USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Witt > Witt centennial : Witt, Montgomery County, Illinois, 1868-1968 > Part 6
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THE LYERLA FAMILY
In 1901, William S. Lyerla, an engineer at the Paisley coal mine, brought his wife, Elsie Burke, and four children, Dwight, Lois, Ralph and Frank, to Witt from Irving. For fourteen years the family made its home in Witt, and during that time, three more children, Fred- erick, Lottie and Burke, were born. Will Ly- erla worked as carpenter in the New Mine at this period. Then the family moved to Hills- boro, which is still the home of Mrs. Fred- erick Lverla (Ethel Frarer), her son, Jim Lyerla, his wife, the former Shirley Ann Rush, and their three children, Mary Ruth, Fred and Joe.
At present, Lois and Lottie make their home in Laguna Beach, California. Ralph and his wife, Ruby, live in Spokane, Washington, and Frank and his wife, Eileen, have homes in Fenton, Michigan, and Bradenton, Florida.
Will Lyerla died in 1942, Elsie in 1957. Three of the children too, are now dead. Dwight of a heart attack in Dallas in 1961, Frederick of meningitis in Hillsboro in 1944, and Burke killed in heroic action in World War II for which the Silver Star was awarded posthumously.
Dwight's daughter, Dolores Lyerla Mi- mier, is a space-center computer programmer living at Indian Harbor Beach, Florida, and the mother of three children: Brian, Burke and Claire. Patsy Lyerla Corso, Fred's daugh- ter, is a teacher in the adult-education pro- gram for new, non English-speaking Detroit- ers. She is the mother of Bob, Roger and Pat- ty Ann and wife of Aldo Corso, a detective with the police force. Ralph's son, Jack, oper- ates his own construction engineering firm in
Spokane and is the father of Jean and Jim, a recently returned veteran of Viet Nam.
RUSHFORD FAMILY
Andrew and Eugenia Rushford came to Paisley (later called Witt) in 1901 from Michigan, bringing with them seven children of their own and one adopted son, named Rankin. Four children died in infancy.
"Bill" later married Angeline Scott and to this marriage six children were born. He died in 1958 at the age of 70.
Josephine married James Selett and they are the parents of four children.
George married Rose Selett and they too had four children. George, like his father, was a coal miner. He lost his life at the age of 38 in Tovey Mine No. 7, in 1930.
John married Ethel Lyons. They were the parents of three children. John died in Burlington, Iowa, in 1963, age 68.
Andrew, Jr., married Anna Battiste and they have four children. Presently they re- side at Pekin, Ill.
Millie and Chris Rodeghier were married in 1919 and were the parents of three chil- dren. Chris died in 1963, age 67.
Margaret married Alvin Hoehn and they too have three children. The Hoehns live in Witt Township.
Eugenia and Joe were born after the Rushfords moved to Witt.
Eugenia is the wife of Leo Vericker and they farm in the Witt community.
Joe and his wife, the former Velma Peters, live on a farm in Pickett, Wis.
Andrew, Sr., died in 1957, age 92. His wife Eugenia died in 1935, age 68.
THE
LYERLA FAMILY
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RODEGHIER FAMILY
Anton and Johanna Rodeghier came to Witt in 1901 from Joliet, Ill. They were the parents of five children.
Elizabeth married John Schievenien. They lost their only child in infancy. Eliza- beth died in 1934, age 40.
Chris married Millie Rushford and they were the parents of three children. Their eldest, Andrew, an Air Force navigator, was lost in the South Pacific in 1945, during World War II, age 23.
Mary married Columbus Oselett. Their two children died in infancy and Mary died in 1932, age 36.
Andy was killed in Witt Coal Mine No. 12 when he was 16 years old.
Lorene died in 1921 at the age of 7.
In later years Anton and Johanna re- turned to Italy. In 1933 Johanna died at the age of 56 and was buried in her native land.
Anton came back to Witt and made his home with his son, Chris, and family until he died in 1936, age 70.
CARRIKER FAMILY
The Carriker homestead-Witt, T 8 & 9 N. R 2 W. It was bought from the Govern- ment in 1852 by Moses Sechler, who came here from North Carolina. In 1873 it became the life-long home of his daughter, Frances C. and Columbus L. Carriker. Of their chil- dren, Orval. Bertha, Lester and Grace are de- ceased.
Ophe resides in Carbondale, Ill., and Harry, Ethel and Ina still make their home here.
THE MIKE POPOVICH FAMILY
Mike Popovich was born in Czechoslo- vakia in 1887 and came to Moweaqua, Ill., at the age of 18. While seeking employment he came to Witt to work in the new mine. He left the mine and went to Pennsylvania to work and married Katherine Hardy in May, 1912. He brought his bride to Witt where they have made their home. Mike passed away in 1957.
Mike and Katherine became the parents of five children, John, Michael, Steve, Ann and William. John married Anna Vavrek and they are the parents of four daughters. Betty, Phyllis. Lola and Sandy. Michael married Harriet Zon and to them was born one daughter. Gloria. Ann married Art Chapman and they have one son. Tommy. William married Marie Honrath and they are the parents of two sons. Eddie and Mark. Steve makes his home with his mother. William and Ann live in Detroit, Mich., while John and Michael reside in Chicago, Ill.
THE BAKER FAMILY
The Baker farm of 273 acres in Section 30, Town 9, was purchased by Calvin Baker in January, 1851.
Henry, the eldest son, bought out the interests of the other 12 children. The main house was built in 1863.
P. R. Baker has lived on the farm his 80 years, except 7 years while at school in Irving and the U. of I.
He and Mrs. Baker (Elenore Catherine Brookman) celebrated their 58th anniversary September 30, 1967.
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LESTER WITTNAM FAMILY
Lester, son of F. C. and Sarah Wittnam, was born on a farm South of Witt March 29, 1887. One of 11 children, he is the only sur- viving one. He married Lucy Battles on November 28, 1917, and they have resided on a farm South of Nokomis since that time. They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anni- versary in November 1967. They are the par- ents of two daughters, Merle and Geraldine. Two sons died in infancy. Merle married Monroe Berns May 14, 1946, and now lives in Nokomis. They are the parents of two chil- dren, Eileen and Lucy Ann. Geraldine mar- ried Garland Holloway July 31, 1955, and now lives in Witt.
JOHN LOWE FAMILY
John Lowe and Ann Ormeshire were married in England and came to Witt in 1908. They had two sons and a daughter.
ALFRED LOWE, Ineta Sawyer
Margaret and Norman Groesch John, Ruth, Mary Ellen, Jean James Larry and Betty Lewis Ricky, Randy, Robin Edward and Barbara Feraris Lisa
JOHN LOWE, JR., Verona Bennett Gary and Edith Grabow Renee, Brad
Donald and Patty Fox Tracy, John Scott, Jimmy Duke John III and Sheryllee Jones
MARGARET LOWE, Stephen Jones Joann and Richard Bagley Kelly Jo, Kirby Aileen Nancy and Dan Malcolm
THE SAWYER FAMILY
Homer Sawyer was born Oct. 1, 1880, at Ramsey, Ill. He was a son of Asa and Chloe (Temple) Sawyer. He came to Witt as a young man, and married Viola Barringer in 1902. She was born April 30, 1878, in Fillmore township, a daughter of Rufus and Meca (Sanders) Barringer. She traveled extensive- ly through the Western states in a covered wagon, lived in a sod house, and was present when the Cherokee strip was opened.
To this union six daughters were born, Mrs. Lula Weathers of Benton, Ill., Retta Marfell of Hillsboro, Ill., Ineta Lowe of Witt, Cleo Whittaker of Paducah, Ky., Josephine Whitlock of Downers Grove, Virginia Flem- ing of Centralia, Ill. They have 13 grandchil- dren and twenty-one great grandchildren. Mr. Sawyer passed away April 14, 1960, and Mrs. Sawyer passed away May 25, 1968, at at the age of ninety.
ERNEST SMITH FAMILY
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Smith, parents of four children, all W.H.S. students. They are, L. to R. Marcella '45, Burton '39, Irma '54, and Russell '38. Father died in 1938. Mother and Irma Kunz live in Litchfield; Marcella in Springfield; Burton in Decatur, and Rus- sell in St. Louis.
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MARTIN SARSANY FAMILY
Like most of the citizens of Czech ancestry living in Witt, Martin and Helen (Kisak) Sarsany were born in the little mountain town of Zavadka in Czechoslovakia. Martin (born Nov. 8, 1886) came to the U. S. in 1902, making the journey alone at the age of 16. He lived with his mother, Anna, and step- father, John Lesko, in Pennsylvania and be- gan working immediately in the Pittsburgh area coal mines. Helen, his wife, was born March 20. 1888, and came to Pittsburgh in 1904 to join her brother, John Kisak, who later became a Witt resident, too. Helen, like Martin, scught employment and became self- supporting as soon as she reached the U. S. At the age of 21, Martin began working in the Pana, Illinois coal mines, but returned to Pennsylvania two years later where he mar- ried Helen in suburban Trauger during the summer of 1910. Shortly after their marriage, they, along with the Leskos, came to Witt where they have since made their home. Mar- tin worked in both the New (Number 14) and Old (Number 10) mines in Witt. Their happy marriage ended with the death of Helen, at the age of 56, on April 22, 1945.
They were blessed with 13 children, all living, except the eldest, John, who died at age 3. They are: Michael (1912) of Des Plaines, married to Rose Buffo. Their children are Robert (1938) and Dennis (1945). Robert and Roberta (Stupple have four children: Deborah (1961). Douglas (1963), Kevin (19- 65) and Amy (1966). Dennis was wed this vear to Lisa Arrichiello.
Anne (1914) of Cicero, was married to Anthony Nowickas, who died in 1952, and has a son. Gary (1944).
Stephen (1915), of Glen Ellyn, married Clara Zozaski and has a daughter, Judith,
(1946).
Helen (1917), of Witt, married Edward Hmielak. Their children are Paul (1956) and Karen ( 1958).
Mary (1919), of Bensenville, married Anthony Yarro. They have a son, Mark (1952).
Kathryn ( 1921), of Witt, married Chester Sommers and has three children: Gerald (1945) who married Georgia Sue Reynolds, Denise (1953) and Mary Jean ( 1957).
Margaret (1922), of Witt, married Fran- cis Holthaus. They have a daughter, Diane (1948) who is engaged to George Rosko.
Nicholas (1924) lives at home with his father.
Andrew (1926), of Witt, married Jean Dillman. They have five children: Helen (19- 58), Peter (1959), Martin (1960), Mary (19- 61 ) and Barbara (1962).
Verona (1929) lives at home with her father and brother, Nick.
John (1931), of Witt, married Carolyn Franzen. They have four daughters: Joan (1961), Lori (1962), Jacqueline (1964) and Lisa (1966).
Paul ( 1932), of Witt, married Marie Van- denBergh. They have two daughters, Paula (1965) and Michele ( 1967).
THE NICOLOTTI FAMILY
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Nicolotti Sr., came from northern Italy, bringing with them two daughters Theresa and Anna. They settled in Witt in 1904 where Mr. Nicolotti went to work in the mine. Five more children were born to the family, namely, Anthony, Elsic, Joseph, Louis and Norma. Joseph passed away at the age of two in Witt.
In 1927 Mr. and Mrs. Nicolotti purchased a farm two and a half miles northwest of Witt, where Louis Jr., now lives with his wife, the former Helen Laughlin. In 1942 Louis and Maria Nicolotti retired from the farm and moved to Witt to make their home. Five months later, Mr. Nicolotti died on Aug. 4, 1942, and his wife died in 1953.
Louis and Helen Nicolotti became the par- ents of two children, Nancy wife of William
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Rice of Nokomis and James, of Springfield, who married the former Donna Keating. The Rices have two children Susan and Sandra.
Theresa married Lionel Lucchesi, who is now deceased, and she lives in St. Louis. They have three children, Dolores, Gloria and Li- onel Jr. Dolores is married to Bernard Gaia and they have 4 children; Gloria and her hus- band, Arthur Jones have 2 daughters; and Lionel is married to the former Mary Ann Wheeler. They all live in St. Louis.
Anna also lives in St. Louis, and she is married to Gordon Seaman. They have three children, Virginia, Jean and Carol. Carol is now Sister Elizabeth Marie B.V.M. and teach- es school in Iowa; Virginia is Mrs. Wm. Con- nolly and they reside in Granite City with 5 children; Jean and husband Lee, live in St. Louis and have one daughter.
Anthony and wife, the former Louise Venegone also reside in St. Louis and their family is Barbara. Robert and Patricia. Bar- bara is Mrs. Tom Williams and has 5 children; Patty is married to Wm. Campbell a.id has one daughter; and Bob and wife, Shirley, also live in St. Louis.
Elsie and her husband, John Genoni, are living in Pasadena, California, and Norma is making her home with Louis and Helen Nic- olotti in Witt.
* W. EUGENE SHELTON FAMILY
W. Eugene Shelton was born June 3, 1886, in the town of Witt, and passed away June 19, 1967. He married Bertha A. Brum- met at Watseka, Ill., June 20 1917. He was a
son of William and Laura Belle Holmes Shelton and a descendent of William Raw- lings who came to Witt Township in 1850. Eugene lived his entire life in Witt. He was a coal miner for 45 years, going into the mines at the age of 12. He also served 2 years as Chief of Police. He was a member of the I.O.O. F. Lodge for 64 years, and also a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church.
They were the parents of four children, Muriel, wife of John Goodwin of Nokomis, Ill., Maxine, wife of Donald Brown of Battle Ground, Ind., Eugene of Detroit, Mich., and Lynn of Witt. There are 11 grandchildren.
Mrs. Shelton (Bertha) was the daughter of Richard and Permelia Arnold Brummet and was born in Audubon Township October 17, 1894. The Brummet family moved to Witt Township in 1900. Mr. Brummet was a team- ster and also Supt. of Streets for many years. There were five children in the Brummet family, Claude, Fred, Henry, Bertha, wife of Eugene Shelton, and Ruby, wife of Albert Glaze of Springfield. There are 21 grand- children and 25 great-grandchildren.
PANIERI FAMILY
Pete Panieri, born in Spaudon in the Piedmont of North Italy, came to Witt in 1906 to help sink the North Mine. Christina Pan- ieri, from the same village, joined him in 1908. They were married in Hillsboro, Ill.
In 1910 John Panieri brother of Pete, joined the family. Of that North Italian vil- lage of 17 families, all but two came to North or South America.
Pete and John worked in the mine and in 1919 bought the farm where Mrs. Panieri now lives. For 20 years they delivered milk to Witt customers.
Mr. and Mrs. Panieri have three children. The only son, Justino, born 1910, married Lil- lian Hadley in 1941, and they have three chil- dren, Lorraine born 1945, graduated Jan. 1968 with a B.A. degree in music from Wesleyan University of Bloomington. She is employed as a teacher in the Taylorville unit. Roselyn, born 1952, is a Junior at Witt High School. John, born 1958, is a fifth grade student.
Ann, the older daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
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Pete Panieri, was born 1912 and is now Mrs. Max Pike of Monticello, Ill. She graduated from U. of I. in 1932 and taught languages in High School until she joined the Woman's Marine Corps, where she served in the intel- ligence department and advanced to rank of major. She now teaches languages in Monti- cello High School.
Dorena, born 1914, graduated from Brown's Business College in Decatur and in 1948 married Albert Meiners of Nokomis.
* MR. AND MRS. ROY ZEPP
In memory of our parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Zepp, life-long residents of Witt. Mr. Zepp was a barber for 54 years, with the ex- ception of 8 years, he had a shop at Oglesby, Ill. They celebrated their Golden Anniver- sary in 1957. They were members of Witt Methodist Church. Mr. Zepp was born March 18, 1881 in Witt Township, a son of James and Matilda (Fisher) Zepp, and died March 6, 1965. Mrs. Edith Zepp was born October 18, 1886, a daughter of Wm. and Cora (Alvis) Carriker, and died February 1, 1968. They were married Christmas Day, 1907, at Irving, Ill. They have two daughters, Mrs. Richard (Thelma) Rodawald and Mrs. Edgar (Sylvia) Dittle, both of Collinsville.
IN THE EARLY DAYS ...
The trip to St. Louis took 2 to 4 weeks in 1840. Six or seven yoke of oxen were hitched to one cart. The mud was tough and almost bottomless. There were no bridges and wag- ons were unloaded on the bank and the load carried across piecemeal. Charge for freight was $1.00 per 100 pounds. Venison hams were sold in the settlements enroute. They were a welcome addition to the usual hog and hom- iny diet.
FRED MITCHELL
W LE WE
Fred Mitchell, one of the early settlers of Witt Township, was born in England in 1844. He did not come to Witt until 1882 and was then a farmer. It was upon his farm prop- erty that the present City of Witt now stands. Besides being active in Witt Methodist af- fairs, he built the Witt Hotel, and was foun- der of the Oland Brick & Tile Company, which in 1906 manufactured drain tile and building brick. He was also director of the old Oland National Bank. He died in 1920.
DR. CHARLES LOCKHART
Dr. Charles Lockhart, local Witt physi- cian for many years. He came to Witt and practiced many years in this area until his death in 1940. Besides being the family doc-
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tor to area residents, he served the communi- ty as mayor, school board member and presi- dent and bank director. He married Blanche Short and they had three children, Edmund
and Charles, who became physicians as their father; and one daughter, Helen. Mrs. Lock- hart, also active in community, church and school affairs, died March 27, 1963.
JAMES TORRO
James Torro came to America from Italy in 1881, and to Witt in 1908. Although in earlier years in Illinois he was engaged in mining, he became a merchant in Witt and sold general merchandise in his store on Broadway. His children were James, John, Dom, Minnie, Katherine and Margaret. Mr. Torro was active in Catholic Church affairs and city business and public life. The old Torro residence still stands on Broadway and is now the Frank Bregant home.
John Maxey was born in Witt Township in 1870. His father, Wilson, came from Kentucky in 1836. John at - tended Witt schools and la- ter became a carpenter. In 1872 he married Luelah Dix- on, daughter of Robert Dix- on and became involved in the grain and lumber busi- ness. In 1905 he joined a partnership known as Car- riker & Maxey, Hardware, Groceries and Undertaking.
They had two children, Nina (now Campbell ) and Beauford.
John Maxey, Nina, Beauford and Luelah Maxey
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WITT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, CLUBS
A community is its people and its worth is judged by what its people dc. Community pride and spirit has always been the first asset of the Witt community and its citizens, both here and living away, have built with pride our churches, schools, businesses, government, clubs, etc. This has made and kept the town. May it long endure.
Aerial View of Witt 1968
Looking North With
Lions Park In Center
ST. BARBARA CATHOLIC CHURCH
Catholics were among the early settlers of Witt. Because they were few in number, they were unable to establish a church in the community immediately, and so attended re- ligious services in Nokomis.
The opening of the Paisley coal mine in 1897 brought many miners and their fam- ilies to Witt, and in 1904 the Catholic con- gregation headed by Andrew Redmond pur- chased two lots on which to build a church.
Under the leadership of Father Clemens Johannes of Nokomis, and Henry Ernst, the Catholics subscribed enough to purchase the Old St. Louis Church at Nokomis, which was torn down, brought to Witt and rebuilt at a cost of $1,500.
On Sunday, January 8, 1905, the church was dedicated by Father Johannes and named in honor of St. Barbara, the patroness of miners.
The first resident pastor was Father Edmund A. Brodmann, who lived in the Mitchell building until a parish house was built. With the opening of another coal mine in 1906, the original church proved too small for the expanding congregation, and an ad- ditional 20 feet was added to the building.
Parish records show that among the first marriages to take place at St. Barbara were those between: Francis Dona and Ce- lestine Zacuboni; Francis Galagher and Mary Kellet; and Walter Grey and Helen Mc- Daniels.
The First Communion records reveal the first entrees to be: John Miller, Blazis Miller, Willie Blake, Joseph Buchels, Anna Reardon, Ellen Reardon, Janette Adamson, Mattie Mc- Pherson, Anna Ernst, Katie Burrey and Ada Graham.
Father Brodmann continued as pastor until February 1910, when Father Francis Sheils was appointed pastor. Other succeed- ing pastors were: Father Michael Mee, Father Bernard N. Manning, Father P. R. Macauley, Father M. J. O'Mullane, Father James Land- ers, Father R. Terry Shea, and Father Rob- ert Franzen, the present pastor.
Father Manning served St. Barbara's from 1918 to 1933, and Father Landers was pastor from 1936 until his death in 1960. During their long years at Witt, both pastors carried on extensive improvement programs giving it its present appearance which was finalized during the pastorate of Father Shea.
Today St. Barabara's congregation num- bers around 100 families, somewhat smaller than the peak days of the mid-twenties when there were more than 140 families in the parish.
THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
According to a history of Bond and Mont- gomery Counties compiled in 1882, William Updike and wife moved into the village of Witt in the year 1869. At that time there was no Methodist church organization in Witt nor nearer than 5 miles. The first Sun-
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day, Mrs. Updike took a ride through the country and seeing a number of people at work in the fields conceived the idea of or- ganizing a Sunday school. Word was circu- lated in the neighborhood and the next Sun- day saw 8 children and a few grown persons at her house. These she organized into school and an hour was spent in religious exercises. The next Sunday there were 18 present. The number continued to grow until her house would not contain the crowds. En- couraged by the success of her Sunday School venture, she was determined to organize a church. Rev. John R. Chapman accepted an invitation to preach in her house. A few weeks later the Updike family moved to another house and fitted up the old residence for a place to worship. A 6-weeks meeting was
Witt United Methodist Church
held during which about 30 persons pro- fessed conversion, and the church was or- ganized. They continued to meet there until spring, then moved to the warehouse of William Woods. A new church building was erected in 1876. Some of the preachers were Rhodes, Hazen, Stubblefield, Compton, Ran- dall, Lapham, Brooks, Cunningham, Hamill, Muhler and Howard.
After a time the church declined consider- ably and in the winter of 1896-97 the Pleas- ant View Church, built in 1870 about 214, miles southeast of Witt, was moved into Witt and the two congregations united. Ministers serving this church were Waltz, Brewer, Murry, Patrick, Madden, Maxey, Mckay, Sutton, Adams, Kaneen, Hull, Eldrigde, Du- gan and Cox.
In 1915-16 Rev. C. A. Sullivan came in
as a supply minister and the present church was built on the corner of E. Park and N. Second Streets. The cornerstone was laid in 1916 and dedicated May 6, 1917, with Rev. Wm. J. Davidson of Evanston, Ill., preaching the Dedicatory sermon.
In 1939 the Methodist Episcopal Church North, the Methodist Episcopal Church South and the Methodist Protestant Church met and formed one new church: The Methodist Church.
In 1952 the church celebrated the 75th anniversary. The pastor was G. E. Baldridge and the sermons were delivered by Bishop J. Ralph Magee and Dr. Raye Ragan. Pas- tors serving this church since Rev. Sullivan were P. R. Powers, L. G. Adams, J. M. Judy, J. T. Stewart, H. W. Hartman, G. E. Mayo, J. W. Williams, E. E. Shult, G. V. Herrick. John Clarke, Leslie Archer, Robert Evans, Carlos Dunnagan, Henry Nollsch, R. C. Muhleman, G. E. Baldridge, Frank Friesland, Bluford Dawson, Lester Earp, David Lof- dahl, Don Doty and the present pastor, Mar- ion Sullins. Two preachers died while serv- ing this charge, Rev. Shult in 1930 and Rev. Earp in 1961.
April 23, 1968, the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church united and formed THE UNITED METHO- DIST CHURCH.
Broadcaster Class
In the year of 1931, a group of young ladies met at the home of Rev. and Mrs. George Herrick, pastor of the Methodist Church. A Sunday School class was organ- ized with the name "Broadcaster". The first president was the late Mrs. Eva (Marfell) Leighs. Miss Pircher was named teacher and still is teaching today. They meet the fourth Friday of every month.
They have been very active since and had many projects to make money, help with finances and bought many things for the church. Some have joined the Grandma Class since then, but are still active. The class lost two members by death, Mrs. Eva Leighs and Miss Anna Berry. There are still many char- ter members living.
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EASTERN ORTHDOX CHURCH
The Hungarian Russian Autonomy Greek Catholic Church of Witt was organized July 12, 1912. On March 31, 1921, its name was changed to St. John's Russian Orthodox Church. At its peak the church had 84 mem- bers. Then it dwindled and was closed in 1935, but the parish was served by the pastor of the Benld Parish.
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