GEORGE W. WITT is one of the extensive land owners of Greene county and a business man of marked energy and enterprise, successfully controlling his farming and stock raising interests. He was born in Kane township, this county, on the 21st of April, 1841, and is descended from one of the old families of Virginia. His great-grandfather Witt, and his grandfather, John Witt, were natives of that state and were planters there. The latter removed from the Old Dominion to Tennessee, where he remained for a number of years. From that state he came to Illinois and first located in Pope county, but in 1830 came to Greene county. He lived for a time in Carrollton township and from there removed to a farm in Rockbridge township. In 1845 he left Illinois and went to Texas.

Franklin Witt, the father of our subject, was born in Tennessee and accompanied the family on their removal to Pope county, Illinois. In 1826 he settled near Beardstown in Cass county, and a year later became a resident of Carrollton township, Greene county. He afterward removed to Kane township, where he lived until his death in 1851. In his farming operations he was very successful and as his financial resources increased he added to his property until he was the owner of about one thousand acres of land at the time of his death. His business affairs were capably conducted, justice, enterprise and keen discrimination characterizing all his dealings. In matters of citizenship he was progressive and public spirited, his influence ever being on the side of substantial improvement and advancement. His qualities well fitted him for leadership and he aided in molding public thought and action in his locality. For a number of years he served as justice of the peace and he was twice elected to the state legislature as a member of the house, while three times he represented his district in the state senate. He did not seek to figure as an orator of pyrotechnic brilliance, but was deeply interested in constructive legislation, and many measures which have proven of benefit in the state were largely fostered by him. He was still serving in the upper house of the Illinois assembly at the time of his death. His wife bore the maiden name of Melinda Perry, was a native of Kentucky, and they became the parents of ten children.

George W. Witt, the ninth in order of birth began his education at the usual age in the subscription school. When his father died the mill which he had operated for a number of years, was sold in accordance with his request that they should sell that property and remove to the farm upon which our subject now resides. George W. Witt was then only ten years of age. He was reared upon the old home farm and early became familiar with the labors of field and meadow. After attaining his majority he purchased the interests of the other heirs and continued to operate the farm, comprising one hundred and sixty acres. When he found opportunity he also added to the place from time to time until his realty holdings have become extensive, aggregating eleven hundred acres of valuable farming land situated in Kane township. On this he has erected an elegant farm residence and other substantial buildings, so that the farm is well equipped for the care of the grain and stock raised. He is extensively engaged in raising hogs, making a specialty of the Poland China hogs, and he also feeds large numbers of cattle, having usually from two hundred to three hundred head. He annually raises large quantities of corn, which he uses for feeding purposes, and in all of his farm work he is most progressive, so that his labors have been resultant, bringing to him richly merited success. He has labored continuously for the improvement of conditions affecting the welfare of the farmer, doing effective work as a member of the county agricultural board, with which he has been connected for forty years. He has been one of its directors the greater part of the time and for three years was its president. He has also frequently been a delegate to the state board of agriculture.

In April, 1866, Mr. Witt was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Jane More, a native of Greene county, who died in 1873. Their daughter, Toinette, is now Mrs. Cory, of Kane township. In 1874 Mr. Witt was again married his second union being with Miss Margaret Gardiner, also born in Greene county, a daughter of C. J. Gardiner. He death occurred in 1879. There was one son by this marriage, Fred T., who is farming about a mile and a half east of the old homestead farm. In 1880 Mr. Witt was married to Miss Louisa Ann Williams, of Jersey county, Illinois, a daughter of William P. Williams, of that county. The children of the third union are: Thomas Kyle, who is living on the old homestead; Alta M.; Rachel J.; Adaline E.; William Paxton; Edna L.; and an infant, deceased. The family is one of prominence in the community, the members of the household occupying an enviable position in social circles.

Mr. Witt has long been a recognized leader in public affairs, and his efforts in behalf of his county have been far reaching and beneficial. For thirty-seven years he has served as school director; was justice of the peace for eight years; sheriff for two years; and in 1900 was elected to the state legislature. He received the endorsement of the district for a second nomination but owing to the redistricting of the state his county had no show to secure the representative, for the senator from the district was a Greene county man and other counties in the district felt that the representation should be more equally distributed. Mr. Witt, however, received the endorsement of his county on three separate occasions. He takes an active interest in political matters, has ever been a stanch advocate of the principles of the democratic party and has been a delegate to many congressional and state conventions, his opinions carrying weight in the party councils. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge at Kane and the commandery at Carrollton.

Viewed from any standpoint his life may be said to be a success; and it is the success not merely of the man who prosecutes a prosperous agricultural life, intent only on winning wealth, but that of a man who advances public good in promoting individual prosperity. The study of the character of the representative American never fails to offer much of pleasing interest and valuable instruction, and the life of Mr. Witt certainly furnishes food for deep and profitable thought.