Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-03-27
JERRE D. MTTER DEAD.
AN ACTIVE BUSINESS LIFE THE SOURCE
OF GREAT HAPPINESS.
The City OF Grand Rapids Will Greatly Miss
Him.

OF man whose life has been the his
tory Of our city, a man whose every
interest and undertaking has been
interlinked with our own. a man who
always chose to make his own personal
welfare and prosperity helpful to the
community. Few cities have had
such men without approaching their
worth. Every person, who have
known Jerre d. Witter, be he young
or old, rich or poor. today mourn his
death, and in'him feel that they and
their city have lost a good citizen and
sincere friend.
1t is fact not known TO many that
Mr.. Wltter has not been a physically
Wen man for the past twelve years.
lie 0raVely fought against the disease
which constantly aimed to end his
energies. His suffering, especially
during the last four years, have been
at times keen and terrible. Some
time ago he was told by physicians
that he had an acute attack of
Bright's disease, which might prove
fatal at any time. His friends, not
even his own family, knew of his
serious condition, as he did not desire
to give them any care or anxiety In
February hewent to consult physicians
in Rockford, H., and for a time his
Sufferings were lcSSened. Two weeks
ago, however, it was decided that an
operation should be performed, and
for that purpose he went to Chicago.
He rallied from the operation and it
seemed that he would be fully restored
to health. but on Friday a relapse
came. For tWenty-Seven hours preced-
ing his death he was in a cOmatOSe
condition, and was thus unable to
recognize or communicate with those
at his bedside. Death came to relieve
his SufferingS at 7:40 O'Clock Saturday,
March % About him were his wife,
son, Isaac P. Witter. daughter. Mrs.
George Mead and husband, and two
sisters of Mrs. Witter, Mrs. Stanton
and Mrs. Berkey.
Jerre D. Witter was born in Brook
field, Madison County, n. Y, Septem-
Der Is, 1885 His parents were poor
and hardWOrking farmers. His early
education was in general that received
from close application to the work
laid before him on the farm. In 1850
he came with his parents to the town
Of Dakota, Waushara county, WiScOn-
sin. Here he again helped his father
on the farm and continued until he
was Is years of age. The boy soon
began to feel that his activities needed
broader field, the same year that he
left the farm he entered the law-Office
of his brOther-in-law W. G.. Webb, at
Wautoma, Wis. In May, 1859 he came
to Grand Rapids TO be admitted to the
bar, hnt returned again the same year
TO Nautoma.
In 1860 Mr. Witter married Emelie
Phelps in Friendship, n. Y. Their
,,,Y,i. hi l.
children, Ellis, Laura, Isaac and Ruth.
Ellis was born October 6, 1862, and
died July 26, 1865. Laura was born
1874. Isaac was born May II, 1873,
and Ruth was born October 20, 1875.
1t was in December. 1860, the year
Grand Rapids his permanent home.
lie practiced law for eight years in
partnership with Judge Webb. He
served the people successfully both as
district attorney and county judge.
His extremely logical mind would
have made him prominent in the legal
profession, but he saw larger fields in
other directions than law. He thus
gradually took up real estate, inSur-
ance lumber and banking interests.
Through perseverance, pluck and
honest dealings he soon became inter
eSted in various enterprises in the
state. until, at the time of bis death.
he was known as one Of the WealthieSt
and most progressive men in the
Wisconsin Valley.
In 1872 he founded the First
National Bank of Grand Rapids and
in 1898 re-OrganiZed the Bank Of
Centralia. He has always been the
executive Of these banks, and has at all
times been found conservative and
safe to trust. His numbering interests
have been extensive. He has been
StoCkhOlder in almost all the impOr-
tant business venturerS in Grand
Rapids.
He has been identified with almost
all the paper mills in the Wisconsin
Valley. He had extensive interests
in three paper mills at Appleton. At
home he was StOckhOlder in the South
Centralia paper mill and the Biron
paper mill. He also held shares in
the Johnson & Hill Co.'S store, Ober-
beck Furniture Co and the Grand
Rapids Milling &C., and the CONNER
cial National Bank of Appleton. Be-
sides these interests in Wisconsin, Mr..
Witter had interests in cattle in
Texas, and rice in Louisiana, and
some banking interests in Dakota.
Throughout his entire career. Mr.
Witter avoided political office, yet his
official service to Wood county and the
city of Grand Rapids was Of ineStim-
able worth. He held that any man
had right to refuse to serve IN any
public office that paid a compensation.
but that it was the duty of every good
citizen to serve So far as he was able in
those public offices that yield no pay.
At an early date in county history,
when corruption was ruling our
county government. Mr.. Witter was
one of the few who dared to enter
protest against the rule of dishonesty.
He was elected member Of the
county board by the better element in
the community. Largely through his
influence and by the courageous stand
that he and few OF his colleagues
took was the county government
vested from the gang that had for
years miSruIed it and looted its trea-
Sury.
Once the power Of corruption was
destroyed he stepped aside and let
Others benefit politically by his work.
He sought no city office but at times
served on its council and at one time
in the capacity of mayor. His opinion
was often desired on important
questions Of city management.
| For full quarter of Il century he
| served continually on the city Board
of Education. And on that board no