Print
Permanent LinkRepresentative Charles Elmer DeWitt View All Years
HON. C. E. DEWITT
MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare suitable resolutions commemorating the life and service of the Honorable C. E. DeWitt, late of Montgomery County, Iowa, beg leave to submit the following memorial:
C. E. DeWitt, son of George S. and Sarah E. DeWitt, was a native of Iowa, having been born in Delaware county September 25, 1862. He died at his home in Elliott, Iowa, February 20, 1930.
He came to Montgomery county with his parents in 1868. They located on a farm one mile east of Elliott where they lived for a time in a log house in accordance with prevailing conditions at that time. It was there that he grew to manhood and took his place in the life of the community.
On September 5, 1897, he was married to Rachel Woodling who, with the adopted daughter, Geneva Broyles, survives him. Mr. DeWitt is also survived by his two brothers, J. F. DeWitt and W. L. DeWitt, both of Elliott, Iowa, and by a sister, Mrs. Ella Moore, also of Elliott. One brother, George, and a sister, Mrs. Mary E. Mercer, preceded him in death.
After leaving the farm east of Elliott, Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt located in Elliott, where the deceased engaged in the grain and coal business. In this business as in all business relations, Mr. DeWitt was noted for his fair and honest dealing.
Mr. DeWitt was always interested in social, educational and civic affairs. He was at the time of his death a member of the Methodist church, also a member of the Masonic Fraternity and of the Modern Woodmen. For many years he was a member of the city council and at one time mayor of Elliott. In 1908 he was elected to the office of state representative from Montgomery county and served in the Thirty-third General Assembly.
No man’s life can be fully appreciated apart from the time in which he lived. Mr. DeWitt found Iowa a prairie state without roads, schools, churches or other civilizing influences. He left it at a time when roads of steel and concrete and other means of rapid communication had revolutionized conditions of living; and when the individualism of the pioneer days was gradually yielding to social consciousness. In all these movements he took a leading part and consequently honored, and was honored by, his county and state.
Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Forty-fourth General Assembly, That we extend our sympathies to the family and express our appreciation of the life and character and public services of the Honorable C. E. DeWitt.
Be It Further Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the Journal of the House and the Chief Clerk be directed to send an enrolled copy to the family.
HOMER HUSH,
F. H. BEATH,
OTHA D. WEARIN,
Committee.
Unanimously adopted April 13, 1931.