Person:John Dewitt (5)

According to the Sallie DeWitt 1981 Genealogy, "Johnny" was the first-born son of Lee and Claudia DeWitt and he had long blonde curls as a three year old boy. His mother Claudia cried when his father insisted he had his hair cut. John Henry attended schools at Grand Prarie and Ft. Smith Arkansas, as well as St. Louis Missouri. At age 17 he was given a 1929 Model A Ford by his parents, so he could drive to school in Ft. Smith. Classes at Rye Hill only went through the 8th grade, so he drove to high school in Ft. Smith, and later to St. Louis, to complete his education.

After living in Arkansas and Missouri, he eventually settled in San Perlita, Texas in 1935 when his father migrated there, where he farmed and raised a family. He served briefly in the Coast Gard during WWII at Hollywood, Florida. As a farmer in San Perlita he raised grain, cotton, ran oil leases and bred Santa Gertrudis cattle. John was a good family man.

John was never satisfied with the status quo and he set out to become a Texas millionaire before reaching age 40. It took him three decades, because WWII interrupted his ventures. He learned farming from his father Lee DeWitt, then improved upon it. Known as a perfectionist, he was self-taught in politics, plumbing, engineering, law, building, electricity, mchanics, management, bookkeeping, economics and banking.

John was appointed to the Farmer's Home Administration Committee for Willacy County by State Director, Walter T. McKay, in Dallas. He was chairman of the Willacy County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Committee in 1957. He was also cited as outstanding farmer in Zone I in the Willacy-Hidalgo Soil Conservation District in the 1960's.

When John's father, Lee DeWitt, retired from farming in 1947, Lee appointed his younger son, A.T. Dewitt, to manage his farming interestes. When A.T. died in 1960, John managed his father's properties until Lee died on 4/10/78. John and his father Lee lived together in Willac County for 43 years and were very close. John's daily visits to his parents' farm were looked forward to by his mother and father, and his coffee cup was always waiting for him. John also acted as trustee for the family trust that Lee had set up for his children and heirs of his deceased children. John and his wife Thelma were very devoted and helpful to Lee and Claudia in their declining years.

1. ↑ Sallie Lee DeWitt. Research by Sallie DeWitt. (1981)
   ppg. 4, 25, 37, 93.
2. ↑ Sallie Lee DeWitt. Research by Sallie DeWitt. (1981)
   ppg. 25, 37, 93.
3. ↑ Ellen DeWitt Baker. Family Bible - Barbara (Beachum) Kanipe. (Presented as a gift on 5/25/1956).