Good morning: I would like to share with you information inscribed on a
bronz plaque that stands at the entrance to the Philip Witten and
Elizabeth Cecil Cemetary located 2 miles south of Sardis,Ohio on state
route 7. Below is typed exactly as it is recorded on the plaque.
( THE PHILIP WITTEN FARM
SEPTEMBER 1, 1790
PHILIP WITTEN WAS BORN IN VIRGINIA JUNE 8 1747,SON OF THOMAS SR. AND
ELIZABETH CECIL. HE MARRIED RUTH DICKERSON AND LIVED FOR A FEW YEARS
SEVEN MILES EAST OF FORT HENRY,NOW WHEELING WEST VIRGINIA.
HE WAS NOT SATIFIED HERE AND REASONED THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE
BEAUTIFUL AND FERTILE LANDS SOUTH ON THE BEAUTIFUL RIVER, OHIO. IN
COMPANY OF HIS BROTHER-IN -LAW'S KINSEY AND VACHTEL DICKERSON,HE MADE A
TRIP DOWN THE OHIO IN A CANOE GOING AS FAR SOUTH AS THE CITY OF
LOUISVILLE,KENTUCKY,LANDING AND INSPECTING SEVERAL SITES BUT FINDING
NONE THAT OFFERED THE ADVANTAGES OF FERTILITY BEAUTY AND PLEASANT
LOCATION AS THE SITE OF THIS FARM.
RECORDS IN MARIETTA,OHIO INDICATE THAT IT WAS PURCHASED SEPTEMBER 1,
1790. THE PRESENT FARM IS A PORTION OF THE ORIGINAL TRACT SINCE THE
YEAR 1790. THIS LAND HAS BEEN IN THE WITTEN FAMILY AND FARMED BY THE
DESCENDANTS OF THE STURDY PIONEER WHO BRAVELY SET UP HIS HOME ON THE
FRONTEER. ERECTED BY: LEANDER A. WITTEN AND NEEZE WITTEN
HUBBARD,1959
APPROVED BY THE OHIO STSTE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORIAL SOCIETY
COLUMBUS OHIO ).