M. B. CHITWOOD, another of the early pioneers of Reynolds County, Missouri, was born in Campbell County, Tennessee, on the 6th of July, 1828, to the marriage of William and Cecili (Whitecotton) Chitwood, both natives of that State also. The paternal grandfather, Pleasant Chitwood, passed his entire life in Tennessee, engaged in farming. The maternal grandfather, Aaron Whitecotton, came to this county in 1844, and followed farming on Webb’s Creek until his death about 1866. The parents of our subject were married in their native State, and in 1841 they moved with ox-teams from that State to Reynolds County, Missouri They settled on a farm on Webb’s Creek, in the woods, and there the father died a few years later, leaving our subject, who was the eldest of the family, although but sixteen years of age, to take charge of affairs. Mrs. Chitwood reared her family and after all were married she was wedded to J. Odell. Both are now deceased, her death occurring in 1878. Her children, eight in number, were named as follows: M. B. (subject), Kizzie, Sallie, Helen, Pleasant, Aaron, Elizabeth and William. Only Helen, Aaron and Elizabeth, besides our subject, are living, and the latter is the only one living in this county.
When sixteen years of age young Chitwood assumed control of affairs on his father’s farm and managed this successfully for many years. When twenty-seven years of age he married Miss Elizabeth Lewis, a native of Tennessee, and the daughter of Jacob Lewis, who came to this State from Tennessee, and here died. Mr. Chitwood has resided on his present farm since 1855, and has met with substantial results. He has 218 acres of land and a fine farm in Dickson Valley, south of Barnesville. He is a Mason, a member of Barnesville Lodge, and he is also a member of the Baptist Church. In politics he is a Democrat. His marriage was blessed by the birth of fourteen children, twelve of whom are living: Cecili A.. deceased; Nancy J., wife of George Campbell; Helen M., wife of S. Helms; Urzilla, wife of William Page; Izora, Anzona, Millie, Debbie, Fannie F. The sons are: William Nelson, married; Nimrod I. and Grover C.