Holland City News, November 9, 1872

Died—In this city, Nov. 6^th, 1872, Cornelius De Wit, aged 92 years, 6 months and 20 days.

The subject of this notice deserves more than a passing remark. Mr. De Wit was born April 17, 1780, left his home when only 17 years old and enlisted in the army of Holland. During his military career, he was acknowledged as one of the bravest and reckless of soldiers. He was engaged in over 100 battles and skirmishes, has been in Algiers, was a prisoner of war several times, was in the French army with Napoleon for several years. He took an active part in the Battle of Waterloo, and was with Napoleon when he made his fatal crusade against Russia. He was a soldier 18 years, nearly all the time in the artillery service. He left the army shortly after the Battle of Waterloo.

A remarkable change occurred in his life at the age of 52. Having married and settled in life, and being dependent upon his labor for support, he immigrated to America in June 1847, was sexton at the old log church in this place during the first 5 years of the colony. The citizens donated him a house and Dr. Van Raalte, a lot. His wife died in 1868, at the ripe old age of 79. He retained all his energies and faculties until occurred the burning of our city last year, until that event the venerable old man might have been seen almost every day walking our streets. He leaves one son; several grand and great-grandchildren to mourn his loss. His biography was written to have been published after his death, but was destroyed by fire. He had a happy faculty of securing and retaining friends, and in his old age was respected and beloved by all who knew him.