Woodson and Stith Families

Joyceann Gray

06/20/2015

                                    DeWitty-Audacious

The Woodson and the Stith Families

Their point was to establish a base for their children and future generations to excel, and they had the audacity to think they could.

The Woodson and Stith families came from the south, Tennessee, and Kentucky respectively.  Aaron Woodson was a hard working industrious family man. With ten children and a wife to house and feed, he sought out any promising enterprise as he farmed a large lot of land. Aaron and his wife, the former Phoebe Brooks, raised their children to be educated and versatile as they went about setting examples for them. When the sun came up, Aaron was already hard at work. So was Mrs. Woodson, tending to the home and teaching her children necessary skills. Their children all grew to realize the dreams of their parents.

 Charles “Boss” Woodson, the fifth son of Aaron and Phoebe Woodson, not only did he look just like his Dad but took after him in that Woodson way of being kind and gentle. He was hard working and never let a chance go by to help out his fellow man. Remembered fondly by many people in and around Cherry County for his impressive musical talent, Boss organized and led the DeWitty Dance Band. As the mail carrier for Cherry County, he was known to ride folks along his route from town to town. One such day, Maggie Stith and her five boys needed to catch a train bound for Horton Kansas. Her husband had secured a job working for the railroad in the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad Shops. There was no public transportation between DeWitty and Thedford. Boss Woodson saw to it that the Stith family made it to the train station in time to catch the train to Horton. Charles would later retire from the government and live out his days in California.  

As the railroad expanded so did, the demand for skilled and educated workers and the members of the Walkers, Evans, Ward, and others responded. These adventurous and educated children of the homesteaders of DeWitty-Audacious used the progress of the railways as stepping-stones to bigger and better lives for themselves and their children. The Woodson’s would live long enough to see their children become successful farmers, teachers, and government workers. One of the Stith boys, Forrest Muriel, became a teacher, published author of two well-read books. As a Methodist Minister, he served as a U.S. Army Chaplain and served overseas in World War II. He retired in Lincoln, Nebraska.

So we ask again and again to please help us to honor the homesteaders, their contributions and legacies by contributing to our DeWitty-Audacious Historical Marker Campaign the most successful rural African-American community in the state. Many Thanks to all who have heard our plea so far; if you haven't done so, you can send a contribution to:  

  

The Security First Bank 

 PO Box 480 - Valentine, Nebraska 69201 

Please make checks payable to: “DeWitty Historical Marker Fund.”