Paul S Witten
Paul S. Witten, a veteran
of the World War and the
first commander
of Theodore Bazan Post,
No. 6, American Legion,
of which he is a charter
member, is a descendant
of a prominent pioneer
family of Missouri. He
was born in Moberly, Jan.
21, 1891, the son of
Thomas R. and Laura E.
(Nichols) Witten.
Thomas R. Witten was
born in Crundy County,
Mo. and was killed
in a railroad accident at
Benton City, Mo., Dec.
24, 1905, at the age of 44
years. He was a son of
Samuel Witten, a
Kentuckian, who came to
Mis-
souri at a very early date
and settled in Grundy
County, where he entered
government land.
Laura E. (Nichols) Witten,
mother of Paul S. Witten
now resides
in Moberly. She is a
descendant of one of the
very early pioneer families
of Missouri. Her father
served in the Mexican War
under Colonel
Donaphin, having
volunteered with the
Missouri troops which
were com-
manded by Donaphin, He
was the standard bearer
and the flag which
he carried in the Mexican
War is now in possession
of his descendants.
He was one of the first
graduates of the University
of Missouri. He
was a farmer and merchant
and after the Civil War he
was engaged in
business at Edinburgh,
Mo.
Paul S. Witten is one of
two sons born to his
parents. The other
son, Guy, died at the age
of 29 years and his
remains and also the
father's are buried in the
Perry Cemetery at
Trenton, Mo. Paul S. Wit-
ten was educated in the
public schools and
graduated from the
Moberly
High School in 1909. He
then entered the employ of
Doctor Harlan, a
druggist of Moberly, and
later was in the employ of
W. 0. Baker, of
Centralia, Mo., and at the
death of his brother he
returned to Moberly
and was in the employ of
John F. Curry for three
years when he became
a partner in the business
and had been thus
interested for two years
when the United States
entered the World War.
Mr. Witten then sold
his interest in the business
and on Dec. 14, 1917 he
enlisted in the United
States Army and the
Medical Corps at St.
Louis, Mo, He was with
the
Medical Supply Depot at
St. Louis for a time when
he was sent to New-
port News and after one
months training was sent
to France with Field
Medical Supply Company
No. 9, arriving in France,
Oct. 10, 1918. He
was stationed on the front
at St. Mazaire, France, and
then sent to Tours,
the S. 0. S. headquarters
and from there to Gieviers
and was stationed
at the latter place until
May, 1919, when he was
returned to the United
States and received his
honorable discharge after
being in the service
about 18 months. He
returned to Moberly and
shortly afterwards entered
the employ of the Taylor
Music Company.
Mr. Witten is a member of
the Benevolent and
Protective Order of
Elks, the American Legion
and is a Knights Templar
Mason and a mem-
ber of the Sbrine, He is
one of the progressive and
enterprising men of
Randolph County.