Morton WHITT

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Union Vet. cival war;

JAMES WHITT BELIEVES HE IS THE OLDEST MAN IN MORGAN COUNTY, KY


From undated article ca. 1935 reprinted in The Salyersville Independent found in a scrapbook of Ogie Williams, contributed by Phyllis Williams Salyer. Article written by Bernard Whitt and originally printed in The Ashland Independent newspaper.
West Liberty, KY----James Whitt, a native of Tazewell Co. VA and a resident of this county for the last 83 years, lays claim to the title of the oldest citizen of Morgan County. He is one hundred years, three days old today (May 11th).
Born on Clinch River in Tazewell County, VA February 9th 1835, Mr. Whitt, when 17 years old, came with his parents, James Madison Whitt and Rebecca Day Whitt and his three brothers, Leck, Will and Ingram Whitt and his two sisters, Mrs. Emberset Reed and Mrs. Poll Reed, to Magoffin county thence to this county where they finally settled.
The Whitt family came through Pond (Pound?) Gap and down the Big Sandy River to Paintsville and over to Salyersville and on down the Licking River to West Liberty.

James and one of his brothers, Ingram enlisted in the Union Army and served throughout the Civil War. They were members of Company G, 24th Regiment, KY Infantry. They served under Capt. Hedge and Col. Lewis B. Grigsby. James was one of the soldiers who, under General Garfield, drove the Confederates across the Cumberlands and out of the Big Sandy alley. He was in the battle of Ivy Mountain Nov. 8-9, 1861, and was also in the battle of Crab Orchard. He said later, he was in the campaign around Vicksburg when Grant broke the Confederacy into two parts. He said he was then transferred to the east and was in campaigns there.
ôI never asked for a pension,ö Mr. Whitt said, ôand I have never received any compensation from the government since the Civil War.ö
At the close of the War Between the States, Mr. Whitt returned to his home, and there he met and married Miss Angeline Amyx. To this union ten children were born, seven sons and three daughters. Three of the sons and three daughters are still living. The sons are, Bob Whitt of West Liberty and Tom and Andy Whitt, both of Wonnie, Magoffin County. The daughters are Mrs. Alice Perry of Blaze, Morgan County, Mrs. Minta Patrick of Wrigley, Morgan County and Mrs. Emma Crace of Richmond, KY. There are five generations of the Whitt family living.

Mr. Whitt has been a farmer all his life, with the exception of the time he served in the army during the Civil War and 38 months he spent in Cincinnati when he helped build the first bridge across the Ohio River at that point. *

Mr. Whitt does not smoke, but he occasionally chews tobacco. Members of his family say that they saw him angry only once and that was when he tipped over a churn of milk on the floor. He has all his faculties and he is in almost perfect health. The writer drove ten miles to get to talk to him and to get the above photograph. As it was over a poor country road I could only get my car within a mile of the aged manÆs daughterÆs home. He was at the time living with her. After the interview Mr. Whitt walked the mile back to the car and jumped across small streams with the agility of a man 45 to 50 years old.

Mr. Whitt's son, Bob, accompanied me to interview his father and when we arrived it was about eight o'clock in the morning. We found him out cutting wood. There were about two wagonloads of wood, which he had cut and stacked. Mr. Whitt said that he attributed his good health and long life to work and keeping happy. He says he does not worry nor get disturbed about anything. I take everything calmly, is the way he put it. I cut wood, he said as he dropped his axe and mopped his brow when we approached him, ôeach morning until I get tired and then I quit. He said the he felt much better when he worked and that he believed it kept him in good health. Mr. WhittÆs eyesight is good. He reads without glasses. In fact, he says he has never worn glasses.

Mr. Whitt said that when he moved into the North Fork country where the village of Wrigley is situated, there was not a foot of land cleared and that it was necessary to cut roads for even the horses to travel. He said the country abounded with squirrels and other game and he recalled that his son Bob, when a youngster, killed nine pheasants one morning before breakfast.
On our return trip to West Liberty Mr. Whitt accompanied us and he observed that the farmers were late in getting in their crops.

Mr. Whitt has lived to see the United States grow in population, in industry, and to become one of the greatest powers in the world. When he was a boy there were no telephones, no electric lights, no airplanes, only a few railroads, and no one ever dreamed of the radio. He says that he is thankful that he has been permitted to attain a ripe old age and to live in an age when great things do happen.

James Whitt died 4 January 1938 in Morgan County, KY and was buried in Magoffin County, KY. He was the son of James Madison Whitt (1810 VA-1855 KY) and Rebecca Day (1812 VA-1854 KY). His paternal grandparents were Richard Whitt III b. 1778 and Elizabeth Smallwood Baxter. His maternal grandparents were Joseph Powell Day (1776-1856) and Rhoda Cox (b? -d.1827).


*Most likely the Robeling Suspension Bridge near Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ball Park.

James married Angeline AMYX 27 Apr 1865. Angeline was born 5 Sep 1842, Magoffin Co. KY; died 20 Jan 1901; was buried , Whitt Cemetary, Magoffin, Co., KY. [Group Sheet]

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Moved from Va. to Ky. 1850. James Madison Owned a large track of land White Oak Creek, Morgan, Co., Ky. After his death he left each child 47 Acres except Emberzetta who got 40 acres. His children went to live with different families after his death.

JAMES MADISON WHITT OWNED THE PRESENT DAY (until 1972) G.K. ONEY FARM WHICH IS SITUATED NEAR THE JUNCTURE OF SUGAR CAMP BRANCH AND WHITE OAK CREEK NEAR THE BORDER OF PRESENT DAY MORGAN AND MAGOFFIN COUNTY, KENTUCKY LINES. HIS DEATH WAS UNUSUAL IN THAT IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT A MAN ON HORSEBACK RODE UP LATE ONE AFTERNOON AND OFFERED JAMES A DRINK OF MOONSHINE WHISKEY. AFTER SEVERAL SWALLOWS, JAMES FELL "DEAD IN HIS TRACKS." AS WAS THE CUSTOM IN THE MID 1800's, PEOPLE WERE PREPARED FOR BURIAL AT HOME WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF A MORTICIAN; ALSO IT WAS CUSTOMARY TO PLACE WHITE GLOVES UPON THE HANDS OF THE DECEASED. IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT THE WOMAN HELPING TO PREPARE THE BODY FOR BURIAL WAS MY GREAT, GREAT-GRANDMOTHER, SUSANNA "SUKEY" ALLEN, WIFE OF DANIEL WEBSTER ALLEN. UPON PLACING THE GLOVES ON THE DECEASED, SHE THOUGHT SHE NOTICED MOVEMENT OF ONE OF THE HANDS, BUT CONFIDED THIS TO NO ONE UNTIL A DAY OF SO AFTER THE BURIAL. UPON LEARNING OF THIS, HIS BODY WAS IMMEDIATELY DISINTERRED. WHEN THE CASKET WAS OPENED, JAMES WAS FOUND TO BE LYING FACE DOWN IN THE CASKET.

JAMES, HIS WIFE REBECCA, AND AN INFANT CHILD ARE BURIED BELOW THE OLD GARDEN PLOT ON HIS FARM.


Note By Juanita Collinsworth Oney:
After Rebecca died James Madison Whitt went back to VA and married Lucinda Compton in Tazewell County, VA. Jan. 23, 1855. He was the son of Richard Whitt and Elizabeth Whitt. She was the daughter of James & Elizabeth McGuire both widowed. He age 49, she age 39. He died 3 months later, but she had a son by Elisha Oney.

Occupation:
Physician

James married Rebecca DAY 1835, Tazewell Co VA. Rebecca was born 1815, Grayson Co. VA; died 24 May 1854, Morgan Co., KY. [Group Sheet]

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Died in childbrith.

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Dr. Whitt and his wife Betsy Smallwood Whitt went from Tazewell County, Va. to Magoffin Co., Ky. about 1840.

Richard married Elizabeth (Betsy) Baxter SMALLWOOD 4 Oct 1797, Montgomery Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

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