Biographical Sketch of H. E. Vitt, Johnson County, Missouri, Warrensburg Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** H. E. Vitt, president and manager of the Vitt-Mayes Manufacturing Company of Warrensburg, Missouri, was born, reared and educated in Sedalia, Missouri. He is a son of Jerome Henry and Philomena (Myers) Vitt. Jerome Henry Vitt was a native of Germany but of French descent. At the age of 12 years, in 1848, he emigrated from Germany and came to America, locating in Pennsylvania. In 1849, he moved to Jefferson City Missouri. Jerome Henry Vitt was one of the most enterprising of pio- neer merchants. He operated branch stores along the Missouri Pacific railway erecting stores as fast as the railroad was being built. He owned stores in California, Syracuse, Smithton and Sedalia, Missouri. His Wholesale Dry Goods & Commissary Store was in Sedalia, where he was the leading merchant in 1863. From this store, goods were supplied southwestern Missouri, eastern Kansas, and northern Arkansas. Jerome Henry Vitt possessed unusual executive ability and excellent business judgement. He was a citizen of great and true worth and his death in 1916 was deeply regretted in Sedalia and Pettis county. Mrs. Vitt pre- ceded her husband in death several years, having passed away in 1884 at Sedalia, Missouri. Jerome and Philomena (Myers) Vitt were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Edward Hough, Sedalia, Missouri; A. L. Vitt, Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. Frank See, Kansas City, Missouri; W. P., Kansas City, Missouri; and H. E., the subject of this review. The father, Jerome Vitt, remarried after the death of his first wife, the mother of the children above named, his second wife being Theresa Cramer. To Jerome Henry and Theresa (Cramer) Vitt was born one child, a son, Jerome, Jr., who resides at Sedalia, Missouri. H. E. Vitt, was educated in the city schools of Sedalia. In 1894, he entered the employ of the Lamey Manufacturing Company and for six years was with this company, learning the manufacturing business thoroughly from first hand information and experience. After six years he left the company and entered the employ of the Star Clothing Company of Jefferson City, Missouri, and for two years was superintendent of that company. From Jefferson City, Mr. Vitt went to Lincoln, Nebraska, as superintendent of the Herman Brothers Clothing Manufacturers establishment. Returning to Missouri, he again accepted a position with the Star Clothing Comp- any as general superintendent and remained in their employ several years, when he assumed charge of the Lamey Manufacturing Company Fac- tory No. 2 of Warrensburg. The account of the subsequent developments in the business career of H. E. Vitt will be found given at some length in the history of the Vitt-Mayes Manufacturing Company, which is else- where in this volume. Mr. Vitt is now president of the largest factory in Warrensburg, one which is doing a successful and extensive business in many states. In Warrensburg, Missouri, H. E. Vitt was united in marriage with Eliza Robinson, daughter of John and Mary Margaret (Hocker) Robinson, a sketch of whom appears in this history. Mr. and Mrs. Vitt reside in Warrensburg at 212 East Market street. H. E. Vitt is a valued member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Knights of Columbus. He and Mrs. Vitt are numbered among Johnson county's most respected and valued citizens. ==================================================================== 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: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================