Biography - Randolph Witt
RANDOLPH WITT is a native of Jefferson county, Tennessee, born December 30,
1810. He is the third of a family of eleven children of Eli and Nancy Witt,
the former also of Jefferson county. Eli's father was born in Virginia, from
English parentage. At the age of twenty-one years Eli Witt married Miss
Nancy McNealy, who was of Scotch descent. He transferred his occupation,
farming, from the scenes of his native state to the wilds of primitive
Illinois, settling in Greene county, December, 1829, on the farm now owned
by the venerable pioneer Samuel Thomas. Afterward he sold his farm and moved
to Texas, and again returned and bought a farm east of Carrollton, where he
resided until his death, which occurred in October, 1851. He was one of the
soldiers of the war of 1812 between the United States and England, serving
under Gen. Taylor at McIntosh. His wife survived his death until 1857.
Randolph Witt, the subject of this sketch, received his education in the
common schools of Tennessee and Illinois, attaining a fair business
education. In those early times when he came to this country the facilities
were very poor for scientific and classic education, such as we have so
plentifully before us at the present day. After coming to Greene county his
first work was done for Franklin Witt, and he also worked for Samuel Thomas,
the first settler of Greene county, who came here in 1810. On the 18th of
August, 1836, he was married to Miss Polly Tunnell, daughter of Calvin and
Jane Tunnell, early pioneers of this county, who formerly were residents of
Anderson county, Tennessee. Mrs. Witt was born in Madison county, Illinois,
March 25, 1820. By this union they became the parents of five children, four
of whom are yet living. Andrew Jackson Witt, their eldest son, is married,
and resides on his farm in Montgomery county, Illinois. Jane Elizabeth is
the wife of John Bell, residing in the adjoining county of Macoupin, near
Girard. William and Eliza are single, and reside with their parents on the
home farm. After his marriage Mr. Witt moved on the farm previously
purchased, and where he lives to the present time. When he began life he had
no capital except a pair of stout hands and an indomitable energy. With his
characteristic perseverance, by toiling early and late, and by careful
management of his business, he has succeeded in carving out for himself a
handsome competence, in the substantial shape of seven hundred and sixty
acres in farm lands in the counties of Greene, Macoupin, and Montgomery. We
mention this fact to show what can be accomplished by well directed and
unceasing efforts. He early learned the importance of energy and industry in
his acquaintance with wealthy parties of those former days, from whom he
derived the great axioms which, followed out, lead to honor and success. At
the time he settled in the West, the country in its forest and wild prairie
state, abounded in deer, wolves, wild turkeys, prairie chickens, and other
wild game, which could often be easily shot from the open cabin door. In
early life he became the supporter of the old Jeffersonian and Jacksonian
principles of democracy, of the "right straight-out" kind. He has always
voted for the national democratic nominations. His first vote was cast for
Martin Van Buren, in 1836, and he has voted since then at every presidential
election. Mr. Witt is a member of the Baptist Church.
Extracted 07 Sep 2018 by Norma Hass from Atlas Map of Greene County Illinois, 1873, page 51.
