WILLIAM JASPER WITT
From: The Miller County Autogram, 26 Feb 1891......
"William Jasper Witt, one of Ira T. Johnson's assistants on the ferry boat, met with an accident about 3:30 Monday afternoon from which he died about 11 o'clock that night. The ferry boat is rigged with a windlass at either end of the boat for the purpose of heading the boat upstream. When the river is high, as at present (1891) these windlasses are very hard to work, requiring a strong man to handle them....The accident happened on the south bank of the river during preparations to return to this side. In turning the windlass, the iron handle slipped out of his hand and coming over, struck Mr. Witt almost on the top of the head, crushing his skull fearfully.....He was taken into Johnson's drug store where Dr. James B. McGee dressed the terrible wound. Before this was completed, the injured man became unconscious and remained in that condition until death.....The remains were buried at the Scott Graveyard (upriver from Tuscumbia) on Wednesday. Witt leaves a wife and a large family of children."
He may be in an unmarked grave with no tombstone.
William Jasper Witt was born in Missouri about 1846. He first married Forbia Norris Nichols (Nichols, Nicholds, Nicholz) on 13 May 1866 by Andrew Brockman, a justice of the peace. She was the daughter of William Nichols and Rachael White. In 1870 he and his family lived in Glaize Township near the families of Wyrick, Wickham, Witt, Renfrow, Myers, Casey, and Winfrey.
Sometime prior to 1877, his wife, Forbia/Ferby/Feraby, died and on February 22, 1877 he married Sarah Jane Thornton, daughter of Elizabeth Elender Floyd and an unknown father. Their marriage was performed by Hezekiah Robinett, a justice of the peace in Glaize Township. In 1880, they were living in Osage township near the families of Wyrick, Patterson, Hill, Lupardus, McCummins, and Topping.
Children by Feraby Norris Nichols:
1. Francis (Witt) Dunnahay, b. 6 Dec 1868, d. 14 Jun 1937
2. John C Witt, b. Jan 1871, d. 1919
3. William S Witt, b. 22 Nov 1873, d. 21 May 1941
Children by Sarah Jane Thornton:
1. Atla Ann (Witt) Bain, b. 9 Jan 1878, d. 9 Mar 1942
2. Joel Witt, b. 19 Dec 1879, d. 14 Aug 1959
3. Lavone Elizabeth (Witt) Wilson, b. 5 Aug 1887, d. 5 Feb 1945
WILLIAM JASPER WITT
From: The Miller County Autogram, 26 Feb 1891......
"William Jasper Witt, one of Ira T. Johnson's assistants on the ferry boat, met with an accident about 3:30 Monday afternoon from which he died about 11 o'clock that night. The ferry boat is rigged with a windlass at either end of the boat for the purpose of heading the boat upstream. When the river is high, as at present (1891) these windlasses are very hard to work, requiring a strong man to handle them....The accident happened on the south bank of the river during preparations to return to this side. In turning the windlass, the iron handle slipped out of his hand and coming over, struck Mr. Witt almost on the top of the head, crushing his skull fearfully.....He was taken into Johnson's drug store where Dr. James B. McGee dressed the terrible wound. Before this was completed, the injured man became unconscious and remained in that condition until death.....The remains were buried at the Scott Graveyard (upriver from Tuscumbia) on Wednesday. Witt leaves a wife and a large family of children."
He may be in an unmarked grave with no tombstone.
William Jasper Witt was born in Missouri about 1846. He first married Forbia Norris Nichols (Nichols, Nicholds, Nicholz) on 13 May 1866 by Andrew Brockman, a justice of the peace. She was the daughter of William Nichols and Rachael White. In 1870 he and his family lived in Glaize Township near the families of Wyrick, Wickham, Witt, Renfrow, Myers, Casey, and Winfrey.
Sometime prior to 1877, his wife, Forbia/Ferby/Feraby, died and on February 22, 1877 he married Sarah Jane Thornton, daughter of Elizabeth Elender Floyd and an unknown father. Their marriage was performed by Hezekiah Robinett, a justice of the peace in Glaize Township. In 1880, they were living in Osage township near the families of Wyrick, Patterson, Hill, Lupardus, McCummins, and Topping.
Children by Feraby Norris Nichols:
1. Francis (Witt) Dunnahay, b. 6 Dec 1868, d. 14 Jun 1937
2. John C Witt, b. Jan 1871, d. 1919
3. William S Witt, b. 22 Nov 1873, d. 21 May 1941
Children by Sarah Jane Thornton:
1. Atla Ann (Witt) Bain, b. 9 Jan 1878, d. 9 Mar 1942
2. Joel Witt, b. 19 Dec 1879, d. 14 Aug 1959
3. Lavone Elizabeth (Witt) Wilson, b. 5 Aug 1887, d. 5 Feb 1945
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