DeWitt is the second largest city in Clinton County. The first settlers came to the area in 1836 and the county was formed in 1837. The cities of DeWitt and Clinton as well as Clinton County all were named after New York governor DeWitt Clinton, a major proponent of the Erie Canal, which opened the Great Lakes and Midwest to settlement.
Originally DeWitt was called Vandenburg after the daughter of a German mayor. In 1842 it was renamed DeWitt. The earliest DeWitt settler was James D. Bourne, who built a frame home in 1842 which still stands although it has been modernized so much that it is unrecognizable.
The coming of the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska Railroad in 1856 helped the young town grow. Today, the line is called the Union Pacific Railroad. DeWitt was incorporated January 14, 1850.
Besides two major motel chains, Super 8 and Quality Inn, there are two mom and pop motels, the Westwind Motel and Winsther Motel with 13 and 14 rooms respectively.
From the DeWitt Chamber of Commerce brochure.
Small Town USA. --RoadDog
RoadDog's RoadLog Blog: Being my travels down those great two lane highways of this nation as well as news I learn about them from media sources. Since I'm also very interested in historic preservation, there will be a lot of that as well.
The Shamrock Court Motel in Sullivan, Missouri. It can be yours for $125,000. Lots of possibilities. Actually, now you're too late. Missouri's Roamin' Rich bought it.
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