Oxford in Butler County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Legend of the Baby in the Well
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 3, 2009
1. The Legend of the Baby in the Well Marker
This original dug well relates to one of the several fascinating legends of Zachariah and Elizabeth DeWitt. As reported by Ralph McGinnis in The History of Oxford, Ohio, from the Earliest Days to the Present, Zachariah heard Elizabeth's screams as she discovered that their baby was gone:
Finally, when the despairing mother had about given up hope, a thin, but indignant wail was heard proceeding from the vicinity of the open well in the cabin yard. Mrs. DeWitt knew the voice of her offspring. She rushed to the well, and peering down, saw her pride and joy floating on the surface of the water. The voluminous skirts of the infant's dress had caught the air in its descent into the well and it had been bouyed up nicely. The child was fished out with a garden rake, wet and petulant, but unharmed, and lived to four score and ten.
Erected by W.E. Smith Family Charitable Trust and the Oxford Museum Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers.
Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 39° 30.647′ N, 84° 43.129′ W. Marker was in Oxford, Ohio, in Butler County. It could be reached from Trenton Oxford Road (Ohio Route 73) west of Retreat Lane, on the right when traveling west. Marker is at the DeWitt Homestead, 1000 feet north of Oxford-Trenton Road (Ohio Route 73) via an access road, and about 0.8 miles east of Patterson Avenue (US Route 27). Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Oxford OH 45056, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in Greater Cincinnati and in the Miami Valley. It was also in the American Midwest. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically,
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: The DeWitt Family / The DeWitt Log Homestead (within shouting distance of this marker); The Verlin L. Pulley Tower (approx. 0.6 miles away); These Entrance Gates (approx. 0.7 miles away); Langstroth Cottage (approx. 0.7 miles away); Langstroth Cottage / Lorenzo Langstroth (approx. 0.7 miles away); Alumnae Hall (approx. 0.7 miles away); Western College (approx. 0.7 miles away); Freedom Summer (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oxford.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 3, 2009
2. The Legend of the Baby in the Well Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 3, 2009
3. Well at the DeWitt Homestead
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 3, 2009
4. The DeWitt Homestead
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 3, 2009
5. The DeWitt Homestead Sign
Looking east along Oxford-Trenton Road. Location of access road to homestead.
Photographed by Grant & Mary Ann Fish, July 14, 2024
6. Marker is missing from well roof gable
Credits. This page was last revised on July 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 4, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,035 times since then and 30 times this year. Last updated on July 14, 2024, by Grant & Mary Ann Fish of Galloway, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 4, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 6. submitted on July 14, 2024, by Grant & Mary Ann Fish of Galloway, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
