D. O. WITMER, principal and superintendent of the Greenfield public schools, was born in Washington county, Ind., Sept. 6, 1838. His forefathers were Swiss Protestants, who emigrated to this country and settled in the Pequa Valley, Lancaster county, Pa., in 1716. Mr. W. received an academic education at Mt. Pleasant, Washington county, and graduated in 1856, when, owing to ill health, he was advised to adopt a more active life, and served an apprenticeship of three years with D. H. Karner, millwright and machinist, Williamsport, Md. In 1860, he received his first certificate as a teacher, and taught his first school near his home. In 1861 he engaged in farming on the old homestead, and in the spring of 1863 removed to Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, where he followed millwrighting and teaching. He was married Oct. 5, 1865, to Christie Herr, youngest daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Herr, of Flemer's Corner, Butler County, Ohio, born Jan. 16, 1843. Mr. and Mrs. W. have a family of four children - Eugene Scott, born Feb. 25, 1867; Helen Claire, born Sept. 5, 1869; Edith Maud, born Oct. 3, 1873, and Daniel Hurn, born March 31, 1876. Mr. W. returned to Williamsport, Md., in Aug., 1871, where he followed his trade until Sept., 1872, when he opened school at Fountain Rock near Williamsport. In Sept., 1873, he took charge of the public schools of Williamsport, as principal and superintendent, which position he filled acceptably until the spring of 1881, when he resigned his position, to accept his present one, in the schools of Greenfield, Illinois, where he and his family arrived, in Sept. 1881. Mr. Witmer holds a life certificate, from the state of Maryland, dated 1876, and is known as an intelligent, industrious, and successful instructor. Mr. and Mrs. W. united with the Evangelical Lutheran church, of Williamsport, Md., in 1873, and after settling in Greenfield, they became members of the Methodist church. Mr. W. was made a mason in 1859, and joined the K. of P., in 1872. He assisted, as a charter member, in the organization of Herald lodge, K. of P., in 1882, at Greenfield, being its first past chancellor. In 1884, he became a member of the order of the K. of H. Mr. Witmer has always been a staunch democrat of the Jeffersonian school, and never fails to plead its cause, and uphold its principles. He usually enters the political arena in presidential campaigns, with an untiring zeal, which knows no flagging or doubt, and ably advocates from the hustings, the principles of his party, and his own convictions. he is a fluent speaker, cogent reasoner, and never fails to interest his hearers. Mr. and Mrs. W. are genial and hospitable in their home, and are well and favorably known in the community in which they at present reside.