William  Deiwert

         William M. Deiwert, Justice of the Peace, came to Shelby County when but four years old.  He was reared a pioneer farmer boy and attended the common schools of that time.  When twenty-one years started in life for himself. In 1852, he started for the gold fields of California, crossing the plains with ox teams, and was on the road four months.  He made a success here and returned home by the Isthmus of Panama in a steamer, and from there north by rail, arriving at home in June 1859.  He then engaged in farming.  He located on the farm where he now lives in 1860.  He sold goods in Morristown, in 1867 and 1868.  He was Postmaster of Winterrowd four years. Early in life he was a Whig, later a Douglas Democrat, and now a staunch Republican.  He was elected Justice of the Peace in the fall of 1874, and has been re-elected three times, which will make a term of sixteen years.  He is a member of the Royal Arch Masons, and also of the Patrons of  Husbandry.  He was married February 20, 1861, to  Miss Eliza A. Newton, born in Hamilton, Ohio, November 28, 1837, a daughter of  John Newton  of Pennsylvania.  By this marriage twelve children were born, of whom eight are now living,  David J.,  John C.,  Linnis,  Lottie,  Katie,  George,  Edgar  and  Ethel.  Mr. and Mrs. Deiwert are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are highly esteemed where known. Mr. Deiwert was born March 2, 1828 in Montgomery County, Ohio.  William Deiwert, his father, was born in 1788 near Portsmouth, Pennsylvania.  He lived at home, working at the shoemaker’s trade until 1808 when he started on foot for the west, and located in Montgomery County, Ohio.  A few years later he married  Miss Mow, born in Shelby County, Kentucky, March 5, 1792.  Shortly after this he enlisted in the service of the United States, in the War of  1812, and served a short time.  He received a land warrant which secured him a piece of land in Iowa.  In 1832, he moved to Shelby County, where he entered several tracts of land.  Here he encountered many hardships. He helped to organize his township.  He succeeded in surrounding himself with the comforts of life, and died in 1862.   His wife survived him several years and died at the age of eighty.
History of Shelby County, Indiana by Brant and Fuller - 1887 - page 786
Transcribed by Kathy Ridlen

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