DeWitt, William Henry Webster & Lura Reger

William Henry Webster
DeWitt

Lura (Laura) Victoria
Reger

version 29: 3/4/10

(son of Joel DeWitt
and
Rachel Ann Mairs)

(daughter of Saul Reger, Sr.
   b. 6 Jun 1799 in Upshur Co., VA
    ... son of Anthony Reger & Anna Susannah Simmons
    (also... in French Creek, Rockingham Co, VA)
d. 24 Jul 1866 in Sullivan Co, MO) (FindAGrave)
and
Mary Martha Busby)
(second wife) -- see SIBLINGS
   b: 17 Jul 1825 in Markleville, IN
   m. 23 Nov 1845 in Pendleton, Madison Co, IN
       or Lewis, WV
    d. 20 Jun 1875 in Reger, Sullivan Co, MO)

WILLIAM INFO
b. 8 May 1854
    in Reger, Sullivan Co., MO
    (Death Cert states 1853.)

d. 1 Apr 1927 (see obit)
    in Kirksville, Adair County, MO (ref) and
buried in Henry Cemetery, Reger, MO
    (Death Cert) (FindAGrave)

married
16 Nov
1876

as listed in
Marriage
Records of
Sullivan
Co, MO
1859-1880
pg 67

LURA (LAURA) INFO
b. 15 Sep 1857
     in Sullivan Co, MO

d. 21 May 1931
     in Sullivan Co, MO (Death Cert) and
   buried Henry Cemetery, Reger, MO (FindAGrave)

Her siblings were: (SIBLINGS)

Living in Milan, Sullivan Co, MO in 1860

Living in Bowman Twnshp, Sullivan Co. in 1900 & 1910 census.

He was a presiding judge of the Sullivan Co court in 1912
according to A History of Northeast Missouri by Walter Williams, 1913

Meet the
children.

See below for the source of these photos.
(SOURCE)

Lura V. DeWitt was living with
Fred and Jennie (daughter) Reed
in 1930 in Bowman Twnshp, Sullivan Co. MO

Photo obtained from the 1956 edition of the Reger Methodist Church
from the collection of Joel S. DeWitt, Jr.

Inscription:

Mr. and Mrs. W.H.W. DeWITT
One of our first Trustees and this is a picture of he and his wife in their early years in the home he built one mile north of Reger, now stands as a landmark, and owned by Robert Stephenson.

A younger photo of Web is found below.

(see William's obit)

Some more information including maps about Reger, Mo can be found at: Where is Reger?

See photo of the house in 1972 below.

See younger photo of Lura below.

See photo of grave below.

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Children of William Henry Webster DeWitt
Issue:	Sex	Born	Birthplace	Died	Deathplace	Married	Date	Children
Children of William Henry Webster DeWitt (b. 8 May 1854 d. 1 Apr 1927) (FindAGrave) and Lura (Laura) Victoria Reger (b. 15 Sep 1857 d. 21 Aug 1931) (FindAGrave) married 16 Nov 1876
Clarence J (see photo below) He is listed as Clawrence in 1910 census. Lived near Reger, MO in 1947 at the time of his father's death. (See obit below)	M	25 Dec 1877	Reger, Sullivan Co., MO In 1917, living with wife in Green City, Sullivan Co, MO according to his draft card.	14 Jun 1948 (Death Cert.)	Reger, Sullivan Co., MO buried in Henry Cemetery, Reger, Sullivan Co., MO Buried in Henry Cemetery, Reger, Sullivan Co, MO	Dora Alta Miller b 4 Oct 1877 in Harris, MO d. 12 Mar 1945 in Milan, MO (Death Cert.) Buried in Henry Cemetery, Reger, Sullivan Co, MO f. Daniel Miller m. Emman Duley	27 Mar 1904	Arthur Webster Miller b 4 Nov 1905 in Reger, Sullivan Co, MO d. 17 Dec 1922 in hunting accident (Death Certificate) Buried in Henry Cemetery, Reger, Sullivan Co, MO Clarence Donald b 28 Aug 1907 MO d 13 Feb 1958 CA m Mildred Fields Children: - Gary Donald b 17 Nov 1943 CA - Linda Lou b 15 Apr 1958 m. Randall R Lindley John Edward b 23 Oct 1909 d. 12 Oct 1965 NM m Betty Welch Children: - Betty Sue m Virginia Lee Brockman 16 Sep 1942 Kirksville, MO b. 1920 Children: - Alta Louise b 30 May 1943 - Nancy Margaret b 19 Sep 1946 - John Webster b. 14 Feb 1948 Dr. Ralph Ogden (photo1921) b. 10 Mar 1912 d. 11 Feb 1984 m. Anna May Myers b. 23 Aug 1912 MO d. 6 Nov 2006 Children: - Ralph Ogden b. 30 Jun 1942 - Barbara Ann b. 6 Jul 1945 RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Mabel Clara (on FindAGrave) Mabel C. lived near Green City, Sullivan Co, MO in 1927 at the time of her father's death. (See obit below) aka Clara 'Mabel' Mabel as second name came from 1900 census where she is living with her parents.	F	4 Sep 1879	Reger, Sullivan Co., MO	17 Sep 1967	in Milan, Sullivan Co. MO buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery Green City, Sullivan Co., MO (FindAGrave)	Robert I. Zeigler b. 24 Sep 1876 in MO d. 30 Apr 1931 in Sullivan Co MO (Death Certificate) (FindAGrave) On 7 Jun 1900 he working at age 23 as a day laborer on Red Roach's farm in Bowman Township, Sullivan Co, MO Parents listed as Salmon Zigler and Amanda M. Zigler in 1880 father's birthplace was PA and mother's birthplace was MO	15 Feb 1903	Mary Dorothy or Dorothy M. b. 25 Dec 1903 in MO d. 12 Oct 1994 (FindAGrave) Catherine E or L b. Abt 1914 in MO d. Aft 1930 Gertrude b. Abt 1916 in MO d. Aft 1930 I could not find them for a long time because I was spelling their last name Ziegler. In 1910 Robert and Mabell C are living as Robert W. Ziegler in Duncan township, Sullivan Co, MO with daughter Dortha (age 6) In 1920 and 1930 they are living as the Zeigler family in Penn Township (1920), Green City, Sullivan Co, MO Death Certificate of Robert states spelling as Zeigler. See also FindAGrave links above.
Mary Ann Lived near Laredo, MO in 1927 at the time of her father's death. (See obit below)	F	14 Jan 1882 (Death Cert.)	Reger, Sullivan Co., MO	10 Mar 1949 in Trenton, Grundy Co, MO (Death Cert.)	Rural Dale Cemetery, Trenton, Grundy Co. MO (FindAGrave)	Dr. John Clifton Humphreys b. 18 Oct 1882 in MO d. 16 Aug 1951 in Trenton, Grundy Co, MO (Death Cert.) He was a retired veterinarian. f. Thomas Humphreys m. Eliza Pickens John's middle name on wife's death cert. (FindAGrave)	4 May 1904	Mildred Jo b. 1906 d. Aft 1930 Mary Virginia b. 1911 d. Aft 1951 m. Frank M Kercheval She was listed as Virginia and was informant on father's death cert. Margaret Lois b. 1915 d. Aft 1930 m. Adolph Langstadt She was listed as informant on mother's death cert. from 1930 census living in Wilson Twnship, Grundy Co, MO
Vern Irene (living with parents in 1910 census) Lived near Reger, MO in 1927 at the time of her father's death. (See obit below)	F	25 Apr 1884	Reger, Sullivan Co., MO (from Birth Record)	24 Feb 1951 (Death Cert.)	died in Milan, Sullivan Co, MO Buried in Henry Cemetery, Reger, Sullivan Co, MO (FindAGrave)	William Romulus Van Fossen b. 2 Oct 1879 in MO d. 28 Aug 1956 Milan, Sullivan Co, MO Buried in Henry Cemetery, Reger, Sullivan Co, MO (Death Cert.) (FindAGrave) f. James Ira VanFossen m. Hannah Christine Glaze	2 Apr 1911	William DeWitt b. 27 Oct 1912 d. 6 May 1913 Buried in Henry Cemetery, Reger, Sullivan Co, MO (FindAGrave) Marion b. 1918 d. Aft 1930 Christine b. 1920 d. Aft 1930 A Christine Houston was the informant on William VanFossen's Death Cert. Clarence b. 1922 d. Aft 1930 from 1930 census living in Taylor Twnship, Sullivan Co, MO
Josephine "Josie" Lived near Reger, MO in 1927 at the time of her father's death. (See obit below)	F	29 May 1888	MO	20 Jan 1971	Fields Cemetery, near Reger, Sullivan Co., MO (FindAGrave)	James Monroe "Bub" Fields b. 1 Jul 1878 in MO d. 17 Jan 1931 Reger, Sullivan Co., MO (Death Cert.) buried in Fields Cem, near Reger (FindAGrave) f. Perry Banion Fields m. Sarah Rebakah Maggart (1833-1911) Obit for Sarah Sarah was a pioneer settler of Sullivan Co, MO. She married P.B.Fields. Only children survive, John Jeff, Jacob, James, Mrs. William Sayers, Mrs. Alice Taylor, Mrs. Julia Knifong and Mrs. Mora Shepherd.	1 Dec 1908	- none living with them in 1930 census in Duncan Twnshp, Sullivan Co. MO
Jennie (living with parents in 1910 census) Lived near Reger, MO in 1927 at the time of her father's death. (See obit below) (Note: Her mother Lura V. DeWitt was living with Fred and Jennie Reed in 1930 in Bowman Twnshp, Sullivan Co. MO)	F	6 Jul 1891	Reger, Sullivan Co, MO (from Birth Record)	1981	Milan, Sullivan Co., MO Oakwood Cemetery (FindAGrave)	Frederick Fred R Reed b. 3 May 1893 in MO d. ? Sep 1976 Milan, Sullivan Co, MO Oakwood Cemetery (FindAGrave) parents: James S Reed 1866 – Gertrude C 1860 – siblings: Frank W. Reed 1891 – 1976 m. Justa M Caldwell (FIndAGrave) James S Reed 1894 –	9 Dec 1917	Francis H. b. 1919 MO d. Aft 1930 m. Morris Moran Amber Josephine b. 1922 MO d. 19 Jan 2010 m. Robert Dawson Maxwell on 18 Aug 1950 in Buchanan Co, MO Robert Burns b. 1926 Sullivan Co, MO d. 2006 (FIndAGrave) m. Doris D. "D D" ? b. 1928 d. 2002 (FIndAGrave) (from 1930 census) living in Bowman Twnshp, Sullivan Co, MO
John Webster (see photo)	M	4 Jun 1895	?	10 Sep 1904 (from father's obit and tombstone)	Henry Cemetery, Reger MO	-	-	-

Note: Information provided by John and Lucille Shatto, April 9, 1984 in letter to Joel S. DeWitt, Jr.
Additional information derived from the 1920 and 1930 census records, and OneWorldTree at Ancestry.com.

William Henry DeWitt's Obituary

Milan Republican 7 Apr 1927 (William Henry Webster DeWitt)
W.H.W. DeWitt died at Kirksville Friday Afternoon
Deceased was born in Sullivan County and for fifty years had been one of its most prominent citizens.

William Henry Webster DeWitt was born in Sullivan county, Missouri, one fourth mile from his residence at the time of his death, on May 6, 1854, and is the fifth child of Dr. Joel and Rachel Ann (Mairs) DeWitt... At the time of his death Mr. DeWitt was 72 years, 10 months, and 23 days.

Nov 16, 1876, he was married to Miss Lura Victoria Reger, daughter of Solomon and Mary Martha (Busby) Reger, to which union seven children were born, Clarence J. of Reger, Mabel C. Zeigler of Green City, Mary A. Humphreys of Laredo, Verne I. VanFossen, Josie Fields and Jennie Reed, all of near Reger, and John Webster, who preceded him in death Sep 10, 1904. Besides these surviving children he leaves his loving wife, one brother M.P. DeWitt of Reger and a sister, Mrs. Josie McCullough of Milan, fifteen grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends to mourn his untimely departure...

Thanks to Cherly Gallaher for the transcriptions.

Another DeWitt mystery:

I have found a Clarence W. DeWitt living in Parsons Creek Township in Linn Co., MO in the 1920 census on page 1A, Enumeration District 90. His age was 44. His wife was Estella (age 41) and he had two daughters Z Lavarnia (age 15) and Ruth (age 7). Anyone know how they fit in to the DeWitt puzzle?

Ancestry.com has a genealogy listing Clarence DeWitt (d. 11 Jun 1958) married to Estella (d. 10 Aug 1963) with children:
Ray Laverne (later married Opal Harris with children Gerald and Stanley),
Elnora Maude (b. 1900 and later married ? Warren) and
Ruth (b 1912).
Clarence's father was John M and Hannah McCullough DeWitt. John M Dewitt's parents were Rev. James and Ellen Little DeWitt.

Another genealogy provides Estella's name as Estella Bell Buckley (b 14 Nov 1878 in Rushville, Schuyler Co., IL, d. 10 Aug 1963 in Chillicothe, Daviess Co., MO) who was daughter of James Arnold and Mary Catherine Finch Buckley. She married Clarence DeWitt in Jan 1899 in Illinois, near Littleton.

Another genealogy has Clarence as born in 1875 in IL

In the 1900 census, Clarence (age 24) and Estella (age 20) are living with their daughter Mandie E (Elnora Maude?), b Feb 1900 in Parson's Creek Township, Sullivan Co., MO.

In the Chillicothe Constitution newspaper, on 1 Sep 1927, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Dewitt and their daughter Ruth Beckwith (and husband Orville) were reported as visiting the city. (via Ancestry.com)

But I do not know who they are related to in the big DeWitt picture!

To see the 1920 Census Records that listed Webster and Lura: 1920 Census
* You will see that Fred Reed and his wife Jennie DeWitt and daughter Francis H.
are living with Webster and Lura DeWitt in 1920.
- also Lura V. is living with Fred and Jennie Reed in 1930 in Bowman Twnshp, Sullivan Co. MO
RR
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Photos:

Photo obtained from Find A Grave.com which obtained the photo from: "The Complete History of Sullivan County Missouri, Volume I, 1836-1900 Compiled & Written by Gladys Wells Crumpacker Publisher "History Publications Inc." Milan, Mo.	Photo obtained from Find A Grave.com which obtained the photo from: "The Complete History of Sullivan County Missouri, Volume I, 1836-1900 Compiled & Written by Gladys Wells Crumpacker Publisher "History Publications Inc." Milan, Mo.
	Photo obtained from the 1956 edition of the Reger Methodist Church from the collection of Joel S. DeWitt, Jr. Inscription: W. H. W. DeWITT First Trustees 1896 (along with Mrs. Cora Reger and Geo C. Cannon)
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	Photo obtained from the 1956 edition of the Reger Methodist Church Messenger. from the collection of Joel S. DeWitt, Jr. Inscription: A FORMER SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT CLARENCE J. DeWITT Died June 15, 1948
Return to Top Return to DeWitt Genealogy	Photo from Doris & Joel S. DeWitt, Sr. collection On the back, they wrote: John DeWitt, son of Web DeWitt Sadly this cute boy only lived until 1904. He was born in 1895.


	Ralph DeWitt in the back row! Photo obtained from the 1956 edition of the Reger Methodist Church Messenger. from the collection of Joel S. DeWitt, Jr.
Return to Top This is Web DeWitt's house taken in 1972 by Joel DeWit, Jr. near Reger. MO. (Click on image to see larger view.) Directly behind this view is the road to the Joel DeWitt brick farmhouse and the Mark Pinkney white farm house. (See Reger website.) Compare this view of the porch to the framework on the porch in the photo below.
	Photo obtained from the 1956 edition of the Reger Methodist Church from the collection of Joel S. DeWitt, Jr. Inscription: Mr. and Mrs. W.H.W. DeWITT One of our first Trustees and this is a picture of he and his wife in their early years in the home he built one mile north of Reger, now stands as a landmark, and owned by Robert Stephenson.
	Their grave is in Henry Cemetery, near Reger, Sullivan Co, MO Some more information including maps about Reger, Mo can be found at: Where is Reger? (see William's obit) William died in Kirksville, Adair County, MO (ref) and was buried in Henry Cemetery, Reger, MO (Death Cert) (FindAGrave) Lura died in Sullivan Co, MO (Death Cert) and was buried Henry Cemetery, Reger, MO (FindAGrave)

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1900 Census: Sullivan County, Mo: Bowman Township: (8 Jun 1900)

Notice the Webster DeWitts, followed by his mother Rachel Mairs DeWitt, followed by his brother, Mark Pinkney ("Pink") DeWitt.
Rachel lived at the "red brick" house, Pink lived at the white house, and Webster had his house.. all along the same road near Reger, Sullivan Co., MO.

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Clarence J and Alta DeWitt
Webster and Lura DeWitt
Rachel DeWitt

1910 Census: Sullivan County, Mo: Bowman Township: (28 Apr 1910)
Clarence J DeWitt (31) and wife Alta (3?) with children Arthur (4), David (2) and John (<1). Clarence was a son of Webster DeWitt.
Webster Dewitt (56) and wife Lura (52), with children Vern (26) and Jennie (18) and hired hand Martin Miller (27)
Next door was mother Rachel Mairs DeWitt (86). She lived only 2 more years.
A photo taken about this time can be seen at About 1910. (Use your back button to return here.)
I do not know who was living with Rachel. The first name is Mary (56) and the last name looks like Blackman.
I can not discern what her relation was... it may be servant.
1910

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This one is a bonanza!
Mark P and Bertha Swanger DeWitt and family (webpage)
Joel S and Doris Harvey DeWitt and family (webpage)
(Joel is daughter of Mark P)
Alexander and Eula DeWitt Shatto and family (webpage)
(Eula is daughter of Mark P)
Robert and Clara Shatto and family (See 1920 Census)
Webster and Lura Reger DeWitt
Fred and Jennie DeWitt Reed and family
(Jennie is daughter of Webster)
Clarence J and Alta Miller DeWitt
(Clarence is son of Webster)

(Note: The Shatto girl at the top is from the previous page Fred and Vera Shatto family)
To see the 1920 Census Records that listed them: 1920 Census

1920 Census: Sullivan County, Mo: Bowman Township: 12 Jan 1920

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Lura Victoria Reger DeWitt
Clarence J. DeWitt and family
Jennie DeWitt (Reed) and family

1930 Census: Sullivan County, Mo: Bowman Township:
CJDeWitt1930

see Chariton Co., MO MAP
see Linn Co., MO MAP
see Randolph Co., MO MAP
see Sullivan Co., MO MAP

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Genealogy