The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-07-25
IFrom the Pittsburgh Commercial Journal.
OBITUARY NOTICE.

| The newspapers have already announced the
death of PETER WlTTES, who departed this life
on Friday the I'D ult., at the ripe age of 50
years. The fine qualities, and generous, manly
nature of the deceased which had not failed in
a long life to endear him to multitude of
| friends. and to attach to him in remarkable
degree the affections of a numerous family
connexion, seem fairly to demand something
more than the ordinary mention of a life ex-
tinguished.
Mr.. Witten was born in Western Virginia,
| about Wheeling when it was a frontier settle
ment; and soon after Ohio became an organized
territory. he located himself there, on the spot
where he spent his life on the bank of the Ohio,
at the head of the Long Reach, and opposite
Williamson's Island, in Monroe county. From
the palmy time of keelboat supremacy, when
the ,cordcle and the pushing pole were the
motive powers of our transit trade, down to this
day of steam palaces that fly with double and
quadruple engines, there have been few of our
navigators whom the exigencies and accidents
| of river life, have not put upon the acquaint-
ance and hospitalities of Peter Witten, and often
upon his kind offices for help and succor.
The head of Long Reach and Williamson's
Island mark one Of those points OF a rather
precarious navigation, where often occurs a te-
dious pause in the progress of river craft of all
classes and at all seasons of the year. Irksome
as are those vicissitudes of river travel, and
often as crews and passengers, even in large
numbers, have been thrown at once upon his
generosity, there are few who have encountered
such delays within hail or sight of Peter Wit
tens homestead, and cannot recall with pleas
ure and eXhilaration the generous warmth of
welcome and the bounteous hospitalities with
which Mr.. Witten made "open house" to all
corners.
Himself Virginan gentleman of that adIni-
rable stamp, wherein the courtly polish, and
the elaborate hospitalities of the "Old Domin-
ion school, have been rendered more genial and
hearty by freshening and manly features ac-
quired in pioneer life, Mr. Witten was. an ex-
ample of moderation and heartiness in the
midst of all those forms of sport, recreation
and Indulgence, which it is the custom of this
day to connect with excess, and to deplore as
leading to vice. The bottle on his sideboard
which in the days of his youth was the sign
and seal of welcome to his board and hearth
stone, never counseled in his lifetime to drunk
en- orgies, but continued to bear its part in an
old fashion of hospitality, which it was his
pride to preserve in its hearty original, as he
derived it from Old Virginia.
With robust and active frame, exuberant
spirits and a strong original mind, qualified by
the most engaging simplicity of character, Mr..
Witten was Just as ready to try conclusions in
Jump, foot race or horse race, (and he
kept the finest stock in Ohio,) as he was for the
more dignified reach of a canvass for the Legis-
lature. He twice represented his district in
the Ohio Legislature with credit to himself.
But his free spirit shrank from the Legislative
halls, and avowing his disrelish for the voca-
ton of law maker, he has latterly Stunned the
political arena altogether.
Mr. Witten was the father Of twelve children,
FIVE sons and seven daughters; all reared in
Monroe county, and all, save one daughter, sur
vive him. Four Of his sons are well known as
pilots on the Ohio river. One of these, the
youngest, we believe, contracted the small pox
and betook himself home to be nursed through
the course of that dangerous disease. The
contagion spread through the family, and every
member of it at home was in turn seized. The
venerable father was perhaps the last attacked,
and he in the most malignant form. The
youngest daughter, Temperance, with heroic
self-devotion, although at the time sustaining
an attack of the same loathsome disease, gave
herself up to nursing and attendance upon her
father. But not even the Offices of an affection
so unselfsh and sleepless could avail, and the
venerable father, alone of the household, sank
under the visitation. He leaves good exam
pie and memory that will be long and warmly
cherished by throng of friends, and affection
ately revered by his children. w.