History of Wexford County, MI. Compiled by John H. Wheeler Published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Biography Page 218 - 219

WILLIAM McNITT

A young man never devoted the years of his early manhood to a more noble or worthy cause than in the defense of his native land and the protection of her institutions. Fortunate indeed was he who survived to see the dark shadow of civil war swept from the face of the land that gave him birth and to see the one blot upon its fair name, human slavery, wiped out forever. The subject of this review, William McNitt, is one of the aggressive and enthusiastic youths of 1861, who went to the front, offering their lives that the free institutions of their country might live. William McNitt is a native of Ohio. He was born October 26, 1840, and spent the first two years of his life in and near the place of his birth. His parents were Sidney and Madula McNitt, natives of Ohio and early pioneers of Kent county, Michigan. In 1842 the family moved to DuPage county, Illinois, where they continued to reside until 1849, when they moved to Kent county, Michigan, where they continued to reside until their death, a number of years ago. At the time of his death his father was seventy-one years old. They were the parents of five children, of whom William was the oldest. In the public schools of DuPage county, Illinois, and of Kent county, Michigan, the education of William McNitt was procured. In August, 1861, just before attaining his majority, he enlisted as a private soldier in a company raised in Kent county that was later assigned to the First Regiment, New York Lincoln Cavalry. He took part with his regiment in many of the important battles of the war and was slightly wounded in an engagement that took place between Martinsburg and Bunker Hill, West Virginia. Later he was taken prisoner, at Morefield, West Virginia, but fortunately made his escape and reached his regiment before being recaptured. He served until after the close of the war, being mustered out of the service in July, 1865. Returning to Kent county, Michigan, Mr. McNitt engaged there in farming a number of years, then went to southern Illinois and remained there two years, when, in October, 1872, he moved to Wexford county and located on one hundred and sixty acres of land, part of section 14, Boon township. This land he has cleared and improved and splendidly fitted it up for a farm. One hundred and ten of its fertile acres are now under cultivation. Outside of the four years spent in the service of his country farming has been his life work. On the 7th day of December, 1865, in Kent county, Michigan, William McNitt was united in marriage to Miss Maria Saur, a native of Sweden, born March 3, 1846, a lady possessed of many signal virtues and endearing qualities. Four handsome and intelligent children have been born to bless their union. They are Nora, Gussie, Claude and William. Both the girls are married, Nora being the wife of W. B. Watkins, and Gusie is married to Henry Mansfield, both gentlemen being worthy and prosperous farmers of Wexford county. Every intelligent community loves to honor its prudent, capable, upright citizens with public place. This is doubtless the reason why the subject of this review has been called by the voters of Boon township, at various times, to fill the office of supervisor, township treasurer and a member of the school board. The affairs of the township have always commanded a good deal of his time and attention. In every movement for the general good, without any desire to make himself conspicuous, he has always taken a prominent part. He and his wife are members of the Boon Baptist church and both are actively interested in church and charitable work. Their contributions to every good cause are always liberal and timely and without ostentation. If there is one trait more than another in the character of William McNitt which has commanded the attention and respect of. his neighbors it is his honesty and integrity. He has the reputation of being the soul of honor, a man whose word can be relied upon as implicitly as his note or bond.