William M. Witten is a Virginian, and was born in Tazewell county, that State, on the 9th of September, 1837. He was partly educated in the county of his birth, but left there before completing it. In 1851 he came to Grundy county, Missouri, locating in Edinburg, and soon afterwards entered Grand River College, where he completed his education. After leaving school be began life as a farmer, working with his father. He came to Daviess county in 1856 and settled in Lincoln township on a fine tract of land containing about one thousand acres, which his father had given him. After fencing this place, and putting it partially in cultivation, he must have returned, temporarily, to Virginia, for we find him in 1861, enlisted in the cause of the Confederacy, in Company A, of the Twenty-third Virginia Volunteers. He served with credit until the war closed, having held the rank of lieutenant since 1862. After the war he returned to Daviess county and again engaged in farming and stock-raising, and is now one of the most successful stock-men in the county. He has one of the best appointed farms in North Missouri, consisting of 1,200 acres, it being about the largest in the county. From. this place Mr. Witten ships, or sells, about 200 head of cattle per year, besides, mules, horses, etc.
Mr. Witten was married, in Tazewell county, Virginia, on the 22d of December, 1858, to Miss Pamelia Gillespie, a native of that State.. She died October 6, 1879, after bearing him six children. In March, 1881, he married Mrs. Ella O. Witten, a native of Tennessee. She had three children by her first marriage; named, respectively, Mary L., George T. and Sadie A. Mr. Witten had six children by his first marriage, named Mary L., William S., Thomas N., James H., Pamelia E., and Nannie F. Mr. Witten is known to all as a man of fine business qualifications and of great force of character.