Curlock of Dahlgren, Mrs. Genieve Proctor of Carmi, Mrs. Irene Sodders of Mt. Vernon; 2 sis.: Mrs. Allie Sinks of Ewing & Mrs. Effie Smith of Benton. Interred IOOF Dahlgren.

Notes for STELLA SINK:
From: Felty's Legacy of Kin, Vol. II, p. 1087
Pub. Times-Leader 22 Dec 1977
Stella Sink Witters, b. 24 Oct 1890, Franklin Co.; d. 06 Nov 1977, home in Dahlgren; dau. of Elmer & Rhoda Smith Sink. Married John Witters; 1 son dead: Charles. Leaves 3 daus: Mrs. Nadine Curlock of Dahlgren, Mrs. Irene Sodders of Mt. Vernon & Mrs. Genevieve Proctor of Carmi; dau-in-law: Mrs. Betty Meyers of Cahokia; bro. Willie Sink of Dixon; sis.: Mrs. Roxie Overturf of Sparta; sis-in-law: Mrs. Allie Sink of Steeleville. Interred Oak Hill Cem.

More About STELLA SINK:
Burial: November 09, 1977, IOOF Cemetery, Hamilton Co., IL

ii. GENEVIEVE LORYAINE⁴ WITTERS, b. July 11, 1918, Moores Prairie, Hamilton Co., IL;
m. NORWOOD PROCTOR.

iii. CHARLES BENJAMIN WITTERS, b. November 16, 1920, Dahlgren, Hamilton Co., IL; d.
December 11, 1962, Chicago, IL.

iv. IRMA NADINE WITTERS, b. December 10, 1927, Dahlgren, Hamilton Co., IL; m.
EDWARD DALE CURLOCK, March 08, 1947.