Biography - Mayfield Truitt
MAYFIELD TRUITT, well known as a successful farmer of Montgomery County, was born at Carlton, Trimble County, Ky., November 2, 1839, and is the son of Samuel and Cynthia A. (Colbert) Truitt. The father of our subject was born December 28, 1818, in Kentucky, into which State his father had come from Virginia, becoming one of the early settlers there. The mother of our subject was also a Kentuckian, and was born March 16, 1818. The father was a farmer by occupation, and moved his family into Illinois in 1842. He settled near Fayette, Greene County, on a farm, and continued there until the gold fever of 1849 struck the country, when he went to California. He went with a party from Alton, and remained about two years, but, believing that Illinois was a better State, he returned to Greene County. In November, 1851, he moved into Montgomery County, where he settled on a farm four miles west of Hillsboro.
When the Bee Line Railroad was being constructed, our subject's father had a contract to grade a mile between Butler and Litchfield, but he died in February, 1863. He steadfastly refused to accept any office but that of School Director, and was a man greatly respected. The mother of our subject married for a second husband Richard Colbert, and after his death she married Edward Gunnewalt. She still lives. The children born to the parents of our subject were as follows: Warren, who now represents the Government as United States District Judge at Alaska, went to Oregon in 1870, and there began the practice of law. He is married and has two children. J. M. lives in Hillsboro, Ill.; Cynthia Ann died in infancy; Russell resides in Walla Walla, Wash., where he practices medicine; and Oliver H. died when young.
Our subject was reared on a farm, and attended the country school, beside which he had the advantage of two terms at Hillsboro. He remained with his parents until he had reached his twenty-first year, and then he married Frances E. McAdams, October 3, 1861. She was the daughter of Thomas and Mary McAdams, and was born and reared about five miles south of Hillsboro. At her death, which occurred April 23, 1869, she left three children. James M. lives in Roodhouse and is an engineer on the Chicago & Alton Railroad. He married Belle Stone, and has two children. Thomas has gone West, and is now engaged in mining in Montana; and Francis died in infancy. Our subject married a second time, his wife being Margaret E., the daughter of Jacob and Mary Kessinger, natives of Kentucky. Three children, William M., Elmer and Lester, have been born of this union.
Mr. Truitt has been a prominent man in his district. He has held the office of Supervisor since 1884, with the exception of one year. His early teaching had made him a Democrat, but in 1872 he saw occasion to look at public matters in a different light, and he has been a Republican since. While serving as Supervisor, he has had charge of the most important committees. He was Chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings one year, and is now a member of the Finance Committee. He has been a member of the Township Central Committee for five years. For three years he was Highway Commissioner in Bois D'Arc Township.
After his marriage, our subject farmed the home place west of Hillsboro, and remained there until 1867, at which time he sold out and moved south of Hillsboro. He went to Missouri and Kansas in the fall of 1870-71, and when he returned he located on a farm in Montgomery County, remaining there from 1872 until 1878. He then settled on his present farm, where he has three hundred acres of finely improved land. The place is farmed by himself and his brother, J. M. Truitt, in partnership. These gentlemen are well known and highly connected throughout the county.
Extracted 10 Jan 2017 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, pages 344-347.
