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Dr George Seabury Treadwell “Witt” DeWitt

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Birth	:	6 Feb 1819 New York, New York County (Manhattan), New York, USA
Death	:	6 Jul 1910 Muscatine County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Hillside Cemetery, Elliott, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.1408005, -95.1544037
Inscription	:	George S. DeWitt was appointed Assistant Surgeon Jan. 2, 1863 of 37th Iowa Infantry ("The Greybeard Regiment"). Mustered Jan. 16. 1863. He resigned Feb. 17, 1863, St. Louis, Mo. He resigned to become Asst. Surgeon for the 5th
Description	:	Dr. DeWitt was born 6 Feb. 1818 in New York City, where his father Thomas Witt and mother Elizabeth (Newhall) Witt resided. He was named Seabury Treadwell Witt. At street level of the building was the Thomas Witt Shoe Store. They had moved there from Lynn, Mass., to which they returned in 1831 – an area in which the Witts had lived since 1650. Dr. DeWitt and his brother John Franklin Witt were shoe and dress boot makers; their father, a shoe merchant. George Seabury decided in 1844 that he did not want to be a "cobbler"... Read More	Dr. DeWitt was born 6 Feb. 1818 in New York City, where his father Thomas Witt and mother Elizabeth (Newhall) Witt resided. He was named Seabury Treadwell Witt. At street level of the building was the Thomas Witt Shoe Store. They had moved there from Lynn, Mass., to which they returned in 1831 – an area in which the Witts had lived since 1650. Dr. DeWitt and his brother John Franklin Witt were shoe and dress boot makers; their father, a shoe merchant. George Seabury decided in 1844 that he did not want to be a "cobbler" all his life; and already tutored in Greek and Latin, he was accepted by the Harvard Medical School as Seabury Treadwell Witt. He made "fine dress boots for fine gentlemen" to finance his education, supplemented with janitor work in a Pharmacy, for which he received his sleeping room and work space. Taunted by being called "Seabury Tread-on-no-Witt", he had his name legally changed to George Seabury DeWitt. He received his medical school diploma from Harvard in 1844. He was an assistant to Dr. Horatio Newhall, a cousin, at Galena, Illinois until 1846, when he went up the river to St. Croix, Wisconsin as a physician at a lumber camp. He left Wisconsin and with his savings started down the river in 1848-49 to locate and start his practice again. By the time he reached Dubuque, he no longer had any savings, having met up with two River Boat professional gamblers. Out of money, he started walking southwest, looking for a place needing a physician. By June 1850 he was at Colesburg, Delaware Co., Iowa, and soon after, bought a lot on which he erected his office. In 1851, the John Stanclift Jr. family had migrated to Colesburg from Concord-North Collins, Erie Co., New York. Dr. DeWitt fell in love with Sarah Eliza, his patient (their daughter) and they were married 28 July 1852. She was born 20 June 1827 in New York and died 4 Oct. 1908 at Elliott. Her parents were the said John Stanclift, Jr. and Rhoba Smith, daughter of Amasa; soldier, War of 1912; and Candace Brown. Their six children were all born at Colesburg and came in a covered wagon with their parents in 1868 to the farm now owned by Jessie Smith. All are buried at Elliott Hillside Cemetery. 1. Ella S. 1853-1932, married James H. Moore. 2. Mary E. 1855-1923, married Jesse Thornton "Bud" Mercer. 3. John Franklin "J. F. or Frank" 1857-1944, married Louisa Dille. 4. George B. 1860-1868. 5. Charles E. "Charlie" 1862-1930, married Rachel Woodling. 6. William Lowe "W. L. or Till" 1865-1932, married Minnie Tyler. Dr. DeWitt volunteered for duty in the Civil War and was commissioned as a Captain- 2nd Asst. Surgeon, 5th Iowa Cavalry, 19 Feb. 1863. He, while a patient in the Hospital at Murfreesboro, Tenn., resigned his commission and was discharged 20 Feb. 1864. Shortly after entering the army he was attached to a Penn. Cavalry Scouting Party and was some times the only Surgeon at battle field Hospital Stations, and one day he performed 20 operations. After the Civil War, Dr. DeWitt performed no more operations. In a letter to Harvard, he said he found he was now "too nervous a man" and that he made a living through the work of his sons on the farm near Elliott. When he no longer practiced medicine, his chief activities were walking to Elliott to get his Chicago newspaper, re-reading the classics, and letter writing. His letters were voluminous over a 30 year period, trying to get $40.00 from the government for his Army overcoat "stolen" at a Field Hospital. He always said $40.00 with interest underlined twice. Finally about 1900 he received an Invalid's pension. Dr. DeWitt died 6 July 1910. Sarah Eliza, a Congregationalist all her life, helped organize the Congregational Church at Elliott; loved all people and was helpful to many in times of sadness or illness. She observed the Sabbath from sunset Saturday to sunset Sunday, and in almost everything else, deferred to the wishes of "Seabury".

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Dr George Seabury Treadwell “Witt” DeWitt's memorial?
Dr George Seabury Treadwell “Witt” DeWitt's memorial is located at: Hillside Cemetery, Elliott, Montgomery County, USA.
When did Dr George Seabury Treadwell “Witt” DeWitt death?
Dr George Seabury Treadwell “Witt” DeWitt death on 6 Jul 1910 in Muscatine County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Dr George Seabury Treadwell “Witt” DeWitt's memorial?
Latitude: 41.1408005
Longitude: -95.1544037

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Sarah Eliza Stanclift DeWitt

(1827 - 1908)

Siblings

Children

Sarah Ellen “Ella” DeWitt Moore

(1853 - 1932)

Mary E. DeWitt Mercer

(1855 - 1923)

John Franklin DeWitt

(1857 - 1944)

George B. DeWitt

(1860 - 1868)

Charles Elmer “C.E.” DeWitt

(1862 - 1930)

William Lowe DeWitt

(1865 - 1932)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Hillside Cemetery
Elliott, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1408005, -95.1544037

2. Mercer Cemetery
Pottawattamie County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1753006, -95.1650009

3. Waveland Cemetery
Pottawattamie County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1738700, -95.1881500

4. Pilot Grove Center Cemetery
Elliott, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1190600, -95.0993700

5. Indian Graveyard
Sherman Township, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0955730, -95.1837580

6. Lowman Cemetery
Griswold, Cass County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1594009, -95.0886002

7. Pleasant Township Cemetery
Griswold, Cass County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2056000, -95.1370000

8. Haefflick Burial Site
Red Oak, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0726300, -95.1561700

9. L Laire Property Cemetery (Defunct)
Sherman Township, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0958257, -95.2224927

10. Pilot Grove Presbyterian Cemetery
Wallin, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0793991, -95.0699997

11. Saint Clair Cemetery
Red Oak Township, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0598400, -95.2049810

12. Flint Cemetery
Pottawattamie County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2289009, -95.1841965

13. Center Ridge Cemetery
Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1452141, -95.2787018

14. Griswold Cemetery
Waveland Township, Pottawattamie County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2360992, -95.1735992

15. Saint Marys Cemetery
Red Oak, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0447006, -95.2275009

16. Tabor Cemetery
Wallin, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0543700, -95.0619900

17. Frankfort Cemetery
Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0271988, -95.1327972

18. Gomer Cemetery
Wales, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1171989, -95.3082962

19. Smith Cemetery
Griswold, Cass County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2606010, -95.1453018

20. Grant Cemetery
Grant, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1405983, -94.9906006

21. Mortons Mill Cemetery
Morton Mills, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0793991, -95.0085983

22. Evergreen Cemetery
Red Oak, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0228004, -95.2205963

23. Old East Cemetery
Grant, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1444016, -94.9792023

24. Douglas Township Cemetery
Grant, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1360933, -94.9752558