Biographical Sketch of A. A. Vitt, Franklin County, Missouri >From "History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and Gasconade Counties", Biographical Appendix, Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888. ********************************************************************** A. A. Vitt, proprietor of Union Roller Mills, was born two and a half miles southwest from Union, near the Bourbeuse River, February 28, 1844 and is the son of J. T. and Cornelia (Schmidt) Vitt, both of whom were born in Prussia, their births occurring in the same year, 1809. The father immigrated to America in 1834, and came to Franklin County some time during the same year. He returned to Prussia in 1837, and was united in marriage to Cornelia, the daughter of Rev. Christian Schmidt, after which he returned to America, and to Franklin County, in 1838. He is now residing in Union, being one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of that place. The mother died in 1883. Our sub- ject was reared in Union, although born on a farm, and attended the common schools, both English and German, securing a fair education. He worked in the mill with his father until about seventeen years of age, and then enlisted in the Federal army, being one of the first volun- teers in 1861 enlisting for three months. At the expiration of that time he returned home, and remained with his parents until 1864, when in August, he re-enlisted in Company D, Forty-seventh Regiment Missouri Infantry. He was mustered out of service in the spring of 1865, and returned to Union. In the fall of 1866 he engaged in the stove and tinware business in Union, at which he continued until May, 1868, when he and his brother, H. W., became proprietors of the Union Mills. In 1880 he became sole proprietor of the enterprise, and has so continued up to the present. He was married, March 5, 1866, to Miss Mary J. White, a native of Franklin County, Mo., born January 12, 1848 and died February 10, 1886. To this union seven children were born, all of whom are living. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joe Miller Penny Harrell ====================================================================