DeWitt, Madlain

Mrs. Madlain DeWitt was born in Sullivan County, Missouri, where she grew up, attended the common schools, and was raised within a family of proud military heritage. In 1884, she relocated to Fresno County, California, alongside her husband, Thomas Buffington DeWitt—a native of Virginia whose grandfather originally came from France to fight alongside the Marquis de Lafayette in the American Revolutionary War. Together, the family settled on a ranch four miles north of Selma, where they successfully cultivated the land and raised eight children to maturity.

As a highly esteemed Selma resident, DeWitt dedicated her later years to extensive community service, focusing her efforts on uplifting society through active participation in the Presbyterian Church and the Red Cross. Her commitment to local enrichment was mirrored by her family, notably her daughter, Mrs. W. H. Say, who served for five years as the celebrated president of the Woman’s Improvement Club at Selma. Throughout her long residence in Fresno County, Mrs. DeWitt was widely admired for her deep patriotism, noble lineage, and unselfish devotion to charitable causes.