Peoria I. Whitted, ex-County Surveyor, Exira, Iowa, was born in Maury County, Tenn., in the town of Williamsport, February 29th, 1832. William Whitted, the father of P. J. Whitted, removed from Virginia to North Carolina and was there married to Miss Arrena Howard, a native of Orange County, N.C., and a daughter of John Howard; she was born in 1796, and was the mother of 13 children, 11 of whom lived to maturity.
William Whitted and wife removed from North Carolina to Tennessee, and settled in Maury County, residing there until 1833, when they moved to Vigo County, Indiana; thence they went to Parke County, Indiana, and in 1838 they went to Vermillion County, Indiana. At this place the father engaged in packing pork; when going down the river he was taken with yellow fever and died; his wife late in life came to Cass County, Iowa, and resided there until her death, which occurred June 5th, 1862.
Peoria, this subject, passed his youth in Indiana, and attended the district school. In 1845 the family removed to Keokuk County, Iowa, and here he grew to manhood. He entered the Methodist College at Muscatine, Iowa, and here pursued his studies for two years.
In 1850 he went to Ottumwa, Iowa, and afterward entered the printing office of the Des Moines Courier; here he spent one year, then went on a government surveying expedition to Santa Fe, New Mexico. After an absence of six months he returned to Iowa City, and then engaged in the survey of the railroad from Davenport to Iowa City; this is now the Rock Island Railroad.
In 1853 Mr. Whitted came to Audubon County, stopping at Hamlin's Grove; at this time there were only six houses in the county. Mr. Whitted acted as land agent, and assisted in the laying out of Omaha, Neb.. He was appointed organizing sheriff, and called the first election held in the county; this was in April, 1855, and the cabin of John S. Jenkins was the voting place.
On the first Monday of the following August, a general election was held; Mr. Whitted was a candidate for county surveyor, and was elected; he soon after took charge of the office, and has held it for 22 years. After retiring from public office he continued the survey of private lands and roads. In the spring of 1857 he removed to Exira, and has since there made his home.
Mr. Whitted was married February 28th, 1860, to Miss Louisa C. Montgomery, of Exira, a daughter of L. B. and Fannie (Boyls) Montgomery; Mrs. Whitted was born in Hancock County, Ill., and at the age of 15 years came with her parents to Exira. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and the mother was born in the state of New York; both are dead, and lie buried in the cemetery at Exira.
Mr. Whitted and wife have had seven children born to them-Clinton J., Mary, the wife of Albert Sewell; Minnie, wife of J. M. Barber; Forest, Elbridge, Carl C. and Clara B. Mr. Whitted is a member of the I.O.O.F.; he is present assessor of Exira.
In national matters he votes
the Democratic ticket. He owns two good farms, one in Exira Township
and one in Hamlin Township, and 5 acres in his home place. Mrs.
Whitted is a member of the Christian Church, and is one of its
most active members, as well as one of its liberal contributors.
Mrs. Whitted's father, L. B. Montgomery, was one of the first
settlers of Audubon County. He held the office of county superintendent
of schools for two terms. He had a wide circle of friends and
was greatly beloved by all who knew him.