Charles W. Witt. Prominently known in Champaign County, and especially at Sidney, Mr. Witt is a native of that section and has made his years count for usefulness and service in different lines. He is now serving as postmaster of Sidney.
He was born in that village February 25, 1871, a son of William and Mary (Wilson) Witt. His father was a native of Germany, but his mother was born in Champaign County. William Witt followed farming, for a number of years afterwards was a railroad man, and he died at Sidney, February 25, 1912, on Charles Witt’s forty-first birthday. The mother died in 1882. They have three children: Luther C. of Sidney Township; Charles W.; and George M., who resides in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Charles W. Witt attended the public schools at Sidney, and had his first experience in business as a restaurant man. For about a year and a half he conducted a restaurant at Tilton, Illinois, and then went to farming, which he followed twelve years.
In an official capacity Mr. Witt served as supervisor of his township, and on December 25, 1915, was appointed postmaster of Sidney. That office has recently been created a third class office, and Mr. Witt was reappointed his own successor by President Wilson on January 29, 1917. He has given a capable administration and has made stanch friends in this community irrespective of party affiliations.
On June 28, 1899, Mr. Witt married Hulda A. Mandeville. She was also born at Sidney and is a daughter of Samuel D. and Mary A. (Coffeen) Mandeville. Her father was born in Seneca County, New York, and her mother in Champaign County. Samuel Mandeville was at one time proprietor of the old Kelly Tavern, in partnership with Orton Woodward. The Kelly Tavern is historic because Abraham Lincoln, when a young Illinois lawyer, often stopped there. Mr. Mandeville is still living on his home farm, but his wife is deceased. In their family were seven children: Ira F.; Ollie, deceased; Hulda, Mrs. Witt; Ethel G., deceased; Anna B., wife of William H. Lehman of Decatur, Illinois; Paris R., an engineer of the Missouri Pacific Railway, living at Atchison, Kansas; Carrie, deceased. The last two are twins. Mr. and Mrs. Witt have one child, Ralph D., who was born July 5, 1902, and is now in the public schools at Sidney. Politically Mr. Witt is a Democrat, is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and his church is the Christian, while Mrs. Witt is a Presbyterian.
