My Genealogy Hound

A. A. Vitt, proprietor of Union Roller Mills, was born two and a half miles southwest from Union, near the Bourbeuse River, February 28, 1844, and is the son of J. T. and Cornelia (Schmidt) Vitt, both of whom were born in Prussia, their births occurring in the same year, 1809. The father immigrated to America in 1834, and came to Franklin County some time during the same year. He returned to Prussia in 1837, and was united in marriage to Cornelia, the daughter of Rev. Christian Schmidt, after which he returned to America, and to Franklin County, in 1838. He is now residing in Union, being one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of that place. The mother died in 1883. Our subject was reared in Union, although born on a farm, and attended the common schools, both English and German, securing a fair education. He worked in the mill with his father until about seventeen years of age, and then enlisted in the Federal army, being one of the first volunteers in 1861, enlisting for three months. At the expiration of that time he returned home, and remained with his parents until 1864, when, in August, he re-enlisted in Company D, Forty-seventh Regiment of Missouri Infantry. He was mustered out of service in the spring of 1865, and returned to Union. In the fall of 1866 he engaged in the stove and tinware business in Union, at which he continued until May, 1868, when he and his brother, H. W., became proprietors of the Union Mills. In 1880 he became sole proprietor of the enterprise, and has so continued up to the present. He was married, March 5, 1866, to Miss Mary J. White, a native of Franklin County, Mo., born January 12, 1848, and died February 10, 1886. To this union seven children were born, all of whom are living.