My Genealogy Hound

Dr. C. J. Witt is a son of C. H. and Elizabeth (Hawn) Witt, who were born in Jefferson County, Tenn., in 1797 and 1799, and died in 1867 and 1856, respectively. They were married in 1816 and ten children were the fruits of their marriage. They came to Tennessee in 1832. The father was a Democrat. Their son, C. J. Witt, is one of the leading dentists of Gibson County. He was born in Carroll County, Tenn., October 12, 1839, and was brought to Gibson County when only one year old. His boyhood days were spent in hard work on the farm. His father became embarrassed by cotton speculation and he and his brother worked almost night and day to pay off liabilities, consequently he received little schooling. At the age of nineteen he could not write nor make a figure. He more than once felt his deficiency in this respect and resolved to obtain an education. For some time he worked for thirty cents per day and accumulated enough money to enable him to enter Bluff Spring College. After completing his education he worked at the carpenter’s trade for some time, and in 1861 volunteered in Company H, Twelfth Tennessee Infantry, Confederate States Army, and served faithfully throughout the war. At the battle of Shiloh he was struck in the breast with a grape-shot, tearing away a part of the left lung. After about twelve months’ suffering he recovered somewhat and joined the cavalry, but was given many privileges. He still suffers from the effects of the wound. In 1864 he married Hassie Black, who was born January 23, 1840, a graduate of the literary and musical course at Trenton. One child, Hassie L. M., was born to them. This wife died, and in 1868 Mr. Witt married Mollie C. Hale, who bore him two children: Mollie V. and Charles C. The Doctor is a Democrat and served as trustee one term. In 1866 he began a course in dentistry, under W. B. Fisher, of Lebanon, Tenn., and completed the same under W. B. Spencer, of Jackson, Tenn. He has since practiced with flattering success, and since 1870 has resided on his farm of 100 acres. He and wife and two children are members of the Methodist Church.