De Witt Bicentennial Flagpole - De Witt, Mo. - Spirit of '76 on Waymarking.com

This twelve-foot aluminum flagpole is on the southeast corner of the De Witt Community Center. The flagpole rests on a concrete plinth. There are two bronze markers that deal with the Bicentennial. The southern marker reads:

De Witt
Founded 1836
Bicentennial
1778 - 1976

The eastern marker reads:

1776 1976
Eppler's Landing
Established by
Jonathan Eppler
in 1836

The western marker has text about the Mormons who settled the town in 1836. It reads:

The Mormons

In 1838, Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) living at Far West in Caldwell County, Missouri, were encouraged to settle at De Witt by several landowners. Land was purchased near this location in June, and within a few months several hundred Mormons had created a village of tents and wagons. Land was cleared, crops were planted, and homes were built, however, the persistent misunderstandings which had followed the Mormons soon reached Carroll County. By October, De Witt was held in a virtual state of siege by non-Mormons from surrounding communities. To Avoid further violence, on October 11, 1838, the Latter Day Saints loaded their possessions into seventy wagons and departed.

This marker was presented to the People of De Witt by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, July 4, 1926.

Address or General Location of Marker: 7th and Jefferson Parking: Not Listed Supporting Web Documentation: Not listed

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   08/31/2014 YoSam. visited it