E[lucas]. N[elson]. DeWITT, a member of the firm of DeWITT Brothers, of Tingley, is one of the most active and enterprising citizens of Tingley Township. This firm is extensively engaged in breeding fine, French draught horses, besides running a livery stable at Tingley, which is well stocked with good vehicles of various kinds and fine horses. This firm has four fine stallions, as follows: Sultan, No. 1541, is a jet-black Percheron, foaled in 1879, weight, 1,950 pounds and imported from France by John VIRGIN & Co., of Fairbury, Illinois, in 1882, subequently purchased by J. STORY, from whom it was bought by DeWITT Brothers in January, 1886, for $2,500. In a ring of forty stallions at the Peoria State Fair in 1882 Sultan took the first premium and sweepstakes at Peoria in 1883, in a ring of sixty stallions, and over the noted stallion Drumpeller. Sultan was also shown at Cambridge fair in 1883 where he took the first premium in a ring of thirty over Drumpeller and several other noted horses. The second horse owned by DeWITT Brothers is called Honest John, a rich-bay stallion, four years old, and weighing 1, 360 pounds, was purchased by E. N. DeWITT in the fall of 1884. No. 3, Tempest, is a dark-gray Norman, age, four years, weight, 1,600 pounds, was bred in Illinois and purchased by Oren DeWITT in 1884. Bodsie Hero is a dark-bay, English shire colt, three years old, weighing 1,500 pounds, was purchased by E. N. DeWITT in 1884. DeWITT Brothers lost a fine horse in 1885, worth $1,500.

E. N. DeWITT, whose name heads this sketch, is a native of Illinois, born in Henry County, June 23, 1856. he was reared a practical farmer, and at an early age began handling stock. He lived in his native county till 1885, when he came to Ringgold County and established himself in the town of Tingley. Mr. DeWITT is not only a skilled horseman but is a most excellent judge of the qualities of a horse.

NOTE: Elucas Nelson DeWITT died on December 4, 1923 at the age of 67 years and five months, with interment at Tingley Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa. He married on March 29, 1883, Henry County, Illinois to Katie Fox. Katie (FOX) DeWITT was born in 1861, and died in 1934. She was interred beside her husband at the Tingley Cemetery.

Maurice E. DeWITT, son of Elucas Nelson and Katie (FOX) DeWITT, was born October 28, 1884, and died in June of 1967, with interment at Tingley Cemetery.

Harold F. DeWITT, son of Elucas Nelson and Katie (FOX) DeWITT, was born September 1, 1887, and died September 7, 1967, with interment at Valley View Cemetery, Torrington, Goshen County, Wyoming.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 328-29, 1887.

DODD, Jordan R. Liahona Research. "Illinois Marriage Records, 1851-1900" Provo UT. 2001

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

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